McKilliam, Robert Lawrence (Sergeant, b.1916 - d.2006) Accession Number: PR01908

Description

Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX79325 Sergeant Robert Lawrence McKilliam, 2/9 Armoured Regiment, Australia, Dutch East Indies, 1944-1945.

Wallet 1 of 4 - consists of two folders of correspondence from McKilliam to his wife Dorothy ('Dommie'), written while McKilliam was posted to the 2/9th Armoured Regiment Workshop in the Atherton Tableland in Queensland.
Folder 1 contains 29 letters, dated between 19 February and 29 July 1944. McKilliam writes of the weather, home life in Collaroy, his son Stephen, friends and acquaintances, recreational activities such as playing squash and Australian Rules football, drinking beer, horse races, gambling, concerts and the pictures, rations, news of the war, making a toy for Stephen, and his love for Dorothy.

Folder 2 contains 34 letters and a card, dated between 1 August and 30 October 1944. McKilliam continues to remark on friends and acquaintances, enquires about Stephen's development, writes of his leave in Brisbane, recreational activities such as seeing films and playing cricket, his longing to return home to Dorothy and Stephen, the inconsistent postal services, finances, and his and Dorothy's attempts to purchase land on which to build a house.

Wallet 2 of 4 - consists of two folders of correspondence from McKilliam to his wife Dorothy, written while McKilliam was posted to the 2/9th Armoured Regiment Workshop in the Atherton Tableland in Queensland.
Folder 1 contains 35 letters and a card, dated between 1 November and 31 December 1944. McKilliam writes of an eye injury he sustained in the workshop, discusses the weather, further remarks on friends and acquaintances and his and Dorothy's attempts to purchase land, enquires after Stephen and events at home, writes of playing cricket and going swimming, and of making a wooden toy train for Stephen. The folder also includes a 1944 Christmas card from the 2/9th Armoured Regiment Workshop.

Folder 2 contains 33 letters, dated between 1 January and 27 February 1945. McKilliam writes of the church service and parade held for New Year's Day, going to the pictures, concert parties, a unit dance with Australian Army Nursing Service sisters, reading, of his work, feeling home sick, his health, of Stephen and events in Collaroy, marching before the Duke of Gloucester, his hopes and plans for after the war, and remarks on friends, family and acquaintances.

Wallet 3 of 4 - consists of two folders of correspondence from McKilliam to his wife Dorothy, written while McKilliam was posted to the workshop of C Squadron, 2/9th Armoured Regiment as the unit prepared and subsequently embarked for service on Morotai in the Dutch East Indies.
Folder 1 contains 10 letters, dated between 1 and 31 March 1945. McKilliam writes of family and friends, recreational activities such as football and the pictures, discusses Stephen's development, financial matters, Dorothy's pregnancy, and the vegetation and natural environment [on Morotai].

Folder 2 contains 16 letters, dated between 2 and 30 April 1945. McKilliam discusses finances and the cost of living, Dorothy's pregnancy and his longing for her, writes of Easter, the weather, swimming and going to the pictures, Stephen's teething, the natural environment and wildlife, inconsistent postal services, and food and rations. The folder includes two letters from McKilliam to his mother, dated 8 and 30 April 1945, in which he enquires after Dorothy and writes of recent events and war news.

Wallet 4 of 4 - consists of three folders of correspondence from McKilliam to his wife Dorothy, written while McKilliam was posted to the workshop of C Squadron, 2/9th Armoured Regiment in Borneo.
Folder 1 contains 13 letters, dated between 5 June and 24 July 1945. McKilliam writes of observing his birthday away from home and family, of the battle of Tarakan and operations in Borneo, sandflies, playing bridge, football news, the birth of his daughter Annette, requests for post-war training, going to the pictures and boxing, visiting a local market, his interactions with and observations of the local population, and rumours of peace and an end to the war.

Folder 2 contains 14 letters, dated between 2 September and 16 November 1945. McKilliam writes of the end of the war and waiting to be repatriated home, of going to the pictures and lectures, preparations for his return home, of Stephen and Annette's development, and remarks on updates with friends and family. The folder also includes one letter by McKilliam to his mother, dated 10 October 1945, in which he writes of exploring Borneo's rivers and visiting a Dayak village.

Folder 3 contains 9 miscellaneous items of correspondence. The folder includes four incomplete letters by McKilliam, a letter of thanks and well wishes to Dorothy from [NX55729] Lance Bombardier Robert Lindsay, an 1940 invoice from Valesco Private Hospital in Wollongong, two telegrams of congratulations from 1940 on the birth of McKilliam and Dorothy's son Ian [who died in infancy], and a leaflet with the guidon of the 9th Light Horse Regiment.

Details

Conflicts

• Second World War, 1939-1945

Places

• Collaroy

Units

• 2/9 Armoured Regiment

Tags

• Letters
• Cricket
• Australian football
• Toys
• Love letters