| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | AWM2021.7.306 |
| Collection number | PR03205 |
| Collection type | Digitised Collection |
| Record type | Wallet |
| Item count | 1 |
| Object type | Letter, Typescript |
| Physical description | 143 Image/s captured |
| Maker |
Bills, Walter Russell |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | 1991 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Wallet 1 of 1 - Typed transcripts of letters originally written Walter R Bills to his fiancee Jean, 1941-1942
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX34071 Driver Walter R Bills of 1AASC Petrol Company, 8 Division, 1941-1942
Wallet 1 of 1 - consists of typed transcripts of letters originally written by VX34071 Driver Walter R Bills of 1AASC Petrol Company, 8 Division, covering the period February 1941-February 1942. The letters, written to his fiancee Jean, commence with the departure of the Queen Mary from Sydney and record Bills' experiences in Malaya and in Singapore until it was captured. Topics include: Bill's impressions of Singapore and the Chinese; his experiences of leave in the city; camp life; Bill's work; the progress of the Japanese; newspaper reports; daily air raids; the evacuation to Singapore; and the conversion his section to AASC Rifle Company.
The last letter written was prior to the fall of Singapore. Bills died at Sandakan in February 1943.