Description
Object description
Australian NCO and officer served with 2nd/28th Bn Australian Imperial Forces in Australia, North Africa and New Guinea, 1940-1944; officer served with 3rd Bn Royal Australian Regt in Korea, 1951; served with 2nd Bn Royal Australian Regt in Malaya, 1955-1957
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Emu Hill and Perth, Australia, 1920-1940: family; life on farm; move to Perth; employment; further details of family; effects of Depression in Perth; reasons for interest in military; membership of army cadets; awareness of Anzac tradition and First World War; degree of knowledge of situation in Europe; meeting future wife; rifle training with cadets; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of period as private with 2nd /28th Bn Australian Imperial Forces in Australia, 1940-1941: background to enlistment; duties guarding oil depots.
REEL 2 Continues: induction process; opinion of weapons and uniform issued; allocation of 9th Div for service in Western Desert. Recollections of operations as NCO and officer with 2nd/28th Bn, 9th Div Australian Imperial Forces in North Africa, 1941-1942: embarkation on board Acquitania, 1/1941; contrast between prospect of service in North Africa and Australia; conditions on board Acquitania; voyage from Australia to Egypt; situation on arrival in Egypt, 2/1941; officer training course in Cairo; qualities needed by officers; opinion of senior officers and politicians.
REEL 3 Continues: impressions of General Montgomery; opinion of situation in North Africa; Axis threat in North Africa; opinion of Rommel and Axis forces; wounding at Ruweisat Ridge, 7/1942; significance at Ruweisat Ridge action; co-ordination during Battle of El Alamein; importance of providing supporting mortar fire; use of old forts and deployment on Ruweisat Ridge.
REEL 4 Continues: time taken to deploy and fire mortars; lack of feedback in regards of firing; use of ranging shots with mortars; de-briefing after actions; question of effects of potential Axis victory at El Alamein; reaction for hospitalisation for wounds; return to unit during El Alamein barrage. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd/28th Bn in Australia, 1943: return to Australia, early 1943; training for service New Guinea; degree of awareness of Japanese attacks on and degree of panic in Australia; attitude to leaving North Africa; impressions of Egyptians; loss of brother during sinking HMAS Perth.
REEL 5 Continues: awareness of situation in New Guinea; attitude towards Japanese; jungle training; contrast between operating in desert and jungle; duties and responsibilities; lack of training with American troops; opinion of General MacArthur's role; opinion of American troops. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd/28th Bn in New Guinea, 1943-1944: situation in New Guinea, 9/1943; move to Lae; role as administration officer; impressions of New Guinea; morale and motivation of troops; entertainments.
REEL 6 Continues: daily routine in camp; degree of comfort in jungle; lack of certain supplies; attitude to being left out of battle; attitude of troops towards prospect of action against Japanese; crossing river; equipment carried by troops in action; foot problems and rashes; restricted knowledge of enemy positions in jungle; significance of airfield at Lae; reaction to capture of Lae and casualties; amphibious landing at Finschhafen, 9/1944; dealing with Japanese counter attack.
REEL 7 Continues: Japanese delaying tactics; opinion of adaptability of Australian troops; state of health; psychological effects of operating against Japanese; stand to; fighting patrols; communication at night; how smell travelled at night; contracting malaria and attitude towards it; evacuation to Ports Moresby; contributions of Fuzzie Wuzzies; attitude towards nurses; evacuation to Australia. Aspects of period as officer with Australian Army in Australia, 1945: return to duty; attitude to losses; attitude to dropping of atomic bomb and end of war; reads extract from article written about women during Second World War.
REEL 8 Continues: return to civilian life; role of regimental association; comradeship in Australian Army; impressions of post-war Cold War situation and opinion of Communist threat. Recollections of operations as officer with 3rd Bn Royal Australian Regt in Korea, 1951: degree of awareness of situation in Korea; reasons for volunteering for service in Korea; move to Japan; types of officers in Australian Army; effects of his lack of education on his promotion; move to Pusan; situation on arrival.
REEL 9 Continues: comparison between North Korean and German troops; reception from South Korean; joining battalion; character of unit; opinion of 1st Bn King's Own Scottish Borderers; opinion of Chinese troops; character of journey to join unit; arrival on River Imjin; coping with cold weather; unit positions on hill; weapons; character of his platoon; question of crossing of 38th Parallel by United Nations forces and serving under General MacArthur.
REEL 10 Continues: reasons for Australian presence; question of provocation of Chinese and potential of use of atomic bomb; importance of confidence; opinion of Chinese troops; patrolling; orders groups; method of dealing with Chinese wave tactics; lack of contact during patrols; daily routine; effect of crossing icy River Imjin; physical state of troops; contrast between desert and Korea; air support.
REEL 11 Continues: reasons for return to Australia on compassionate leave. Aspects of period as training officer with Australian Army in Australia, 1951-1955: joining regular army; opinion of National Servicemen; background to transfer 2nd Bn Royal Australian Regt in Queensland. Aspects of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Royal Australian Regt in Malaya, 1955- 1957: training in Penang; anti-insurgent role of battalion; relations with civilians; importance of prior jungle experience; relations with regular officers; administration duties.
REEL 12 Continues: attitude to service in Malaya; intelligence briefings; return to Australia; question of Communist threat in Malaya; changes in army. Story of retirement from army and return to civilian life. Daughter's military service. Attitude to military service with Australian Army.