Interview with James William Noble

Australian private served as driver with 2/43rd Australian Infantry Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div in Middle East and Egypt, 7/1941-1/1943; , North Africa, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Dutch East Indies and British Borneo, 1941-1945

REEL 1 Background in Lindon, GB and Manjimup, Australia, 1915-1940: family including father James Noble's service in British Army; family's emigration from GB to Australia, 1923; life in Australia, 1923-1940; memories in First World War in GB; return of father James Noble from service in India and Ireland; father Jame's Nobles experiences of military service in First World War; nature of community in Manjimup; family attitudes to GB and Australia; desire to become farmer; contact with family in GB; awareness of events in Europe including opinion of Munich Agreement, 9/1938. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with Australian Imperial Force in Australia, 1940-1941: decision to join army in time of war; reaction of family members to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; belief in ultimate Allied victory; initial attempt of enlist and reason for failure; process of enlistment, 6/1940; call-up for military service; train journey to Claremont Camp, 12/1940. REEL 2 Continues: medical examination; issue of kit; details of Claremont Camp; previous experience with rifles; weapons training; degree of knowledge of war in Europe, background to joining 2/43rd Bn; train journey to Fremantle. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Queen Mary from Fremantle, Australia, to Port Tewfik, Egypt, 7/1941: embarkation at Freemantle; first meal on board; reactions to posting abroad; composition of convoy; officers; opinion of General Thomas Blamey and Prime Minister Robert Menzies; activities on board; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; conditions on board; daily routine; lectures about Palestine; morale; war news; ashore in Trincomalee, Ceylon; voyage to Red Sea; sights witnessed in Suez Canal, Egypt; disembarkeation at Port Tewfik, Egypt. Aspects of period as private with 2/43rd Bn Australian Imperial Force, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div in Middle East, 7/1941-6/1942: train journey to Palestine; initial impressions of Middle East; reactions to approaching war; contact with troops who at served in the Siege of Tobruk, Libya. REEL 3 Continues: sleeping arrangements; accommodation; rations including food available locally; relations with civilians; exercises; train journey to El Amiriya; leisure activities during wait for voyage to Tobruk, Libya; relations between troops; cancellation of posting to Tobruk, Libya; allocation of duties in camp; work as batman; reaction to missing posting in Tobruk, Libya; state of troops arriving from Tobruk, Libya; stories heard from troops including conduct of Deutsches Afrika Korps and Italian Army troops; memories of Corporal Percy Willowit; expectations of Tobruk Garrison troops; opinion of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and senior officer in North Africa; opinion of Australian forces who served at Tobruk, Libya; expectations for future; news from home; reaction to Japan entering war and knowledge of Japanese forces, 12/1941; building of defences in French Syria; desert training; posting and roles with transport. REEL 4 Continues: journey to El Alamein Line, Egypt, 7/1942 including drive through Cairo and congestion in latter parts of journey. Recollections of operations as driver with 2/43rd Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div in Egypt, 7/1942-11/1942: arrival at El Alamein Line; movement along line; duties; Axis fire received on start line, 17/7/1942; involvement in subsequent First Battle of El Alamein, 7/1942; reactions during battle; German Air Force Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bomber attacks; knowledge of load in truck; importance of First Battle of El Alamein; transport of supplies to troops in front line; duties collecting water; supply of rations and water; state and morale of front line troops; knowledge of war's progress; presence and opinion of Salvation Army; details of mail and censorship; daily routine; supply of water; news of 24th Australian Infantry Bde's actions at Ruin Ridge, 26/7/1942-27/7/1942; own participation in action at Ruin Ridge, 26/7/1942-27/7/1942; story of truck hitting a mine; relationship with front line troops including story of running into patrol during night; driving at night. REEL 5 Continues: sight of camouflage dummy trucks and flail tanks; opinion of General Claude Auchinleck; arrival of General Bernard Montgomery; preparations for battle and morale; involvement of battalion in Second Battle of Alamein, 10/1942-1/1942; description of artillery barrage prior to Second Battle of El Alamein, 10/1942; contact with German prisoners of war; supply of troops during battle; accommodation; attack from scorpion including treatment received and after-effects; events at end of Second Battle of El Alamein, 11/1942; story of Axis air raid suffered by reinforcements; reaction to casualties; story of near transfer to 2/28th Australian Infantry Bn; attending later lectures about Second Battle of El Alamein. Aspects of period as private with 2/43rd Australian Infantry Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div in Middle East, 11/1942-1/1943: move to Palestine; attending hygiene course; rations; Christmas celebrations experienced during military service; journey to Port Tewfik, Egypt. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Queen Mary from Port Tewfik, Egypt, to Fremantle, Australia, 1/1943-2/1943: embarkation at Port Tewfik, Egypt; accommodation on board; reaction to leaving Middle East; organisation of embarkation and meals on board. REEL 6 Continues: atmosphere on departure; population of ship; activities on board including lectures; visits to canteen; further details of accommodation on board; problems with bedbugs; precautions taken against attack; duties during voyage; friends made during voyage including story of letter delivered on arrival; approaching Australia and disembarkation at Fremantle, Australia; reception and first night spent in Fremantle, Australia. Aspects of period as driver with 2/43rd Bn, 2/43rd Australian Infantry Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div in Australia, 2/1943-9/1943: leave including relations with civilians; question of threat from Japanese forces and precautions taken in Perth; reunion of battalion in Melbourne; story of parade in Perth; relations with American military personnel; opinion of senior officers; train journey to Atherton; degree of knowledge of Imperial Japanese Army troops; jungle training; knowledge of campaign in Papua New Guinea and reaction to prospect of second overseas abroad; journey to Papua New Guinea; degree of knowledge of situation in Papua New Guinea. Aspects of operations as private with 2/43rd Australian Infantry Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div in Papua New Guinea, 9/1943-1/1944: initial impressions of Papua New Guinea; sights witnessed at Milne Bay; move to Buna. REEL 7 Continues: description of camp at Buna; latrines; route marches; briefings for attack on and importance of Lae; voyage to and landing on Red Beach; move inland; effects of rain; air activity; method of keeping warm; rations and cooking of meals; crossing of River Busu; advance to Lae including sight of dead Imperial Japanese Army troops in village; arrival in and state of Lae; duties during advance; participation in patrol; first sight of Imperial Japanese Army troops; casualties; opposition faced; conditions in jungle; period spent in Lae area; voyage to Finschhafen; importance of Finschhafen; landing on Scarlet Beach; opinion of briefings; problems faced by A Coy; duties supplying battalion and evacuating wounded; story of crashed Willys Jeep; Japanese forces' activity in jungle; battalion morale; relations with American service personnel; receiving war news; move into camp on River Song including duties undertaken; details of warning system set at night; story of information found on Imperial Japanese Army officer; stand-to; method of keeping dry; evacuation and hospitalisation with dengue fever. REEL 8 Continues: problems with dermatitis among troops; medication taken; Imperial Japanese Army plans for attack and landings made; story of attempt to recover equipment; supply of water; impressions of Japanese prisoners of war; discussion of Japanese forces and campaign in Papua New Guinea; visit from Brigadier Leslie Morshead; fresh rations including fishing trips; drink brewed at Christmas 25/12/1943; reaction to posting in Australia; changes in unit; voyage to Australia. Aspects of period as driver with 2/43rd Australian Infantry Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div in Australia, 1/1944-5/1945: leave periods; recreational activities at Ravenshoe; turnover of troops in battalion; problems with eyes; news of war including morale following VE Day and D-Day; opinion of treatment of General Bernard Montgomery. REEL 9 Continues: pattern of training; reaction to news of third overseas posting abroad. Aspects of period as private with 2/43rd Australian Infantry Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div on Morotai Island, Dutch East Indies, 4/1945- 6/1945: voyage to Morotai Island; setting-up of camp; situation in Dutch East Indies; duties and recreational activities including American concert parties; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; death of American President Franklin D Roosevelt, 12/4/1945; church services attended; supply of water; briefings prior to embarkation for Labuan Island, British Borneo; opinion of General Douglas MacArthur; invasion training; make-up of convoy. Recollections of operations as driver with 2/43rd Australian Infantry Bn, 24th Australian Infantry Bde, 9th Australian Infantry Div in British Borneo, 5/1945-11/1945: organisation of landings on Labaun Island; duties supplying troops including supply of water; sight of refugees; crossing to mainland British Borneo; advance along River Klias; contact with civilians; advance along River Padas to Beaufort; opposition faced at Beaufort including memories of Private Tom Starcevich at Beaufort, 28/6/1945; work of engineers in Beaufort; organisation of supplying troops; rations; thoughts as war was coming to close; news of dropping of atomic bombs on Japan and end of Second World War, 15/8/1945; problems with Japanese forces refusing to surrender. REEL 10 Continues: learning about atomic bombs; sights witnessed in Japanese hospitals; processing of Japanese prisoners of war; organisation of demobilisation and decision to not volunteer for service in Japan; education classes attended prior return to Australia; disbandment of battalion; demobilisation and leave. Aspects of post-war life and employment: nature of employment; care received from military after demobilisation; further details of employment; reflections on war service including health care and loss of old comrades.