Australians in the Battle of Britain. 18 October 1940. Bill Millington

Australians in the Battle of Britain. 18 October 1940

While Bill Millington enjoyed his mid-October leave, Adelaideans were reading about him in The Advertiser: his parents had sent in another one of Bill’s letters. Because of the mails—everything came by sea—it was hideously out of date. The ‘Tiser may have claimed that Bill was describing his ‘recent’ experiences, but the letter was written in July.

This letter is interesting for three reasons. Bill describes the attitude of the British in the opening days of a battle that threatened their freedom; he tells something of a general attitude towards the enemy that threatened the land of his birth; and he concludes—to his regret—that air fighting has to be a cold, deadly business if you want to win the war. ‘According to the press’, wrote Bill:

 

‘Australia is doing its utmost to help the war effort, and no effort must be spared to help Britain to gain a decisive victory...Britain stands united, and behind a typical fighting Government she will undoubtedly win through in the end whatever the cost. There is no personal hatred of the Germans [amongst the pilots]. Some of the fellows who have been captured have spent some time in the officers’ mess before being dispatched to internment camps, and they have proved quite good types, but absolutely fanatical in their belief in Nazism, having been shaken up considerably by the loss of comrades and friends.

I realise that fighting in the air has to be a cold matter of business routine, no longer sportive. Sorry in a way but the war has to be won and how—!’