Interview with Raymond Stewart Middleton

Australian NCO served with 2/28th Australian Infantry Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div in North Africa, 2/1941-7/1942

REEL 1 Background in Perth, Australia, 1917-1939: family; education; sporting and recreational activities; membership of Australian Army Cadets and Militia; employment from 1932; effects of Depression during 1930s; effects of political situation in Europe, 1938-1939. Aspects of enlistment and training with Australian Army in Australia, 1940: background to enlistment; pay; method of volunteering at Subiaco; motivation for volunteering; move to 11th Bn at Northam Camp; promotion to corporal; formation of 2/28th Bn; pattern of training until 11/1940. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Aquitania and HMT Nieuw Zeeland from Australia to Middle East, 12/1940-1/1941: formation of 9th Australian Infantry Div; embarkation at Fremantle, Australia; reaction of troops to embarkation; boarding HMT Aquitania; conditions on board HMT Aquitania; reaction of troops to transfer to HMT Nieuw Zeeland; alcohol available; question of knowledge of destination. Aspects of period as NCO with 2/28th Australian Infantry Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div in Middle East, 2/1941-6/1941: orders not to be rude to Arabs; move to Gaza, Palestine; opinion of equipment issued and later use of Italian Army equipment; relations with Arabs; Arabs attitude towards Jewish civilians; entraining for Egypt; playing football against 2/11th Bn at Mersa Matruh, Egypt; move by road to Tobruk, Libya; degree of knowledge about General Erwin Rommel. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2/28th Australian Infantry Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div during Siege of Tobruk, Libya, 4/1941-6/1941: use of captured Italian Army vehicles and guns. REEL 3 Continues: arrival in Tobruk, 3/1941; building shelters; nature of former Italian defences; importance of Tobruk; equipment available; use of Bren Gun and Italian 47mm Breda Anti-Tank Gun; start of Deutsches Afrika Korps attacks on perimeter; air support available; patrolling at night; defensive Blue and Red Lines; in a state of siege from 11/4/1941; Axis air attacks; development of camaraderie; shift duties; crossing minefield during night; lack of entertainment and reading material; aim of patrols; improvising booby-traps; state of cook and medical officer's morale. REEL 4 Continues: rations; water supply and washing; source of wounds in Blue Line; dust storms; accidental shooting of officer; infestation of fleas and scorpions; sleeping arrangements; coping with situation and attitude to war; opinion of Generals Erwin Rommel and Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Morshead; wounding by discarded Italian grenade, 5/1941; hospitalisation in Tobruk; Axis air raids on port area; cost of maintaining siege; evacuation from Tobruk, 1/6/1941; situation on leaving Tobruk, 5/1941; opinion of higher command including Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Morshead; importance of holding Tobruk; reaction to leaving Tobruk. Aspects of period of hospitalisation in Egypt, 1941: attitude of hospital nurses towards Australian personnel in Alexandria; attending Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) organised show. REEL 5 Continues: move to No 2 Australian General Hospital and then eye No 15 Scottish General Hospital in Cairo; doctors' method of dealing with eye wounds; hearing of death of brother Pilot Alan Middleton in flying accident in Egypt, 17/7/1941; role of chaplain; British Army troops' concern with news from GB; communication with family and friends; return to battalion in French Syria; reaction to outbreak of Second World War in Far East, 12/1941; role of division in French Syria. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2/28th Australian Infantry Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div on El Alamein Line in Egypt, 6/1942-7/1942: preparations for move from French Syria to El Alamein Line in Egypt; Deutsches Afrika Korps adaptations in vehicles and method of carrying water; attitude of South African personnel to surrender at Tobruk, Libya; proposed role of 9th Australian Infantry Div; in action supporting tanks near Ruin Ridge, 17/7/1942; character of German 88mm Gun fire. REEL 6 Continues: character of Ruin Ridge; start of attacks on Ruin Ridge, 7/1942; wounding of Bill Jones; role of stretcher-bearers; under Deutsches Afrika Korps mortar and 88mm Gun fire; reaction to potential wounding or death; reaching objectives on Ruin Ridge with loss of battalion vehicles, 26/7/1942-27/7/1942; capture by Deutsches Afrika Korps armoured forces; reaction to being captured, 27/7/1942; move to Campo PG 116, Benghazi, Libya; question of escape; conditions in Campo PG 116, Benghazi, Libya; removal to Italy, 11/1942.