"Your loving father"
“Hello my darling daughter,
Many happy returns of the day and an extra big kiss from Daddy. I wonder as you sit and listen to your Mummy read this to you, do you in your own little mind know what it is all about and who it is from, remember the dark headed man that suddenly came into your life one day not so long ago, played and cuddled with you, spoilt you thoroughly and then all of a sudden disappeared and left you all to your Mummy again. Well that is your Daddy. Tell Mummy to give you a big kiss from me and on the quiet you give her a big kiss too from me also for you have the darlingist Mummy in the world…”.
Like many conflicts, the Second World War disrupted the lives of the Mountney family. During the war Godfrey and Jean Mountney welcomed two children, Helen in January, 1942, and Marion in March, 1944. At 27 years, Godfrey or “Goff” as he was affectionately known worked as a builder and contractor to support his growing family prior to active service. He enlisted on 1 April 1943 from West Coburg, Victoria and was assigned to 1 Australian Machine Gun Training Battalion in Cowra, New South Wales.
During his service the family moved to Portsea, Victoria, as Private Mountney was posted further north to Canunga, Queensland, Townsville and later Morotai, New Guinea. During brief periods of leave Godfrey was able to return home to his family. Eager for his young daughters to remember him, he wrote letters and sent postcards, to remind them they had a loving father.
It was during a period of leave in late 1944 (possibly Christmas Eve according to the family) that Private Mountney returned home with special gifts for the girls. Dressed in uniform and carrying his kit and gifts for the family, he caught the train from Melbourne to Frankston and then tried to hitch hike to Portsea. As no one stopped to give him a lift he walked a remarkable near 55kms journey home. Only a few months old at the time, Marion was given this toy dog, and Helen received a larger toy pig.
‘Pluto’ the dog is a well-loved and much cherished childhood possession. Constructed from a simple pattern with recycled buttons for eyes, it is typical of austerity style toys of the period, with what could be reused furniture fabric for the main body.
Pluto is now held in the Memorial’s collection, along with letters that Private Mountney sent during his service that give us a glimpse into the love for his family.