Alan_and_Nance_Hooper-1943

Q52 Lieut AE Hooper Angau NGF 29 Dec 1943

Nancy, my darling, I feel I must come back to you soon or pine away. All my spirit and strength seems to be ebbing away unless this is the reaction now things are quiet. For nearly 10 days I've got up to work in the morning only to spend the afternoon in bed. Now you have the reason why I've not written, and now like Cinderella I must finish this letter before noon.

Xmas Day was really celebrated this year. The unit across the gully sang carols, went to Church service, dined on Turkey; ham, & plum pudding, and ended the day with a concert. Our boys were asked by a few wags to put on a show. They intended to make it a 50/50 show but our nigs saw otherwise. In fact the early encouragement decided all of the boys to roll up. Imagine a handful of inexperienced whites trying to compere a corroboree of these savages. The whites began by singing "Silent Night" & our devils applauded them enthusiastically. Then the fun began. They brought out their cannibal junkery & plastered their faces grotesquely. (Red clay, flowers, and Comforts Fund Foot Powder) the dance was on. Four drums weren't enough, so they belted flour & biscuit tins instead.

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It was apparent to the whites soon after they began that they were out of control & like bad weather is at times 'set in for the night'. They were well wound up at eleven oclock when I woke in my sleep. Then I heard suspicious sounds in the scrub near our shelter. I went to call the 3 sleeping with me but they were already up. In the dark I fell over an empty tin & all but forgot where my gun was. The twigs were crackling on a wide arc & I took a guess they were strange dogs.

Then [below?] we heard more barking. Heavy dogs of some sort. I went to bed again. Next interruption was a monstrous dog, the brute chilled me almost & for curiosity I gave it a burst. The outcome was comical & we still burst out laughing at odd moments whenever we happen to think of it. The two from my hut made a complicated manoeuvre & joined me in a moment. No movement from hut no 2 so I assume they're returning to sleep. Two of us tried to locate the dog's body but the spectre had gone. Then, dodging, and ducking furtively the others from hut 2 came up. Hell it must have been funny. Most of them had their weapons dismantled or misplaced & had spent an absolutely frantic five minutes trying to get their hands on something lethal. So they appeared like a footer team armed with souvenir bombs, rifles & guns and when I said it was 'dogs 'twas all' no one believed me.

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The burst must have split the night air for the corroboree ceased abruptly. And it began with "Silent Night"! I can see those chaps now clawing down mosquito nets.

Xmas Day I rallied sufficiently to enjoy my Turkey and plum duff. I tried all sorts of gargles and sodas to neutralise the quinine mouth and sour stomach. I hadn't been tempted to eat for days so the Turkey was a life-saver. Most of us were licking our chops (two of our 14 stoners wear mutton chop moustaches) when Bob Doyle sat down on his bed to eat his. He'd spent an extra 5 minutes being meticulous about his ablutions, & fussing like a barber about to begin, sat down in a favourable position to attack the turkey. He jabbed at the gobbler smartly with his fork and to everyones horror it fell on the mud floor. The cooks scrubbed & washed it & bore it proudly back. BD ate the laundered remains with less finesse. We're laughing about it yet.

I've not smoked a packet of cigarettes this last fortnight. I hope to cut down on it too in future. I'm sure it gives me to coughing.

The rain has us wet. It doesn't fall, it drives down in drops as big as hail stones. Visibility at the height of a storm is only a hundred yards. Generally its too cold to walk in; running is what we resort to. I pity the carriers slipping & sliding on these mountains carrying their loads, & jogging

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to try and keep warm, and looking like drowned rats.

Time to tell you I love you still, darling Wife. When I rid myself of this washed out feeling I'll be a little more romantic. Luckily the scrap is over. The little cur has gone for his life. I can do no better just now than stay in comfort where I am. Its a beautiful spot. I know I'll enjoy it when I feel well enough to appreciate it. So go [going] to hospital would be to confine yourself to four walls in some uninviting base area with poor food. I'll stay yet.

I am intent on speaking out and getting into some better environment in non-combatant work. After 4 Xmases in the field I can say I deserve it. Otherwise I want a transfer South. I'm just awaiting the opportunity. This place is safe enough now to see some of our bloated base wallahs up here.

Well darling I'll write more often now I'm feeling better. Love me darling & remember there's happiness ahead, won't you?

Your loving husband Alan AE Hooper Lieut XXXXXXXXX