Army Base in Queensland

15 June 1940

Dear Alice,

I thought I told you that Staff Sergeant Lawson was too much of a mouthful and to call me Matthew?

Thank you for the novels, very funny of you to include the mysteries in there. I'd read them before, but it's fun to reread books and see what you missed the first time. If it helps with the recommendations in the future, I'm much more of an Agatha Christie fan than a Holmes fan. I'm hoping I can pick up the latest Poirot while abroad if it comes out while I'm gone. I was surprised to see a Jane Austen, as it's not really something I'd pick up myself, but since you recommended it I'll give it a shot. I was also surprised to see that the Jane Austen is your own copy… I'll try to bring it back in one piece.

You write your As the same still, did you know that? Well, you probably did since it's your handwriting and this book is well-loved.

I let the men under my command borrow the other books after I'd reread the Christies - reading's a fast-growing past time here outside of card games, dice, and footie. They've teased me a bit about the Jane Austen, but a few well-placed glares have gotten them to stop.

(Mostly)

I'm glad school is going well for you, I wish you luck with your exams, though something tells me you won't need it. Don't spare the gory details, I'd love to hear more about pathology if you'd like to share.

As soon as I know when we're leaving, I'll let you know - it could be awhile before I write once we leave Australia. [a bit of the letter is crossed out, but "I don't want to go I don't want to fight or kill" can just be made out] I've never left Victoria before all of this… I can't imagine leaving Australia at all… can you?

Sincerely,

Matthew Lawson