Blog category - Exhibitions

Tobruk Diaries: Mass in the Time of War

18 July 2011 by Carlie Walker. 1 Comment
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, , ,

Bryant’s Diary: Friday 18th July 1941

Another convoy from Tobruk came in.

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Friday 18th July 1941

Usual 4 am raids but no harm to anyone.  Missa Tempore Belli [Mass in Time of War].  Quietest morning ever in this hospital.  Five casualties from last night’s raiding – 1 eyetie bayoneted.  No report on success or otherwise.  Beach hospital being moved because shells land a bit too close – patients here for term…  Played chess in M.J room today.  Planes over frequently this arvo and the shelling as usual.  We expected them to get that gun last night…

Bryant’s Diary:  Saturday 19th July 1941

There was an air raid last night and there was a hell of a row.  We had a free talkie show through the good graces of the South Africans.  Letters arrived today earlier than I expected.

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Saturday 19th July 1941

More planes than usual last night and one bomb within hospital confines.  Mass for Thos Colgriff R.I.P.  Big mob of Communion today as all the beach patients are up.  Cigarettes arrived from Merrigan but no envelopes.  Well up for fags now…  All the news now is hope – easily out of date.  J. Horan has the general duty job of shifting the beach hospital while Ley and C.O. do nothing.  We enjoyed John’s start when the shells came over this arvo.  Losses in Syria – 297 dead.  Ambulance bloke played 7 games of chess last night – won the lot…

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Sunday 20th July 1941

5am blitz as usual.  Regular occurrence now even with no moon but helped by shells.  Usual three Masses – with raids on the way to the church and during Mass.  Poor crowd and Church described as “death trap” by one lad.  Madonna of Tobruk off her pedestal which was shattered by a bomb.  Statue chipped and blackened and troops very indignant.  Mail – from home only.  John Horan returned and we are glad to have him back.  Did a poor round today.  Had envelopes and paper from Merrigan…attacked one pad but did not offer one of his five cakes in return.  Beach hospital in transit.  Eric wanted red crosses at the new site – playing ball with J.H…

 

 

The Madonna of Tobruk outside the Church before it was knocked of it's stand by enemy bombardment. Tobruk, Libya, May 1941.The Madonna of Tobruk outside the Church before it was knocked of it's stand by enemy bombardment. Tobruk, Libya, May 1941. 007484

Bryant’s Diary:  Monday 21st July 1941

A batch of patients left for the con depot this morning.  I thought I was certain to go.

  Cosgriff’s Diary:  Monday 21st July 1941

Usual morning blitz and more severe.  Missa Tempore Belli with en-core from Horan.  Good round but too many cases going to ward “Z” which should not visit.  Mail in but none for me.  Papers for Len.  Eating one of his plum puddings this arvo and J.B.D just arrived too late!  Rumour that Britain had invaded France cost me ten accas.  Shelling this arvo caused some casualties – 1 serious 1 dead.  C.O. of Air Force in M.E. is outrageous – incompetent and unconscientious – hope the new General outs him.  Had picture of Steele from Tim driving my car.  Heard German broadcast – weak especially on V for Victory…

Bryant’s Diary:  Tuesday 22nd July 1941

A large batch in our ward left for El Kantara.  They were the badly wounded men and most of them will go home.

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Tuesday 22nd July 1941

Thank God for a quiet night at last.  Missa T. B.  Good round today 100%.  C.C.S. have word that they are Alex bound.  16th M.A.C. bombed on boat and machine gunned on way down 4 killed.  Red Cross bloke has presented a wireless to the mess – not so good when the news is on but perfect at other times.  Few raids today and no shelling D.G.  Eyetie prisoner buried today and buried by Fr. Borsorelli.  Papers from home are hopeless on war news – always wrong and the bulletin fails too…

Bryant’s Diary:  Wednesday 23rd July 1941

Blow me down if it isn’t another quiet day.

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Wednesday 23rd July 1941

Another good night… Missa T. B.  Good round today.  Jack Clark disappointed as he is not to go with the C.C.S. to Alex – after 24 months of daily work.  Cracked another of Len’s plum duffs today and J.B.D picked the right time.  Thos Gard in to have a tooth filled.  Gave him fags for Rice and himself.  Bayoneted Eyetie dead yesterday – first bayonet wound in here.  Thos Steele tossed the Ambulance chess crack.  Few raids today and no shelling yet… No mail today.  Accident to destroyer last night through hitting the wharf – no evacuation.  All patients contained in this hospital now – easily…

Bryant’s Diary:  Thursday 24th July 1941

Further batch left for the con camp this morning.  The hospital is nearly empty.  I went for a bit of a walk and saw some of the bombing damage.  It can be very severe amongst closely packed buildings.  One bomb caved in the walls of four large buildings.

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Thursday 24th July 1941

Good night again…. Missa T. B.  Casualties this morning from 24th and 43rd Batts.  Both had patrolled out to get machine guns but failed.  Two of mine very sick.  Steele in today and we cracked the beer bottle and Len’s cake.  He brought in wine and breads but not enough of either… Went out to the 1st Tanks (Crouch and Calling) for dinner.  They are 2 miles past the eagle and in a wadi…  Two bottles of whisky went next and I won three quid at poker.  Slept in the open and felt quite safe…

Tobruk Diaries: ‘Tobruk essential for each side’

11 July 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, , , , , ,

Bryant’s Diary:  Friday 11th July 1941

I can get around on my own now.  I feel a bit shaky, but I’m getting stronger.  A convoy of wounded arrived from Tobruk during the night.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Friday 11th July 1941

Mosquitoes have me beat – worse than bombers.  Missa Tempore Belli [Mass in Time of War]. Few casualties this morning from line change over 17th/32nd…To beach after lunch – two clients only – Dick Ley there now replacing Hore…  Shelling again – 3 guns on harbour and cemetery region – two cases waiting when I returned.  Millar died – boy who called for “Mum”.  No breads yet…

 

Bryant’s Diary:  Saturday 12th July 1941

Found Alan Nesbitt among new lot and he had mortar shrapnel in the left arm.  Keith Bird was killed with the same bomb he told me.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Saturday 12th July 1941

Still sleeping through raids.  Used ointment to combat mosquitoes and it worked all night.  Mass for Millar (Mum).  Hunt for Catholics because Goodman failed to write religions on cards…  Only one air-raid…today – 700 during our day here.  Pat Russell in here and Hore up from the Beach.  Lendon has his majority and we celebrated – beer and roast beef.  Two burials today and dusty as usual – grave diggers have dysentery…

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Sunday 13th July 1941

Slept through raids in which 2 were killed and 3 injured.  3 Masses and congregation is smaller because of movements… Did all the penitents this afternoon.  Wrote 4 pages home, Elsa yesterday.  Big list of missing from Greece in mess – G.P Youll’s name is on it but I think he is safe.  No raids during Masses today but plenty of harmless shelling today – One plane departing with a smoky posterior.  Beer available again tonight in small doses.  Chas Littlejohn in Cairo – dinner with Blamey…

 

Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Blamey, February 1941. Blamey commanded the 6th Division at Tobruk and was later in command of the Australian Corps. He also bec ame the first Australian army officer to reach the rank of field marshall on 8 June 1950.Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Blamey, February 1941. Blamey commanded the 6th Division at Tobruk and was later in command of the Australian Corps. He also bec ame the first Australian army officer to reach the rank of field marshall on 8 June 1950. 000306

 

Bryant’s Diary:   Monday 14th July 1941

A large batch left the hospital today to go to El Kantara where is situated the Base Hospital.  I’m coming on so well that it won’t be long before I go.

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Monday 14th July 1941

Some raids but they did not get us up.  Mass for Harnell R.I.P.  Met 3 bad eggs this morning… the first I have met in the army.  Today probably the hottest we have had…  Russians reckon German casualties at a million.  Men had a beer issue today – a bottle and two tins per man.  Eric Cooper working up here now but he still sleeps at Ward 7.  Had a wild man in ward 9…  Beat the C.O. at chess…

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Tuesday 15th July 1941

Drowsy night – too hot to sleep.  Bombs dropped fairly close last night.  Missa Tempore Belli.  Good round this morning but a lot are at the beach.  Frank Reynolds in and I had to share my wine with him.  Everything scarce now… Tapestry got home ok and pleased everybody… Shelling this arvo on the harbour and no damage done… G.O.C [General Officer Commanding] here before lunch and he thinks Russia will throw it in before long.  Tobruk essential for each side.  Pictures by Frank Hurley not satisfying to A.G.H relations.  People in Australia should know about Tobruk now…

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Wednesday 16th July1941

Planes over but we weren’t out of bed.  Missa Tempore Belli.  All right on round this morning.  Steele in this morning.  Tim’s supplies have arrived.  Back from Syria.  Patrols out each night now and doing well with very few casualties.  Madonna [statue] knocked off stand by bomb.  Thomas (song-writer) back to 9th Batt tomorrow.  G.O.C in for dinner – roast beef etc.  C.O harped on the nurses but got nowhere.  War here not static but something doing each night.  Boys striking Eyeties mostly.  Enemy using a searchlight at night now.  That gun is making them think about shifting beach hospital…

 

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Thursday 17th July 1941

Still planes coming over each night.  Missa Tempore Belli.  Round ok today – no patients in ward 9… Shelling again today.  Brief but they put some close to the beach hospital.  Thos Steele came to light with a writing pad.  Another successful raid last night.  Chess school becoming bigger now.  100 tins of beer over after ration – 1 tin to each 3 men.  Cigarette issue today makes us well stocked.  Wrote to Ross McGregor.  News not so good about Russia and Japan at the cross-roads…

Beryl Maddock ‘Flying Sister’

04 July 2011 by Penny Hyde. 2 Comments
News,Nurses: from Zululand to Afghanistan

While searching through the Memorial’s Research Centre collection looking for stories relating to the upcoming exhibition on nurses I came across the collection of Sister Beryl Maddock (nee Chandler), containing a typed memoir, newspaper clippings, letters and a scattering of photographs. Beryl’s story stood out to me as she was one of a small number of nurses selected to join the RAAF’s newly formed Medical Air Evacuation Transport Unit in 1944. As a nurse in the air rather than on the ground, Beryl’s wartime experience combined regular nursing duties with airsickness, altitudes of up to 18,000 feet, anoxia and medic pilots who wished they had been fighter pilots (and flew as such). read on

Tobruk Diaries: Planes, Mosquitoes and Heat

04 July 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, , , ,

Bryant’s Diary:  Friday 4th, Saturday 5th July 1941

Just the usual hospital routine, a pretty rapid improvement as a result.

read on

Tobruk Diaries: Danger below…

27 June 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, , ,

Bryant’s Diary:  Friday 27th June 1941

The section worked all night putting mortar-proof roofs over dug-outs.  We were just putting the finishing touches on our work when Reg stuck his pick in a jumping German mine.  I received four ball shrapnel wounds in the small of the back and one in the left arm.  Jim was hit twice in the groin, Reg a couple in the legs and Monty one in the ribs.  After going through nearly every medical unit in the perimeter we finally ended up in the A.G.H.  I was operated on but two pieces couldn’t be found. read on

Tobruk Diaries: Mail and other miracles

20 June 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, , , ,

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Friday 20th June 1941

Peaceful night at last.  Missa SS Cordis Jesus…  To beach this morning and worked all morning without finishing.  Had a John Swan’s with Eric.  John Horan as usual pessimistic about our position.  The big push was definitely a big failure.  God knows what will happen to us now but we hope for a Russo-German struggle.  Still no mail but a parcel from Mrs Garvey with a pair of socks.  Eyetie bombers over three times today dropping them from all heights.  Our postmaster gone to Alex to shake up the mail… read on

Tobruk Diaries: Rest in Peace

13 June 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, , , ,

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Friday 13th June 1941

Heard only one raid and stayed in bed for it.  Mass for Anderson R.I.P.  To beach this morning but not so many there for me.  Bombed down there on Tuesday evening and John Horan reckoned his dug-out turned a somersault.  He also reckons the pearls fly through the tents down there.  Bomb on hospital ward this evening.  Eyetie artisan working on my timepieces.  Started on Hamlet today Johnston - German, Steele - Italian, Devine – painting, me – Shakespeare.  Still no mail but fags, chocolate and tooth paste in the mess… read on

Tobruk Diaries: Movement in the moonlight

06 June 2011 by Carlie Walker. 1 Comment
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Friday 6th June 1941

Up several times for planes dropping thermos bombs and flares, one plane caught in search light but not shot down.  Missa in Tempore belli [Mass in Time of War].  Trouble getting beach communions now.  Plenty of fleas in my bed.  Wireless bung and no news now.  Rumour of mail being sunk.  Millions of flies in Tobruk.  Started to use Australian wine and a bit doubtful about it.  Reading Wren’s Driftwood Spars in which the heroes are murderers.  Sent note to C.R.E. re. Church lights… read on

Tobruk Diaries: Getting hotter…

30 May 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, , , , ,

Bryant’s Diary:  Friday 30th May 1941

More digging today and it was through solid rock.  The weather is getting hotter.  We came home by another route – past Fort Palestrino – and it was the roughest ride I’ve ever had.  We were pulled out of the water in a hurry and were made to stand to in expectation of an attack which did not eventuate. read on

Tobruk Diaries: Swimming, digging and a spot of baking

23 May 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries

Cosgriff’s Diary:  Friday 23rd May 1941

Another raid by night DG.  Mass of B.V.M [Blessed Virgin Mary].  Down for swim with Gardy and John Rue – pretty good too.  Disappointing morning among patients – 2 dogs and 2 first confessions.  Dust started early arvo.  Len flat out on German things at front very quiet.  Evacuation tonight in the dust – Gunner going back for supplies but hating his luggage.  Steele wrote a loving stinker to Tim – 1st class Chaplain now.  Dick brought in more breads.  Some confessions tonight for Morrow’s feast.  John still in hospital and I will have to do the church on Sunday…  read on