31701-0019-0001

15th Battn Detach.,
Port Moresby,
Papua.
30th Oct '40

Darling Nancy,

I am just getting over the effects of a pillow fight. 15 Platoon initiated their officer tonight & he suggested they try their strength on our hut. Meanwhile, he had the opportunity of avenging himself by upsetting their beds. The fight lasted only a few minutes when they retreated in a cloud of kapok.

On Sunday the unit changes its identity which calls for a deal of ceremony & speeches. As the Major remarked, "The 49th will be what we make it", so it's up to us to give it a reputation & tradition. All our flags are made in camp by a former commercial artist.

Last night while on guard at Konedobu I gathered some interesting information. As you may have gathered from my letters we have been doing very hard engineering work during our stay here. Previous to this no white man has ever done anything but supervise
native labour anywhere in Papua or the tropics. At Hamabada [?], shortly after we arrived, the entire village entered into a three day's dance & festival in