Army Base in Queensland

22 Aug 1940

Dear Alice,

Of course I don't mind waiting for you to be more comfortable in sharing your past. After all, we've only met once and have known each other for just a few months, I understand if you're not ready. Only share what you want to share.

I do have a sister, and she is younger. Vera's always been a bit of a scamp, but she's my sister and I love her. There's not as much of an age difference between me and Vera like you and your sister, Vera's only two years younger than me so she tagged along at every opportunity she could. (It drove Mum up a wall to have her come back dirty and scraped knees, but Vera wouldn't quit.) She's married now, to a journo - he's a good man, can keep up with her mentally and physically - and they have a daughter. Rose, my niece, is five and from Vera's letters, she constantly wants to know why I'm gone and why she can't come up to Queensland to visit. She's got pluck, I'll tell you that, and she's going to be trouble once she gets older, but she's one of the best things to come into my life.

The journal has been helping, so again, thank you for sending it. I do have a slightly odd request, however… may I have a photo of you? Some days when I sit down to write, it gets hard to form the words until I pretend I'm back on that pier talking to you directly, so I think having a physical reminder might help - especially before we leave. (That and the boys are always so curious about you whenever I get a letter, don't worry, I don't divulge the private parts of the letter, but they do enjoy hearing about what happens back home. A picture of you might get them off my back for a bit, but you don't have to send one if you'd rather not.)

Your landlady sounds like a hoot, but she also seems fairly open minded when it comes to her tenants - I've never heard of one that's alright with young ladies working overnight shifts, does she impose a curfew?

Sincerely,

Matthew