Alan_and_Nance_Hooper-1943

20th 4XP (232)

I saw an amusing sight yesterday. Sitting by his machine gun an one of the forward perimeters was a husky, tanned & hairy campaigner hungrily enjoying a "Pigs Paper". It was ludicrous.

Sgt Goldman has had a lot of dealings with us. We've done work for him almost daily and his platoon, thank God, saved our bacon once or twice. What I'm coming to, is that he's Ralphs sgt. Ralph is away having a course of quinine & the rumour of his [[?]] was only a rumour. So I may see the old war horse yet. He's a private again at his own request, but for Heaven's sake don't let on to his fiance. I often wish I could revert sometimes and evade certain responsibilities that possess no future. We move again this time to above the clouds. Cold & dripping wet it is.

I read how Gary Cooper was deluged by the fair sex for autographs, while two one-legged youths ex hero Gunners stood by ignored & unacclaimed. And they call ours the Age of Reason. Ye Gods. Yet their cobbers go on suffering and dying in stinking mud consoling themselves optimistically with thoughts agony of mind gives rise to. Heroes live on only in fiction, in real life they die along with the emotion they're acclaimed with. They're the people;s creditors, and like creditors, avoided. But how can you expect character and sense of Value in girls who's only conception & interest of the world they live in is the Make Believe

5X

of Hollywood. I had hoped this war would be a revelation to Australian youths. It's more a fool's paradise now than I'd imagined in my wildest dreams. Ironically enough those two boys left their legs in New Guinea to protect all from horror & sober to regard of real men not the kind who plausibly imitate them. I'm not prejudiced either.

Darling do excuse this unromantic apology of a letter. There's nothing in sight to inspire it today & my brain is at its wits end to cope with problems of work. Your loss is your country's gain. Little if any of my energies are wasted.

Xmas is only days off. I know now its not going to be too bad. Peaceful if unexciting.

Cheerio darling. I hope some more of your letters are on the way by runner, and one I'll keep unopened till Xmas Day. My greatest love pet, never doubt my devotion. I have the nicest antidote for your worries, if I could send really hungry Xs by post. Happy New Year Nancy darling

Yours devoted loving husband Alan XXXXXXXXXX

Q52 Lieut AE Hooper Angau New Guinea Forces Dec 11th 1943

232 [circled]

Brittania Street, Manly 29th Dec, 1943.

My Own Darling Husband,

I received a precious letter from you last night dear, believe me, I treasure every letter I get from you.

I don't know whether I mentioned in my previous letter, don't worry about not being able to give me a Xmas present. I got as much thrill out of your wire as I would from any Xmas box darling. Of course I wouldn't expect you walk all that way for some money, you shouldn't have walked as far as you did. I sent you three parcels Alan so you can be expecting them, you should have got them by Xmas.

The first paragraph of your letter around my emotions. You say you would have given a year of your life to be with me the night you wrote that letter. I would give a year of mine to be with you now my darling. Alan, do you know what I often do, I lie in bed and pretend it is the room at SeaSpray and you are in bed beside me. I live those nights over & over again, and also the night we spent at Canbara [Canberra Hotel]. Another vivid memory is the drive after we had dined at the Hotel at Tamborine, & also our stay at Southport. I have lots of lovely memories to kindle my emotions till you come home to me dear. To feel your strong, arms embracing me & your body clinging to mine will be heavenly.

Alan, you should be home soon, time flies & before you know where you are you leave will be due.

I can imagine how you would sing "White Xmas", I don't wonder at the boys howling you down.

Don't bring any of your pet beetles home, I am sure I wouldnt like them, the thought of them scares me.

I am having Saturday & Sunday off this weekend, what a break. It is New Years Day Saturday. I will take a wish & pray for you on New Years Eve. I often pray for you in bed at night, it kind of makes me feel better.

Jeff has had Malaria, May had a letter

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imagine him married, can you? He was disappointed he missed you, you said you missed him by a day, well it must have been that day he searched for you for about four hours. He said he couldn't think who the Loot was for a long while, he didn't expect you in that area. It was only a week previous to that he heard we were married and thought you were still down on leave. He didn't know we were married last June.

Alan I haven't regretted marrying you for one minute, if I wasn't married to you now I would be dreadfully unhappy, regretting it. It is the wisest thing I ever did, honestly darling, I have settled down, you told me you didn't think I could do that till I was 30. Remember the last night of your leave I told you I wanted to get married and you told me no, what made you changed your mind darling, tell me. I am so glad you did, are you? We were meant for each other Alan, you are a part of me, neither one of us could have married another, ever, we belong to each other, always.

It is tragic we have been parted so long, but as you say it can't be helped. If you don't get long leave this time, I am going to have Dad write a letter to "Truth", they soon have something done about it. I am enclosing a clipping from to-day's "Truth", it is so unfair expecting so much of so few. I am furious, I think our army lacks any organization whatsoever. It is not myself I am thinking of either, it is you Alan, they expect too much of you, you should be relieved now and some lads who have never left Australia should replace your crowd. Something should be done about it, if I thought I was capable of writing that letter I would right now. I can't understand why the boys mothers tolerate it, surely Mrs. Reynolds, Mrs Wirth and all the other mothers think it unfair. If they trained men down here you wouldn't be indispensable, don't think I would still like to join the A.W.A.S, literally the army stinks, I would prefer to work with the Americans any day.

I am going to close now darling, Mum has just come home and they are all retiring to bed. Goodnight my sweetheart. I love you will all my heart. Think of me & dream of me. Tons of love, Your wife, Nancy XXX