I’ve been paging through this old scrapbook that Uncle Pete sent me. An Australian woman named Jean made it for him during the war. She must have spent tens of hours clipping out all the news articles and arranging them just so. After the war, Jean sent the scrapbook to Pete’s mother.
I asked Uncle Pete about Melbourne. He said that, while 1st Marines stayed at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds (M.C.G.), 7th Marines stayed at a place called Mt. Martha that was about 15 miles outside of Melbourne.
Pete told me that Australia was “a lot of fun.” He was a little surprised by how it was portrayed in the series saying, “It wasn’t as bad as all that.” He “didn’t see any bummin’ around or bar brawls” and informed me that, unless a Marine was squared away, he wasn’t getting any liberty. “That’s not to say there wasn’t no drinkin’ goin’ on,” he laughed.
So, with Episode 3 we got a little drinking, a little romance (will someone please get Leckie a shoehorn?) and the Marines were off again.
For one reason or another, the series skips right to Cape Gloucester and the terrible conditions there. Uncle Pete confirmed that it was always wet and miserable, “The only time you were dry was when you were in your hammock.” When I asked whether morale was bad, he simply said, “Well, I never went to no kook farm.”
Uncle Pete had been with C Company, 7th Marines since he left boot camp. On Cape Gloucester, he was transferred to Headquarters Company and became Chesty Puller’s driver. Unfortunately the new duty only moved him about 50 yards back from the line. Cape Gloucester would be the last time Uncle Pete saw combat. Soon, he’d be heading back to the States.
That, however, is a story for later.
I don’t know if I’ll be continuing to follow each episode here at Big Hollywood. I will, however, be posting supplemental pieces inspired by the clippings in Uncle Pete’s scrapbook to coincide with happenings in the series.
Before signing off, I wanted to share something from the scrapbook with you. Jean from Melbourne had rewritten the lyrics to the song “Thanks for the Memory” in the last page of the book. She dedicated it “To the United States Marines” but I have a feeling it was really for Uncle Pete.
Thanks for the memory,
Of coloured campaign bars,
Blossoms and stars,
Of rum and cokes and moron jokes and dining in staff cars,
How lovely it was.
Thanks for the memory,
Of castles in the air,
Fingers in my hair,
Of Collins Street and kisses sweet and those medals that you wear,
How lovely it was.
Oh, many is the time that we flirted,
I don’t think we’ll ever regret it,
I know I shall never forget it,
I love you so but there I go,
So,
Thanks for the memory,
Of tidy little flats,
Trying on your hats,
And overcoats and fishing boats, of cozy fireside chats,
How lovely it was.