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Medals of a Rat

31 August 2011 by David Gist. 3 Comments
1941, Tobruk,Collection,Exhibitions,News,Personal Stories, Exhibition, Rats of Tobruk, Second World War

Visitors to the Memorial’s exhibition Rats of Tobruk 1941 will have noticed the unofficial Rats of Tobruk medal presented, according to its engraving, by Lord Haw Haw. Around twenty of these medals were made at Tobruk, which illustrates one of the earliest examples of the town’s defenders reclaiming the title ‘Rat’, bestowed on them by the propaganda radio program ‘Germany Calling’. Visitors may also notice the brasso caked around the small copper rat on this medal, the result of many years of cleaning. This perhaps gives an idea of the importance of this object in the life of its owner, John Joseph Murray, who commanded 20 Brigade at Tobruk. The care lavished on this object certainly accords with views expressed during Murray’s own lifetime about the pride he felt in having participated in this pivotal campaign. But this medal, while illustrating a highly significant period in Murray’s service career, does not give a full view of the breadth of his service. For a better appreciation of his distinguished career, we must turn to another set of objects, Murray’s medal group, which have recently gone on display in the Memorial’s Second World War gallery.

 

The medals of Major General J J Murray are impressive by anyone’s standards, and are the tangible result of a distinguished career which spanned thirty years and two wars. A native of Sydney, Murray had already served in the militia when he left Australia with the 5th Reinforcements to 1 Battalion in 1915. This unit had already participated in the first landings at ANZAC, and would remain at Gallipoli until the evacuation in December. Although his unit served at Gallipoli, his service record indicates that Murray did not. This anomaly may stem from the sectarian prejudices of his day, denying this Catholic officer the opportunity of frontline service.

With the doubling of the AIF in 1916, Murray was transferred to 53 Battalion and promoted to Temporary Captain. The battalion was subsequently sent to France, and its first major action on the Western Front was at the disastrous battle of Fromelles on 19 July. For his courage and leadership during this battle, Murray was awarded the Military Cross. In a similar vein to many award recommendations from that terrible day, Murray’s recommendation concludes, ‘[a]ll the other officers in his company were either killed or wounded.’

Murray’s unit participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in March 1917, and defended gains made during the second battle of Bullecourt. Promoted to Major, his unit saw further service when the AIF’s focus shifted to the Ypres sector in Belgium, where he was Mentioned in Despatches toward the end of 1917.

The stalled German offensive in March 1918 prompted an allied counteroffensive, which saw 53 Battalion in action in the capture of Peronne, where Murray was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. His unit was withdrawn from the line at the start of October, and saw no further action in the First World War. After the armistice Murray was again Mentioned in Despatches for his leadership, and returned to Australia in 1919.

Murray resumed his duties in the militia, and after several command appointments and promotions, and the outbreak of a new war, joined the Second AIF in April 1940. He was appointed to command 20 Brigade, which embarked for the Middle East in October. In February 1941 the brigade transferred from 7 Division to 9 Division. Despite being poorly equipped, 9 Division were then sent to relieve 6 Division in Libya. At Er Regima, 20 Brigade were one of the first Australian formations to engage Rommel’s advancing Afrika Korps. The brigade successfully staged a fighting withdrawal to Tobruk, where they played an integral part in halting and eventually repelling the German advance on 14 April.

It was at Tobruk that Murray’s experience and leadership became wholly apparent. In his account of the campaign Tobruk 1941, Chester Wilmot described Murray as ‘…a big, genial Irishman who loves a fight. He is personally easy-going but brooks no slackness among his troops and even before Tobruk his brigade was marked out as one of the best-trained in the 2nd AIF. His dogged temperament made him well suited for the defensive tasks that lay ahead. He had shown himself a strong leader in the Great War when he won the DSO and MC and rose to be second-in-command of the 53rd Battalion.’

Overall command of Tobruk lay with Major General Leslie Morshead, whose defensive strategy was one of aggressive patrolling, summed up in his statement to Wilmot ‘I determined we should make no man’s land our land’.  Murray’s First World War experience of static warfare in the trenches of the Western Front was readily adapted to Morshead’s philosophy. It was these tactics that prevented the German and Italian forces from observing the allied defences and kept Tobruk’s besiegers in a constant state of tension.

A good example is the ‘V For Victory’ campaign of psychological warfare that was adopted by Murray’s 20 Brigade in the southern sector during July and August. Murray ordered leaflets stencilled with ‘V Per Vittorio’ and ordered that they be attached ‘by the use of clips, string, nails, pins, etc., to enemy bodies, posts wire, sandbags, sangars, etc., by patrols’. With monotonous regularity, the Italian forces in this sector found Murray’s leaflets in their own defences, left by Australian patrols that they had never heard.

For his leadership during this period, Murray was awarded a Bar to his DSO. He left Tobruk in November with most of his brigade, and was Mentioned in Despatches for the performance of his duties. He returned to Australia in January 1942 and was promoted to Major General. This period of Murray’s career saw several commands at Division level, and the command of Northern Territory Force from March 1945 until the expiration of his appointment with the Second AIF in January 1946 when he was placed on the Reserve of Officers.

In peacetime, Murray worked as Australian trade commissioner to New Zealand from 1946 to 1949, and then to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from 1949, where health considerations saw him return to Australia. He died in Sydney in 1951.

The Australian War Memorial is proud to be able to display the medals of a soldier to the public whom he served with such distinction. They can be viewed as part of the Tobruk display in the Memorial’s Second World War gallery.

Further reading

For a detailed account of the entire Tobruk campaign, see Chester Wilmot’s Tobruk 1941.

For an insight into Murray’s own thoughts on this campaign, see his recently published account I Confess – A Memoir of the Siege of Tobruk.

Tobruk Diaries: Yarns and larrikins

29 August 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, Bardia, Cosgriff, Lecky, Tobruk, Tyrer

Bryant’s Diary:  Friday 29^th August 1941

Copped two days leave to Jerusalem.  Left camp at 2pm and arrived at 4.30 pm.  Good going.

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Friday 29^th August 1941

Flares again last night and some falling ack-ack shrap.  Missa pro defunctis.  Gardy still very volute with diarrhoea.  Received Woman’s Weekly from Borromeo with story of the Tubb family…pope on a trip to Australia.  Polish doctor – Tronson and orderlies arrived here – no fool Tronson and he speaks some English.  Glorious swimming each day and never a disturbance.  Bob Menzies out- Fadden P.M. and Laval wounded by a Red volunteer.  Phil let loose on the yarns tonight but I kept up with him…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Saturday 30^th August 1941

In the morning had a look at a few historic sights and generally mucked about in the afternoon.  It was a bad day because of the Jewish Sabbath.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Saturday 30^th August 1941

Quiet night and the only plane over was shot down – the flare came off and the pilot is in our hospital.  Mass pro defunctis in men’s mess for troops – Poles turned up very well… Leaving Gardy in hospital with dysentery.  Back to hospital and anointed a Pole – will need a Polish chaplain here.  Stuly liked the job here but he…did not like air-raids.  Three new medicos to come to replace Hore, Sinclair and Devine.  Got Elsa’s cutting re. the “Tobruk’ Mass.  Lost my cap somewhere.  Hurricane over this evening – wish there were a hundred…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Sunday 31^st August 1941

Came home to camp, but passed many convoys of troops going north – something doing.  The old camp is a terrible lousy place to call home.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Sunday 31^st August 1941

Raider over about 11pm – after that pax.  Two masses – poor crowds and without Poles 2^nd would have been hopeless.  Polish singing was glorious and I will have a choir every Sunday now.  norman Crouch in on his own as Collins is up salvaging tanks.  Norman is very sure about our next push and he says it will be to Tripoli… Sent Elsa’s cutting home for perusal.  Have not heard a bomb whistle since I returned from beach yesterday.  Berlin has begun to play rummy and he looks like becoming a larrikin under Tyrer.  The case of grapes was a case of dog biscuits.  Tom mailed one…

 

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Monday 1^st September 1941

Quiet night and what was over did not worry me…  Mass for Mary J’s parturition.  Easy round today – talked for a long time to Hill – Clare Crouch’s husband… Corker air raid at midday.  Stukas from every direction first and then huge high level bombers – the biggest planes I have ever seen, not many casualties – one dead and a few wounded.  Polish chaplain in this arvo, X. Stanisclaus.  He is at the M.D.S. and he seems to like the suggestion of living at the hospital.  Mines in harbour and as the mine-sweeper was sunk there are no evacuations.  Gardy is still in the beach hospital – I have his mail…

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Tuesday 2^nd September 1941

Quiet night although the moon was pretty bright.  Mass for Mary J.  Down to the beach with Tom after breakfast to see Gardy.   He had his first good day today and it will be some time before he goes back.  He found his mail lacking some desired letters.  Chas L inspecting the beach hospital.  Back after lunch to go round here but few of the patients were available.  Jerry airman in ward now and Poles are quite friendly with him.  He says Germans do not bomb hospitals.   O’Rourke unconscious for a week now and becoming pretty thin…  To play chess with Berlin tonight…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Wednesday 3^rd September 1941

We went out all day to do firing, but the ammo ran out and we had to return.  We spent a lot of time practising for some review tomorrow.

  

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Wednesday 3^rd September 1941

Heavy blitz about midnight.  Sky kept coming.  More light a-a used since they shot down the enemy at night.  Mass from Mary J.  Good round today and cleaned up the lot.  Poles too hot at chess – Berlin gives me a rook and one of them can give Hart a knight start… Collins’s in as he is doing a course in camouflage and is living in Tobruk…  Expected Stukas today as it is war anniversary but they are not here yet.  No evacuations so no mail.  Our postman to be evacuated and he has done a great job here…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Thursday 4^th September 1941

The review was held this morning for Brig Robinson (C.O. reinforcements).  After it was all over the company had to go straight out on a march.  A number were pulled out to have TAB inoculations.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Thursday 4^th September 1941

Quiet night and nobody knows why.  Mass for Mary J.  Very few for Communion today.  Polish chaplain in and he said that a priest for here was being discussed and he hopes to come in Stanislaus’s Cynar.  No ships at night so still no mail or evacuations.  Jerry pilot in the ward and friendly to everybody.  Playing chess games for the ‘Leader’.  Crouch in to take Tyrer and myself out – we used nearly all his revolver ammo.  Geddes home late and we argued until 2 am about Italy and the Pope. Won 80 at poker – took [a] look at the cup sweep…  No planes over Wadi…

Lecky’s letters: 4 September

 

…Parcel no 3 arrived in good order and condition the other day and was given a very warm welcome…Mulberry jam graces my morning toast…tinned fruit was great and sweets met with a speedy finish.  The honey toffee came to a sticky end – I was chewing a mouthful when someone rang up and I could neither dislodge the toffee nor speak coherently.  It turned out to be the Coy Commander but I squared him off with a few “chews” next time he came around.

We had a little concert here last night – an officer who happens to be staying with us has a violin which he plays beautifully.  So I got the gang into the mess tent…the Tommies produced a few very fine voices and my own lads turned up with some latent talent – Jerry very inconsiderately dispersed the party with his night Luftwaffe but not before we had all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Had a beaut raid the other day…I was shivering and shaking through it all with 2 companions in about the most exposed place in the area…we have the somewhat doubtful honour of being one of the most bombed places on earth…Personally feel closer to 41 than 21 as I have had my share of responsibility over the last six months – still I can take it and a lot more…

If anyone knows what the term ‘Red Volunteer’ we would be interested to find out.

Tobruk Diaries: Isolation and no news

22 August 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, Australians, Siege, Tobruk

Background: 

The action in Tobruk was beginning to wind down for the Australians, with the 18th Brigade of the 7th Division evacuated quietly one night during August.  However, for the other units the Siege continued for another two months.  The last Australian brigade the 2/13th brigade was not evacuated until December…

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Friday 22^nd August 1941

Quiet night in the wadi but only four hours sleep.  Bar delayed trip – in here at 70 mph – Crouch driving and mass began at 8 am… To beach after lunch to see Steele – after the official photographer had taken our photo.  Gardy and I to go to the beach for a spell next week – much better than the last camp.  To the Eagle to say “Vale” [farewell] to Reynolds and the 9^th and “Vale” to a Polish Chaplain.  For last two evenings beaut dive bomber raids but they do not come too low now.  Ray played Berlin three games of which he won one.  Notice put on Church door re. Sunday masses here…

Bryant’s Diary:  Saturday, 23^rd August 1941

We had organised sport in the afternoon and I acted as judge.  Copped Bn orderly Corporal.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Saturday 23^rd August 1941

Heavy air attack at 5:30 am.  Two bombs very close and flares were beautiful after ships but none there.  Missa pro defunctis [Mass for the dead]…  Letter from Murph.  First Polish patients here and we need a polish doctor.  5^th Amb. gone except Ron Rome whose chaperoning a P. Ambulance.  Cut many small breads from large ones with a shaving stick tin and a scalpel… Water rationed to a minimum.  C.O. read security regulations in Mess and made a public rebuke – poor show.  Trying to get copies of yesterday’s group printed but photographer has gone.  Braised steak today…

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Sunday 24^th August 1941

Only shells last night.  Few at Masses today.  Geddes was in at Mass today.  They enjoy the tea here.  Paddy Brannigan a Corporal now.  Stewart leaving the mess for general duties.  C.O. going to Alex tonight to see Ginger.  Len to go to the beach tomorrow.  Just about out of altar wine now.  Hope it will turn up from somewhere.  Berlin beat Ray three times at chess last night.  Ship in the harbour today and the circus arrived at 5 pm to have a crack- hit nothing and John says we got 4 planes.  Hope he is right.  No evac. last night so no mail today…

Bryant’s Diary:  Monday 25^th August 1941

Training as usual.  Had a chance of getting on a S.A.S. staff as a Staff Sergeant but turned it down.  Too dry a job.

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Monday 25^th August 1941

Few bombs during night.  Missa T. B.  Easy round this morning.  Len’s beach duty car – fuelled by Chas L who is O.C. now.  Good mail today.  Elsa, Tooze, Marie.  To the beach camp after lunch and not so keen on going either.  Read in tent all the afternoon.  In evening went to 11^th ambulance to pick up Gardy but he had not arrived.  Talked to Charlie Anderson, Steele and Ian Wood until pretty late.  Ian thinks Gard was “lucky” to be sent to Tobruk.  Plane over during night but it sounded well away and the a-a was not under my bed…

Bryant’s Diary:  Tuesday 26^th August 1941

Weapon training all day.  We go on a two-day bivouac tonight.  I don’t think I’ll like it.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Tuesday 26^th August 1941

…Medical staff here changes as turns are taken with ward Z.  No news still here – no wireless so we are isolated.  Poles employed putting up tents and they are very numerous about here now.  Happy (dentist) and Manly evacuated with kidney trouble…

Bryant’s Diary:  Wednesday 27^th August 1941

Spent the birthday doing a 24 hour stint.  Section work, digging and wiring.

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Wednesday 27^th August 1941

…Jerry over tonight and dropping flares on hospital.  No moon and he is trying to find Tobruk – lovely flares…

Bryant’s Diary:  Thursday 28^th August 1941

We marched into camp and had to have a needle right away.  I must be like a pin cushion by now.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Thursday 28^th August 1941

Quiet night and good rest.  I said the mass today – feast of St Augustine… Letter from Xavier to tell me that the Bishop is sending me a special missal.  Not keen on the tucker here and I have not much stomach for it.  This evening we had a grandstand view of a stuka raid.  All the planes came out low over the hospital and we counted forty-three… Crowd of medicos down today for clinic… 

 

Digging For Victory For Floriade

16 August 2011 by Dennis Stockman. No comments
News, 'Australian War Memorial' Floriade 'Digging for victory'

Floriade (17 September – 16 October) is Australia’s celebration of Spring and Australia’s biggest flower show. This year the Australian War Memorial is creating a Second World War Victory Garden, reminiscent of those grown by Australian families in the Second World War.

In 1942 Prime Minister John Curtin launched the “Dig for Victory” campaign, which encouraged Australian householders to grow their own vegetables. Families across the country enthusiastically adopted the idea, making this campaign and other efforts part of the most ambitious home gardening program Australia has ever seen.

The Floriade Victory Garden will contain over 30 varieties of fruits and vegetables alongside a special commemorative planting of Lone Pine, poppies, and rosemary. The Garden is based around research by staff in the Memorial’s Research Centre.

Over 4000 plants are being grown from seed generously donated by the Australian garden supplier, Yates. A team of eight final year horticultural students from the Canberra Institute of Technology have been busy growing the Victory Garden which moves to the 2011 Floriade site next month.

Throughout the Festival Memorial Research Centre staff will share stories of wartime gardens, kitchens and food production in a series of free public talks and tours both at Floriade, and at the Australian War Memorial. The Hyatt Hotel will also be at Floriade doing cooking demonstrations of wartime recipes with a contemporary twist.

The Victory Garden is a timely reminder of the gardening efforts of wartime families as a new generation of Australians is looking to be self-sufficient and environmentally sustainable.

Tobruk Diaries: Going to the Chapel…

15 August 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, Bryant, Cosgriff, Tobruk

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Friday 15^th August 1941

Raids lasted 90 mins and bombs near ward 12.  Missa assumpta [Mass of the Assumption] – big crowd here.  Eyetie chaplain gone but only one turned up for Mass today out of seventeen.  Steele in today and offered me leave for a fortnight.  Went and retrieved altar-stores from the Church.   Good radio description of Tobruk by reporter for “Times”… Peter Gleeson’s holiday consisting of looking after 40 patients.  Creed out from H.Q. explaining our Communistic and Free French alliances… Britain’s 8 points had a bad reception in Germany…

 

Cosgriff’s Diary: Saturday 16^th August 1941

Raiders over twice during night and not much trouble.  Missa T. B.  Dive bombing last evening on town but parachute bombs seen to discourage them now… Going to use ward 11 for late Mass tomorrow.  Fewer day attacks now but they still come.  Back to glasses again as it was a losing battle… Some of our planes over this morning.  No mail – and ships in every night…  Rumour of decorations – names out of the hat…

Bryant’s Diary:  Sunday 17^th August 1941

Like a good boy I went to church today.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary: Sunday 17^th August 1941

Two raids during the night.  Two Masses only and not many at either – not like the early days of the Church.  Crouch and Collins stayed for tea – denounced document on Russia and Free French.  Mail in – fags from peg and a sea-letter from Jas O’Rourke.  Dive bombers over at 12 after the parachute gun.  Gardy in today – 43^rd now in safer position.  Another diving attack this evening.  Seems that Jerry still has plenty of planes to spare.  Horan and Ley to 7A.G.H., Renou to 9.  Cooper to 2  – all jittery…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Monday 18^th August 1941

I left the Convalescent Depot to join the I.T.B.[Infantry Training Battalion] at Mughazi and what a lousy joint it is.  It is situated a few miles south of Gaza and is just on the edge of the Sinai Desert.  Facilities are not so good.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary: Monday 18^th August 1941

Only planes over were before midnight.  Mass for Karitoff  R.I.P… Denis Ryan brought in dead from bombing – then his brother arrived and had to show him the corpse – not a nice spectacle…  Crazy ride to cemetery.  Truck broke down, transferred corpses to utes – no burial party and the dustiest day ever.  Cake and letter from Peg today – also one from Mona Caspyrs enquiring if I have met her German cousin.  Little bombing today – too much dust.  Horan and Eric up for dinner celebration of jittery exodus.  Harry Furnell dive-bombed for 2 and a half hours on way down…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Tuesday 19^th August 1941

Shorty Dunbar and I were soon put into harness and had to do instruction on grenades.

 

 

Cosgriff’s Diary: Tuesday 19^th August 1941

Quiet night… Mass for Denis Ryan R.I.P.  Easy…today and offered 5 accas by a grateful penitent.  Brown, Wood, Moss and Kyle arrived to relieve Horan, Renou, Cooper and Ley.  The newcomers are glad to be here and the others are glad that they will not be here after tonight… Papers probably from Garveys.  Russian business going badly now.  At farewell dinner C.O. announced decorations…  Colin sketched Marsh without the flattery touch and the subject was a bit sad to see how others see him.  Rumour that two barges and a tug were sunk here this morning.  Some shells this morning…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Wednesday 20^th August 1941

Spent all day wiring and digging.  This place is getting me down.

Cosgriff’s Diary: Wednesday 20^th August 1941

One awakening only… Mass for Rev. R. Denny R.I.P.  Very easy morning as so many have been evacuated.  Jack and Hayward just caught the Alex boat after recovery from a rum celebration… Len very sad today over departures.  McQuillan to go tonight and his unit will be replaced by Poles.  More papers…in the mail today.  Gin arrived in the mess again.  Few casualties today and I have one pretty sick.  Tyrer is acting registrar now and it appears Matheson will stay at the beach…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Thursday 21^st August 1941

We went for an 18 mile route march over sand.  I was just about done when we got back to camp.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary: Thursday 21^st August 1941

Fairly quiet night…  Mass pro pace [Mass for Peace].  Big round but many had gone to the beach.  Played three games of chess with Berlin last night best I could get was a stalemate.  He is separated from his wife.  Message from Steele to see him at the beach tomorrow.  Crouch and Geddes picked up for dinner…fair feed then poker.  Geddes and Len swapped yarns until 1:30.  Slept in open again.  They have a car now and it is much better than the p.u.  Still no air mail papers arriving but NSW air mail must be late…

Tobruk Diaries: ‘we are targets day and night’

08 August 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, crete, Rats of Tobruk, Tobruk

Bryant’s Diary:  Friday 8^th August 1941

The camp isn’t so bad.  The surf and beach are good and it is a lazy life.  We parade for an hour in the morning and once in the afternoon for a swim.  The canteen service is good and a fair picture theatre operates.  The place improves with time.

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Friday 8^th August 1941

Retired at 2 pm – up at 6:30 to drive in for Mass with two pretty dry comrades.  Mass for Dan Murphy.  All my patients are convalescent and I could find only two in bed.  Tom Gard in and we had a great swim at Anzac Cove… When Tom left, Reynolds came and talked and talked about Ellen – killed last night…  No more evacuation until the mess disappears…C.O. buying beer for patients with regimental funds…

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Saturday 9^th August 1941

Excellent night and only disturbed by shelling.  Missa – D. Murphy. Fair round today and reclaimed a couple.  Big conference of Padres and C.O.  I told him my duties and declined advice as to what I should do.  Mail to be put in mess for censoring.  Mail today – only one letter – from Bart.  Steele in this arvo with breads.  Base of meningitis in ward 9 – hope it does not spread.  Have to go and say Pearce’s prayers with him now – I hope he recovers…

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Sunday 10^th August 1941

Plenty of planes over during the night.  Two masses only today and I had to send the overflow to the Eyetie Mass – not nearly so good as when we had the Church.  Mail in – Elsa only and a Manly death.  Crouch and Collins stayed here for morning tea and argued re. Irish ports with McQuillan…Severe blitz this evening dive-bombers but they did not dive as they did when Jerry was in them.  Not much damage and rumour that three shot down but I disbelieve it…John Received Truths story re. Tommy Griffin and Lurlene…

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Monday 11^th August 1941

Plenty of planes again but Len and I slept through most of it – they were over by accounts continually from 1 to 4 am – we heard the first and last.  Mass for Jas Darley.  Too big a mob today for me to do in one day.  Beach and ward Z wanting me to visit them but too many here at present.  Mail – tribute from Jas McGlynn funeral today – victim of yesterday’s bombing – my first visit to the cemetery in weeks.  Eric Cooper – a son – they are all calling their kids Peter.  Wheeler to leave us for a Con. camp.  Shelling this evening but no bombs – yet.  Mail for censoring in mess again – but not many doing it…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Tuesday 12^th August 1941

Clive Armstrong of the 2/3^rd Bn arrived at the depot in a very bad state of shell-shock.  He used to belong to our platoon.  He struck it bad in both Crete and Greece.

 

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Tuesday 12^th August 1941

Two sticks of bombs very close to us last night.  Missa T. Belli… Plenty of casualties from last night’s bombs – 2/43^rd hit by 4-positons from petrol dump.  Barge sunk by mine.  Injuries all severe but none for me… Censoring done in mess now.  Tearing up old letters and there were plenty of them.  B.B.C. commemoration last night mentioned Tobruk troops on leave in Cairo.  Also Jerry’s air-raids are laughed at – oh yeah! That probably accounts for last night’s blitz.  Two Hurricanes over today – the Air Force has doubled itself in a week.  No shelling of any account today.  Johnston said reading this was like trying to milk the bull…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Wednesday 13^th August 1941

Left early today for two day’s leave to Tel Aviv.  This place is very modern in appearance and every convenience is available, we had a celebration to honour our birthdays.

 

 Cosgriff’s Diary:  Wednesday 13^th August 1941

Blitz as usual between two and four.  Mass for Davis R.I.P.  Hospital bombed this morning – 5 hit when I was in 9.  One killed, several injured including Hore (ear and leg) and Hayward.  Lucky they were not killed.  All feel now that we are targets day and night.  Buried victim of bombing and another…raid killed one and wounded a couple.  Only reply to the Hurricane but we have to get out after a dive under the bed.  Queen’s cousin exhumed at cemetery and found to lie on Eyetie dead.  I think Fr. Borsorelli returned to Alex tonight…Mail in – home, letter dated 27/7/41 – not bad… 

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Thursday 14^th August 1941

Spent a very quiet day swimming, eating, etc. We returned to the depot in good time to go to the pictures.  We heard rumours of America entering the war.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Thursday14th August 1941

About five raids and each plane dropped 12 bombs each.  Mass for fellows and Leo Lechy.  Easy round today.  News from Russia no good.  Only small mail and none for me.  Went to Leo’s burial today and Len erected his cross over Lewin.  Listened to Atlee’s statement re. Churchill’s and Roosevelt’s meeting – hoping they are peace fellers.  Four of our officers to be relieved soon and slight prospects for all of us – except me I suppose.  Plenty of troops bomb-happy after yesterday’s raid.  Steele says it is a reprisal for bombing of Derna hospital…Letter from Alec and he is still sick – but enjoying peace.  Eyetie chaplain leaving tonight for Alex.  New medico – O’Connor a R.C…

The bomb: what it meant to Australians

05 August 2011 by Emma Campbell. No comments
News, 57/60 Battalion, 8 Battalion, atomic bomb, Bougainville, Hiroshima, Nagasaki

The announcement of the dropping of an atomic bomb on Japan brought an uplift of spirit among personnel. The end of the war, hitherto a nebulous source of conjecture, suddenly became a definite possibility within a matter of days, even hours. Crowds imbued with eager anticipation mustered round the unit’s radio sets for each news session and gasped with amazement as statistical information about the potentialities of the bomb were unfolded. [57th/60th Australian Infantry Battalion war diary, 8 August 1945]

Whether fighting in the jungles of Bougainville or working in a factory at home, Australians were rocked by the news that an atomic bomb had been dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945.

The action – one of the most divisive and debated in military history – came as a surprise to the Australian government, who as minor allies with Britain and the United States had not been privy to such top secret developments. But it was not an unwelcome decision: after almost six years of fighting on fronts in Europe, North Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the war-weary troops were itching to return home, and their loved ones were desperate to have them back. The bomb, it was anticipated, would bring the war swiftly to an end.

read on

Outside the Wire – Photographs from Afghanistan

01 August 2011 by Lauren Hewitt. No comments
New acquisitions, Afghanistan, Collection, Frontline troops, Landscape, Photographs

The AWM has recently acquired a significant set of photographs taken by photographer Gary Ramage in Afghanistan in 2010. Photographs such as these, of Australian Defence Force personnel on patrol ‘outside the wire’ in Afghanistan, are a first for the AWM. 

For visiting media, commissioned artists and photographers, the ADF generally permit only a few days on the ground, usually in the relative safety of established bases, and they are escorted at all times by an officer from Defence Public Affairs. These measures help protect the safety of the visiting journalist and our ADF troops, but limit access to the work the ADF is doing in the more remote areas of Uruzgan Province.

The newly formed Mentoring Team Delta (MT-D), as part of the ADF 1st Mentoring Task Force (MTF-1), began operations in the Deh Rawood Valley Region (otherwise known as the Deh Rawood Green Zone), approximately 60km west of Tarin Kowt in July 2010. Key to these operations was the mentoring of the Afghan National Army 4th Brigade, 205 Corps.

The Company was based at Patrol Base Razaq, its first priority being the movement of stores, equipment and supplies, and the establishment of security points. Ramage accompanied MT-D on several patrols in the Deh Rawood region focussing on the crucial task of clearing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from the area.

 

Previously a member of 6RAR, and a long serving military photographer with the ADF’s 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit, Ramage is afforded the freedom that many other photographers aren’t when in Afghanistan. As such, we are given a rare insight into the harsh and primitive living conditions experienced by Australian personnel at remote base locations.

Mentoring Team Delta made their way from Tarin Kowt, to Patrol Base Razaq via an overnight stop at Forward Operating Base Hadrian. You can see in this small series, the rough sleeping conditions endured by the unit; wedging themselves between the fortified HESCO wall and the solid bulk of their bushmaster patrol vehicles.

 

These photographs also show us the dangers that landscape and environment pose on Australian and Afghan troops. A single patrol route can cover ground that takes them from the sweeping, exposed landscape of the desert mountain ranges, to the dense, vegetation of the green zone in the lower valleys, each terrain posing differing threats and security risks. Patrols often pass through small villages and inhabited areas in the green zone, which is a rich agricultural area. The inherent vulnerability of the patrol group is emphasized by the backdrop of the towering mountain expanses.

 

 

Between June and August 2010, whilst Ramage was in Afghanistan, MTF-1 was to suffer the deaths of 6 of its members, several from IED explosions and one in the Battle of Derapet. This collection of images puts into perspective the conditions faced by ADF troops in Afghanistan every day and we get an insight into how troops on the ground cope with and commemorate the loss of their comrades.

Gary Ramage served 20 years with the Australian Army and was the chief photographer when he left. He is now Chief Photographer for News Limited at the National Press Gallery in Canberra. He travelled to Afghanistan independently.

This acquisition will greatly enhance the Memorial’s growing collection of material related to current conflicts. You can view the photographs online at: http://www.awm.gov.au/search/collections/?q=P09971*&conflict=all

Tobruk Diaries: Treating the wounded

01 August 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, AGH, Tobruk, wounded

Bryant’s Diary:  Friday 1^st August 1941

There was an air raid last night and there was a hell of a racket, too.

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Friday 1^st August 1941

Good night… Fair round today… Read Don Juan – “world’s greatest lover”.  Steele in and decided against using Church – only Communions there on next Sunday.  Angel and crucifix from the church are in my room now and everybody thinks it is a woman in the room.  Alec Sinclair going to Alex with P.M.O. – pretty sick… 

 

Cosgriff’s Diary: Saturday 2^nd August 1941

One plane over before we retired last night…Good round today. Mail in – 9 letters…took an hour to read them.  Severe blitz at lunch time – parachute bombs.  Gardy in today – push on tonight by 43^rd and after that we hope he will be finished with the war… Len arranging a cross for Lewin’s grave.  Still persevering without glasses but the eyes are a bit weary and concentration hard.  Roast beef frequently now…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Sunday 3^rd August 1941

Another convoy came in and I had to sleep on a stretcher outside.  The hospital is full… 

 

Cosgriff’s Diary: Sunday 3^rd August 1941

Only bombers were over before we went to sleep…Only one Mass – here.  Had breakfast – and casualties began to come from 43^rd and 28^th.  Confessions and Communion at Church – driven home by Crouch.  Then to casualties – 93 before lunch but not too many Catholics and only one serious.  Surgeons going all day.  Disastrous show – 28 of 43^rd returned out of 140 – McCarter and Quinn wounded and finished up in Jerry port.  Gardy in and verified story all 43^rd upset over heavy losses and no success.  28^th took their post.  Had a busy day among the wounded – none died…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Monday 4^th August 1941

I left with a convoy this morning to go to the convalescent depot… We eventually reached the staging camp, Kantara, at about 7.30 in the night.  There were a number of air raids in the Canal area during the night and bombs and A/A fire could be heard very plainly.

  

Cosgriff’s Diary: Monday 4^th August 1941

Blitz began at bed time also shelling – are close but missed…28^th lost their post.  32^nd tried to take it – failed and we had their casualties, altogether a bad weekend.  No success and heavy casualties.  Issue of beer and cigarettes…Casualties dribbling in and today was a depressing day.  One British plane over today – the first seen in four months.  Manning in again with dysentery and I hope to get him to Alex.  John Horan on atrophy.  1918 in our methods of attack.  Today probably hottest day we have had yet…

 

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Tuesday 5^th August 1941

I spent all day at Kantara looking up patients at the hospital.  The heat was terrific and was hardly bearable.  We left at sometime after mid-night for the con depot.

 

 Cosgriff’s Diary: Tuesday 5^th August 1941

Blitz began at 12 am and lasted about an hour – five deaths from bombing and many injuries… Big lot of confessions and they took all day…  Met Lone Tough Bushman – out wounded all day, yesterday crawled on his back 1000 yards.  Yelled “Aussies”, realized the mistake, let out a tirade of abuse and was rescued.  Gillespie and Reynolds in today – 9^th relieving the 43^rd Batt.  Issue of beer and sweets… Weather hot every day and swims hard to get with shelling and bombs…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Wednesday 6^th August 1941

We reached Hadera at about mid-day after a very tiresome journey.  From here we travelled by bus to Kfar Vitkin where is situated the con depot.  My first impressions are not very favourable.  The Sjt-Major started by laying down the law too much, but a fellow will soon settle down.  Weather is still hot.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary: Wednesday 6^th August 1941

Blitz around midnight and bombs appear to be about the mast.  No casualties and evacuation went all night despite shells.  Mass for 43^rd and 28^th dead.  Very dusty today.  Mail in 21/7/41 but there is some missing.  Met Cramsie – nephew of Sr. Joseph, Wagga.  Eames Carragher wrote re. reports of me – missing and wounded…There is going to be trouble about censoring mail – some of our officers think it is not their concern.  Roast beef lasting well.  John Horan getting Manning back to Base – not persona grata with G.O.C.

  

Bryant’s Diary:  Thursday 7^th August 1941

We could hear some bombing either at Haifa or Tel Aviv and the planes passed right over our camp.

 

 Cosgriff’s Diary: Thursday 7^th August 1941

Slept soundly after first blitz.  Missa T. B.  Not so many Communions today…Danny Murphy died R.I.P.  Macauly – …back in hospital – wounded and not so aggressive.  Cyril Parker from private to S/Sgt in 8^th Fd Ambulance…  Geddes a son of Ackland and his brother-in-law is an officer in the German army.  It is quite pleasant out in a wadi safe from bombs…