Description
Object description
Australian private served with 2/16th Bn Australian Infantry, 21st Australian Infantry Bde, 7th Australian Infantry Div, Second Australian Imperial Force in Australia, Middle East and Papua New Guinea, 1940-1942
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Northam, Australia, 1918-1940: explanation of nickname 'Pel'; family; education; civilian employment; childhood; outlook on nationality; view and degree of knowledge of First World War; effects of Depression on family including knowledge of events in wider world; reaction to Munich Agreement, 9/1939; trip to Northern Territory, 1938; process of joining army including reasons for joining up. Aspects of enlistment and training as private and NCO with 2/16th Australian Infantry Bn, 21st Australian Infantry Bde, 7th Australian Infantry Div, Second Australian Imperial Force in Australia, 1940: process of enlistment arrival at Northam Camp; service of Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold Potts; opinion of General Thomas Blamey.
REEL 2 Continues: story of inspection by General Thomas Blamey; pattern of training; uniform and weapons issued; discipline; reaction to military service; reaction to events in Europe, 1940; activities during wait for posting; march through Perth; changes to battalion insignia; news of overseas posting. Recollections of voyages aboard HMT Aquitania and HMT Rajula from Fremantle, Australia to Kantara, Egypt via India, 10/1940-11/1940: train journey to Fremantle; embarkation aboard HMT Aquitania at Fremantle, 25/10/1940; story of battalion mascot; nature of voyage aboard HMT Aquitania across Indian Ocean, including convoy escort and movement, activities and lectures; impressions of Bombay, 4/11/1940; leave and period in Deolali and Poona, 4/11/1940-10/11/1940; character of HMT Rajula boarded in Bombay, 10/11/1940; sleeping arrangements; rations; voyage through Red Sea; composition of convoy. Aspects of period as NCO with 2/16th Australian Infantry Bn, 21st Australian Infantry Bde, 7th Australian Infantry Div, Second Australian Imperial Force in Middle East, 11/1940-4/1941: rations in camp in Egypt; description of train journey from Egypt to Julius Camp, Al Majdal, Palestine.
REEL 3 Continues: activities on arrival at Julius Camp, Al Majdal Palestine; pattern of training; leave; care taken against thieves; out of bounds areas; places visited; Christmas 25/12/1940; posting as military policeman to Jerusalem and days leave in Tel Aviv; reactions to posting abroad; relations with civilians and leisure activities; move to Dimra; route marches and manoeuvres; climate; war news. Aspects of period as NCO with 2/16th Australian Infantry Bn, 21st Australian Infantry Bde, 7th Australian Infantry Div, Second Australian Imperial Force in Egypt, 4/1941-5/1941: move to Mersa Matruh; problems from sand and sandstorm; duties as battalion orderly corporal; punishment received for visit to neighbouring brigade; common punishments for misdemeanours; knowledge of events in Greece, 4/1941. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2/16th Australian Infantry Bn, 21st Australian Infantry Bde, 7th Australian Infantry Div, Second Australian Imperial Force in French Syria and Lebanon, 6/1941-1/1942: degree of prior awareness of move to French Syria; nature of opposition faced and disposal of bush hats; actions participated in; story of fighting patrol on River Litani and discovery of dead Vichy French Senagalese soldier.
REEL 4 Continues: plan of action after crossing border into French Syria; story of patrol led by Sergeant James Mackenzie; advance after crossing border including details of first action; reaction to coming under fire for the first time; fire received from Vichy French Navy destroyers Guépard and Valmy; contact with British Army Special Service Bde commandos; crossing of River Litani, 9/6/1941; wounding during advance on Sardin; discipline in action; nature of Vichy French opposition faced at Sardin; reaction to wounding; hospitalisation and convalescence; desire to return to unit; attitude of self and others to being wounded; nature of Vichy French opposition faced in French Syria; story of Vichy French Army tank; question of proximity to opposition in French Syria and Papua New Guinea; memories of Keith Norrish; return to battalion in Beirut, Lebanon; accommodation; duties helping to repatriate Vichy French forces.
REEL 5 Continues: reason for posting inland from Tripoli. Lebanon; position occupied in mountains; accommodation; rations; leave; reaction to news of Japan's entry into Second World War, 12/1941; reaction to situation in North Africa; reaction to United States of America's entry into Second World War, 12/1941. Aspects of voyage aboard the HMT Ile de France and HMT City of London from Ismailia, Egypt, to Fremantle, Australia via India, 1/1942-3/1942: embarkation aboard HMT Ile de France at Ismailia, Egypt; rations; stopover in Bombay, India; sleeping arrangements; incident of receiving reprimand; conditions on board; transfer to HMT City of London and voyage to Fremantle, including arguments over destination and opinion of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Aspects of period as NCO with 2/16th Bn Australian Infantry, 21st Australian Infantry Bde, 7th Australian Infantry Div, Second Australian Imperial Force in Australia, 3/1942-8/1942: opinion of Prime Minister John Curtin; Australian attitude to conscientious objectors; reaction on arrival off Australian coast and wait for disembarkation; arrival in harbour and troops going Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL); punishment for troops going Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL); Imperial Japanese Navy attacks on Sydney Harbour, 5/1942-6/1942; posting in Maroochydore; pattern of training; hearing of Japanese forces' landing at Gona, Papua New Guinea; voyage from Brisbane to Papua New Guinea; reaction to fall of Singapore, Malaya, 15/2/1942.
REEL 6 Continues: reaction to Japanese forces' attacks on Australia; knowledge of posting to Papua New Guinea; coping with going into action; voyage to Papua New Guinea; jungle training received in Queensland. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2/16th Australian Infantry Bn, 21st Australian Infantry Bde, 7th Australian Infantry Div. Second Australian Imperial Force in Papua New Guinea, 8/1942-12/1942: equipment carried en route to Kokoda Track; condition of tracks; terrain and climate; role on arrival; description of stairways cut into hills; nature of Japanese opposition faced; troops breaking under strain; reason for joining battalion at Brigade Hill; situation at Brigade Hill, including delay tactics employed; plan for breakout; waiting for Japanese forces and health problems; policy toward taking prisoners of war; visibility in jungle; contact with Japanese forces; positions; visit from Brigadier Arnold Potts; relief and withdrawal; opinion and degree of knowledge of Imperial Japanese Army troops; fire received from Imperial Japanese Army mountain gun and casualties.
REEL 7 Continues: return of Captain William Grayden; supply of meals to pillbox and further fire received; reaction to situation; opinion of Thompson Submachine gun and Lee-Enfield Rifle; uniform worn and opinion of boots; activities during rest period; return to front line; terrain on coastal plains; march to Gona; nature of attacks on Gona, including Imperial Japanese Army positions and artillery shelling received from own artillery; opinion of reasons for failure of attacks on Gona; knowledge of senior officers; march to battalion headquarters; attack made on beach and wounding, 12/1942; nature of wounds; initial shelter taken and crawl back to Australian lines; initial reaction to wounding; evacuation. Aspects of hospitalisation in Papua New Guinea and Australia, 12/1942-8/1943: medical treatment received; problems with supply of rations.
REEL 8 Continues: operations received in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; scenes on arrival at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; voyage to Brisbane, Australia; train journey to Melbourne, Australia; details of skin grafts; period of hospitalisation in Fremantle, Australia; discharge from military service, 8/1943. Aspects of period as civilian in Australia, 1943-1945: changes to life in Australia; civilian employment; demobilisation suit; obtaining war news; reflections on military service; treatment received from civilians; discussion of American service personnel in Australia; VJ Day celebrations and reaction to end of Second World War, 15/8/1945; lessons learned from wartime military service.
