Interview with John Burridge

Australian officer served with 2nd Independent Company in Australia, 10/1941-12/1941; served with 2nd Independent Company and 2/2nd Independent Company in Dutch Timor, Dutch East Indies and Portuguese Timor, 10/1941-1/1943

REEL 1 Background in Perth, Australia, 1918-1941: family; education; employment; background to enlistment; family's involvement in First World War; discussion of connections with GB; opinion of nationality; degree of awareness of events in Europe; opinion of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain; attitude towards prospect of war; father's refusal to allow him to enlistment in early stages of Second World War; attitude towards Germany; attempt to and reasons for attempting to enlist in Royal Australian Air Force; reaction to Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940; opinion of Germany as opposition. Aspects of enlistment in Australian Army, 1940-1941 enlistment, 10/1940; reason for joining Australian Army, 10/1940. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of training as officer with 2nd Independent Company in Australia, 10/1941-12/1941: background to joining Independent Companies; degree of knowledge of Japanese forces; opinion of Italian Army troops; knowledge of campaign in North Africa and German General Erwin Rommel; anticipation of posting to North Africa; opinion of Australian forces at Tobruk, Libya; reaction to Germany's invasion of Soviet Union, 6/1941; degree of knowledge and opinion of Japanese forces; camp built on Katherine River; decision to post unit to Dutch East Indies; voyage to Dutch Timor, Dutch East Indies, 12/1941; story of volunteering for Independent Companies; memories of Frederick Spencer Chapman; knowledge of unit's role; qualities, background and character of independent company personnel; details of unit; physical fitness training; demolition training with Mike Calvert; nature of training; remaining members of unit and involvement with association; comradeship.. REEL 3 Continues: reaction to Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 7/12/1941; reaction to overseas posting. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Independent Company and 2/2nd Independent Company in Dutch Timor, Dutch East Indies and Portuguese Timor, 12/1941-1/1943: voyage to Dutch Timor; arrival in Kupang; completion of camp at airfield; impressions of Kupang; degree of knowledge of situation; move to Dili in Portuguese Timor; units on Timor, including Sparrow Force; contact with Dutch East Indies troops; landing in Portuguese Timor and awareness of political situation; reason for taking positions in hills; maps made of tracks; details of Three Spur Camp; proposed role in case of invasion by Japanese forces and opinion of plan; degree of awareness of wider events; problems with malaria; aid received from civilians. REEL 4 Continues: communications and awareness of invasion by Japanese forces, 2/1942; actions against Japanese forces; initial belief the invasion force was Portuguese; defence of aerodrome; patrol to discover nationality of invaders; movement of headquarters; destruction of Three Spur Camp; arrival of Imperial Japanese Army Air Service aircraft; reaction to war situation, including news of fall of Singapore, Malaya, 15/2/1942; dealing with wounded; opinion of war; story of initial contact with Japanese forces; rations; Japanese forces' actions in Portuguese Timor; relations with civilians.