Description
Object description
Australian NCO served with 43rd Landing Craft Coy, Australian Army in Papua New Guinea, 11/1943-8/1945; served with 67th Bn Royal Australian Regt, 34th Australian Infantry Bde and 3rd Bn Royal Australian Regt, British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, 1946-1950; served with 3rd Bn Royal Australian Regt, 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde in North and South Korea, 9/1950-9/1951
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Subiaco, Australia, 1923-1940: family; education; decision to join the Australian Army; family's military experience. Aspects of training with Citizen Military Forces and Australian Army in Australia, 1940-1942: initial deferment; round up of suspected spies; threat from Japanese forces; pattern of jungle training in Queensland. Recollections of operations as sergeant with 43rd Landing Craft Coy, Australian Army in Papua New Guinea, 11/1943-8/1945: conditions in jungle; role of unit; sense of isolations; Imperial Japanese Army night-time tactics and tricks; reaction of Australian Army troops towards behaviour of Imperial Japanese Army troops; role of New Guinea auxiliaries.
REEL 2 Continues: reaction to initial experience of action; question of motivation of other ranks; first operation in Papua New Guinea; importance of coastal reconnaissance; opinion of clean up operations; discovery of Imperial Japanese Army hospital; surrender of Japanese forces in Papua New Guinea, 8/1945; attitude towards Japanese; story of taking letter to Imperial Japanese Army soldier's mother in Japan; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945. Recollections of period as NCO with 67th Bn, 34th Australian Infantry Bde and 3rd Bn Royal Australian Regt, British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, 1946-1950: method of acquiring money for service in Japan; background to volunteering for service in Japan; arrival in Japan; effect of winter conditions; reaction of Japanese civilians to arrival of Australian Army troops; aiding ex-Japanese prisoners of war; condition for Japanese civilians in Hiroshima; supply of beer; incident of using fire engine to get back to camp.
REEL 3 Continues: memories of visit to Hiroshima; question of siting of atomic bomb; contrast in American and Australian treatment of Japanese prisoners of war during demobilisation; dealing with Korean ex-servicemen who had served with Imperial Japanese Army; social activities; duties during Japanese elections; dealing with unrest in mining area; formation of 3rd Bn Royal Australian Regt from 67th Bn, 1947.
REEL 4 Continues: ceremonial duties in Tokyo; memories of winning the Gloucester Cup, 1948; state of the battalion at outbreak of Korean War, 6/1950. Recollections of operations as NCO with 3rd Bn Royal Australian Regt, 27th Commonwealth Bde in South and North Korea, 9/1950-9/1951: increase in training in Japan after outbreak of Korean War, 6/1950; process of volunteering for service in Korean War; question of brothers not serving together; degree of knowledge about Korean Peninsula; move from South Korea to Japan; reception at Pusan, South Korea, 28/9/1950; flight to Kimpo Airfield, South Korea; role of battalion and attachment to American forces.
REEL 5 Continues: opinion of American General Douglas MacArthur; People's Republic of China's entry into war, 10/1950; contrast in American and Commonwealth forces' method of withdrawal; opinion of United States Army fighting abilities; Chinese People's Volunteer Army method of attack; encounter with North Korean People's Army troops during advance northwards towards Pyongyang, North Korea; chaotic entry into Pyongyang, North Korea; attack on North Korean People's Army positions on hillside; incident when American forces failed to cover unit withdrawal; opinion of Turkish Army troops; United States Army method of convoy control; digging in at Ujongbu, South Korea.
REEL 6 Continues: taking up positions at Kapyong, South Korea, 22/4/1951; Chinese People's Volunteer Army attack at Kapyong, South Korea, 4/1951; casualties from United States Air Force accidental napalming of battalion; casualties; advance northwards summer 1951; background to leaving South Korea, 8; winter conditions on Korean Peninsula; reaction of troops to being left out of battle; comradeship; weather conditions; question of Korean War being a forgotten war; reaction of Returned Serviceman's League to Korean War veterans; importance United Nations' role during Korean War; opinion of Republic of South Korean forces since the end of Korean War.
