Alan_and_Nance_Hooper-1943

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Q52 Lt AE Hooper A.N.G.A.U. N.G.F. Port Moresby. 21-6-43

My Darling Beloved Nancy, Another day has passed and I'm still in Sunny Qld.

After writing your letter yesterday I rang the S.D.A. Mission & inquired if the Lock family were still in the town. They were and I spent a more or less enjoyable night at their home. Having nothing better to do this morning I returned there. Here I am writing in their study. You'll remember me telling you of the hospitality these people gave me at Mirigeda, Papua, three years ago. They were very pleased to see me once again. Lois wrote me a letter over 12 months ago & being away from Port I failed to answer her letter. That, connected with rumors led them to believe I was pushing up daisies. They even said a prayer for me. Imagine their astonishment when I showed up. Their family too has been broken up. One boy is in N.G. Commandos, one at College, some in Fiji, & Lois married. Had I been in touch with them before

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Brittania Street, Manly, Brisbane, 24-6-43.

My Own Darling Husband I received your lovely letter this morning, it made me realise how lucky I am to have such a good husband. Alan don't worry over the other night at the station, I wasn't mad, only terribly disappointed. I guess the boys did think it a bit of a joke.

It was last night I phoned you, it was lovely to hear you speaking, I would have phoned you again to-night, but I didn't know whether you would be in & I couldn't go through what I went through last night again for nothing. Yesterday I found out from Trunk Line what the delay on the call would be & found it would be two hours so I booked for 4 p.m. I went up to the G.P.O. at 6pm and waited till seven & suffered the humiliation of a couple of dozen soldiers giving me the once over. When Townsville board rang through they said you were out, I could have sat down & cried. They asked me would I wait & I said I would because I didn't think you would go out if you were expecting me to call. I waited for a quarter of an hour and couldn't bear it any longer so decided to go for a walk and come back.

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I left a message to say I would come back in half an hour, I was happy when I came back to hear you had been located. I didn't havee to wait long then, but the time was much too short, I should have booked for ten minutes, shouldn't I Darling. I walked out of the box with tears in my eyes, saying good-bye over the phone was nearly as bad as saying good-bye in person, don't you think so? I felt sad & lonely after I left the P.O. I couldn't catch a bus till 11:5 p.m. so decided to go to the Carlton Theaterette for an hour and a half. I then went & had supper, toasted sandwiches &coffee & then made for the bus. I went to sleep in the bus and woke with a start to find I was resting my head on a chaps shoulder. He said he didn't mind in the least, but I kept awake from there on.

I am sorry to hear you had such a terrible journey up, I guessed you would, it looked crowded to me & I know what night travelling is in a crowded train, it is agony. I am glad I brought the fruit for you. I hope you don't get a C.M. over the priosners, it would be unfair.

I have had my Identy card changed & have also recieved our Marriage Licese tonight I received a form to fill in regards my allotment, I will fill it in to-morrow.

I called for our wedding proofs but they aren't ready yet, will probably get them at the end of the week. I also have to change the name in my bank book. Darling

Q52 Leiut A.E.Hooper Angau New Guinea Force 26th June '43

Darling Beloved- Nancy,

I'm reading two of your wonderful letters tonight I felt so terribly & soulfully happy. They were the answer to a lonely husband's prayers pet. How I can find words to answer them I don't quite know. I pray our love will always be as viril as it is now, my cherished one. there was a time when my confidence in you was badly shaken. Let me tell you my cynicsm has changed. I trust my lovely wife implicitly. How could I feel otherwise, loving as I do? Thanks for your understanding the entraining bungle. It made me feely pretty better for a while. I wish I had crept into your room to kiss those tears away. Still I give you credit for being a brave heart. A good weep can unburden your choking emotions when all esle fails. Never have I love you more than the rare times I hurt you enough to make you sob. Did you ever wonder why I was so heartbroken that night at Burleigh? Well it

days but not close enought to visit him. I guess the place will be changed to when I saw it last. I'll be with Jay's cobbers unfortunately. There was no earthly hope of getting the job I hoped for from our unit. I decided not to apply elsewhere after I saw the locality. I wasn't back here more than a few hours before my head & limbs began their groaning. It's truly amazing. Right now my temperature is approaching fever point. I'll have no lack of medical attention where I'm going (It'll be my 5th trip) Jim Stewart is on the same kind of work which is entirely supervision.

I'm enclosing an official transfer sheet for my coupons, pet. You can dispense with the cardboard cover ^ glue the sheets onto the blue official paper. At the officers shop in T'ville you can buy the best shorts & shirts for 7/6'. My togs will be little use here & my uniform also.

My heads beginning to nod so here's wishing you sweet dreams ura henigu (my loving wife). May time fail to dampen your spirit. Yes Darling I will earnestly pray for my return as well as live for it. I do hope my efforts to fill your lonliness are a success. Right now you have not my clinging body but you have my thoughts and heart and soul. Your ever loving husband Alan xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx