Description
Object description
Australian officer served with 2/2nd Independent Coy in Australia, Dutch Timor, Dutch East Indies and Portuguese Timor, 10/1941-1/1943
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Perth, Australia, 1918-1941: family; education; employment; background to enlistment; family's involvement in First World War; discussion of connections with GB; opinion of nationality; degree of awareness of events in Europe; opinion of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain; attitude towards prospect of war; father's refusal to allow him to enlistment in early stages of Second World War; attitude towards Germany; attempt to and reasons for attempting to enlist in Royal Australian Air Force; reaction to Dunkirk Evacuation, 1940; opinion of Germany as opposition. Aspects of enlistment in Australian Imperial Forces, 1940-1941 enlistment, 10/1940; reason for joining army, 10/1940.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of training as officer with 2/2nd Independent Coy in Australia, 10/1941-12/1941: background to joining Independent Coys; degree of knowledge of Japanese forces; opinion of Italian troops; knowledge of North Africa campaign and General Erwin Rommel; anticipation of posting to North Africa; opinion of Australian forces at Tobruk, Libya; reaction to German invasion of Soviet Union, 6/1941; degree of knowledge and opinion of Japanese, forces; camp built on Katherine River; decision to post unit to Dutch East Indies; voyage to Dutch Timor, Dutch East Indies, 12/1941; story of volunteering for Independent Coys; memories of Spencer Chapman; knowledge of unit's role; qualities, background and character of troops; details of unit; physical fitness training; demolition training with Mike Calvert; nature of training; remaining members of unit and involvement with association; comradeship..
REEL 3 Continues: reaction to Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7/12/1941; reaction to overseas posting. Recollections of operations as officer with 2/2nd Independent Coy in Dutch Timor, Dutch East Indies and Portuguese Timor, 12/1941-1/1943: voyage to Dutch Timor; arrival in Kupang; completion of camp at airfield; impressions of Kupang; degree of knowledge of situation; move to Dili in Portuguese Timor; units on Timor including Sparrow Force; contact with Dutch East Indies troops; landing in Portuguese Timor and awareness of political situation; reason for taking positions in hills; maps made of tracks; details of Three Spur Camp; proposed role in case of Japanese invasion and opinion of plan; degree of awarness of wider events; problems with malaria; aid received from civilians.
REEL 4 Continues: communications and awareness of Japanese invasion, 2/1942; actions against Japanese forces; initial belief the invasion force was Portuguese; defence of aerodrome; patrol to discover nationality of invaders; movement of headquarters; destruction of Three Spur Camp; arrival of Japanese aircraft; reaction to situation including news of Singapore's fall, 2/1942; dealing with wounded; opinion of war; story of initial contact with Japanese; rations; Japanese actions in Portuguese Timor; relations with civilians.