Tobruk diaries: The siege comes to an end

28 November 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, Siege, Tobruk

The last battalion to be evacuated from Tobruk was Bryant’s battalion, the 2/13^th in December 1941.  Finally, German General Erwin Rommel and his Afrikakorps were forced to abandon the Siege, falling back towards Tripoli. 

The Australians had courageously and collectively defended the town for 8 months and established themselves in the annals of Australia’s military history.

During the campaign, 832 Australians were killed, 2,177 were wounded and 941 were taken prisoner.

For more information, go to:  http://www.awm.gov.au/wartime/54/james-great-siege/

Edmund Crawford Lecky

Edmund Crawford Lecky was promoted to Captain on 24 July 1942, then to Major on 27 May 1944.  He was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) on 9 March 1945 for his work in communications at the landing of Finschafen in Papua New Guinea, 1943. 

For more information on Finschafen go to:

http://ajrp.awm.gov.au/ajrp/ajrp2.nsf/pages/NT00007E8E?openDocument     

Edmund Crawford Lecky died on 2 May 1981.   

Arthur Francis Bryant

Arthur Francis Bryant returned to Australia after the war, where he married Peggy, the love of his life.  Together, the couple started a family and opened and ran a sandwich shop, first in Sydney and later in Cremorne.

After retiring late in life, Arthur suffered from constant strokes and was cared for by his wife for the last 10 years of his life.  His daughter describes him as ‘a very gentle man’.

Bryant, Lecky, Cosgriff and the other ‘Rats of Tobruk’ were, this year honoured in a dedicatory exhibition entitled Rats of Tobruk, 1941.   The next exhibition, Nurses: from Zululand to Afghanistan, which tells the story of military nurses and their unique contribution in wartime, will open on 2 December 2011.

In the collection: Conflict T-shirts

25 November 2011 by Sue Ducker. No comments
Collection,Collection Highlights,From the collection,News

The Australian War Memorial holds T-shirts from the numerous Peace Keeping missions in which Australians have served. A usually inexpensive and useful type of souvenir, the T-shirts are often humorous and visually creative. They are an example of how soldiers have adapted a civilian item of clothing to a deployment context.

The Memorial is interested in making contact with anyone who contributed to the designs printed on the three T-shirts below.  If you can provide more information on these items please contact sue.ducker@awm.gov.au.

Toucan Express East Timor T-shirt : Lieutenant D J Perryman, RAN REL32373

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MOvember MOtivation

23 November 2011 by Lauren Hewitt. No comments
From the collection,News

We know that some of you out there are neglecting your razors in the name of raising money for a good cause, even some of the good men here at the War Memorial have put their hand up to cultivate magnificent moustaches. So we thought we’d bring you some MOtivational photos from our archives, to show you that competitive MO growing has been going on for decades!

ABLE BODIED SEAMAN COOPER, RAN, SHOWING OFF HIS BEARD ON HMAS PERTH. 006848

South West Pacific Area. 27 September 1944. The champion beards on the HMAS Shropshire. Able Seaman (AB) Lionel Evans of Cottesloe, WA, is having his beard trimmed by AB Alf Harris of Albany, WA, and AB Alec Perry of Earlwood, NSW. 017633

During the Second World War, naval ships such as the HMAS Perth and Shropshire held beard growing competitions. Above, a champion beard grower, Able Bodied Seaman Cooper, shows off his award winning crop aboard the Perth; and on the Shropshire, Able Seaman Evans has his beard trimmed by fellow champion growers.

In other forces, where beards were perhaps not allowed, we start to see some imaginative moustache examples. This one below is an example of one of the longest, grown in Japan in 1946.

KAITAICHI, JAPAN. 1946-12-25. A MEMBER OF THE BCOF AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES WORKSHOPS UNIT, WHO HAS THE LONGEST MOUSTACHE IN JAPAN. 132411

Studio portrait of Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Henry Thomas 'Jack' Harwood, the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), (previously the 67th Battalion). DUKJ3662

During the Korean War, soldiers took great pride in the cultivation of their moustaches, waxing them especially for the occasion of having their portraits taken. Official Photographer, Phillip J Hobson, took a series of portraits of men and their moustaches.

11034 Private A Hopes of Rockhampton, Qld, a member of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), relaxes as he listens to a borrowed Decca 50 wind-up gramophone and records. He has waxed his moustache for the occasion. HOBJ2116

Private Moore, seen below receiving a haircut from a Korean barber, worries about the fate of his moustache, which, when waxed, is an impressive 6 inches from tip to tip.

In Korea there are two kinds of haircuts, sukoshi and takusan. Sukoshi means small or very little, and takusan means plenty. The only trouble is that Korean barbers vary widely in their interpretation of the terms, and once in the chair, a soldier who orders a sukoshi haircut is never certain whether he will finish up with sukoshi taken off or sukoshi left on. MELJ0334

Port Moresby. 1945-07-10. 125110 Leading Aircraftman M. M. Sullivan of Manly, NSW, and member of No. 40 Squadron RAAF, is standing on the entry ladder to a Short Sunderland flying boat transport. He nominates for best moustache in the RAAF. NEA0683

A group of bearded members of HMAS Perth. 006844

Happy Mo growing!

Tobruk diaries: All about Bryant

21 November 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, Bryant, Crawford, Tobruk

Bryant’s diary:  Friday 21^st November 1941

The train left Cairo in the morning for Kantara.  We arrived at mid-day but the train doesn’t leave until 9 o’clock tonight, so I paid a visit to the hospital and looked up some of our friends.  Our officer in charge of the leave party worked his head and convinced the R.T.O. that there was not enough room and we have to stay at the staging camp for a few days.  This means a visit to Port Said.

Bryant’s diary:  Saturday 22^nd November 1941

The O.C. Staging Camp granted us all leave to Port Said for three days.  It was easy to get a life from Kantara.  I spent the day very quietly.  Port Said puts Haifa in second place for the best city in the Middle East.  The prices are cheaper that (sic) any other place, it is cleaner and at last there is a place where Australians are popular with the locals.

Bryant’s diary:  Sunday 23^rd November 1941

Visited Port Fouad and had a very lazy day.

Bryant’s diary:  Monday 24^th November 1941

We returned to Kantara but we are still being held up on account of a large number of troops passing through from Aussie. 

Bryant’s diary:  Tuesday 25^th November 1941

Troops still kept passing through but we got away in the night all right.  We travelled first-class.

Bryant’s diary:  Wednesday 26^th November 1941

We reached camp at about 5:30 this morning and I had the honour of being orderly corporal for the day.  The Sjt-Major (“Gertie” Cortis) is an old woman and a…nuisance.

Bryant’s diary:  Thursday 27^th November 1941

A route march in the morning and sports in the afternoon.

Lieutenant Colonel J.W. Crawford, Commanding Officer of the 2/17th Infantry battalion, Tobruk Libya, 1941. 020725

The Australian Army and farming in the Northern Territory

17 November 2011 by Theresa Cronk. No comments
Collection,Collection Highlights,From the collection,New acquisitions

When we think of fertile faming lands, the Northern Territory is generally not the first place that springs to mind. Yet it was here, during the Second World War, that the Australian Army established the 1 and 2 Farm Company as part of the Australian Army Service Corps.

On 11 September 1940, approval was given by the Minster for Army to acquire land. An area of 107 acres was purchased at Adelaide River. The land was only partly cleared and the farm commenced with a small area of 2 ½ acres in 1940. The Adelaide River Farm Section became the 1 Australian Farm Company. A small garden at Wycliffe Well ushered in the 2 Australian Farm Company in January 1942. Towards the end of 1942, approval was given to establish a further 7 farms at Adelaide River, Hayes Creek, Katherine and Mataranka.

AWM254 [317]

So, why did the Army decide to set up farms in the Northern Territory?

Firstly, these areas were known for deficiency diseases caused by inadequate vitamin intake and there were concerns for the health of troops. During May 1939, the Chief Medical Officer advised that up to 25% of personnel at the Northern Territory garrisons had been on sick parade on one day. Dengue fever was also rife. It was recommended that fresh fruit and vegetables could assist in reducing the occurrence of these diseases.

This revealed the second problem which was the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. At the time, the policy was to purchase food supplies from civilian contractors. In the Northern Territory, local production of fresh vegetables and fruit could not even sustain the local population. An influx of 40 000 troops and their dietary requirements needed to be met another way.

Thirdly, there were transport problems. Fresh vegetables forwarded from Adelaide had to endure a train journey of 3 or 4 days to Alice Springs. This was followed by 4 days or longer of transportation via trucks for distribution to areas around Darwin. During this time, 50% of the food stuffs were lost through the natural deterioration of food. The remaining 50% was edible but had lost most of its nutritional value and appeal.

 The priority was on the production of salad and leafy vegetables. This included tomatoes, beans, cabbages, lettuce, silver beet, cucumbers, beetroot, marrows and pumpkins. Root vegetables had a lower priority. One problem that also had to be overcome was the way in which to cook certain vegetables that not been seen before. It was only after the practice of boiling sweet potatoes ceased that this vegetable joined the ranks.

AWM254 [317], page 22

The first commanding officer was Captain Henderson who depended on convalescent patients from the nearby camp hospital for labour to plant vegetables. During this time, watering was conducted by channel irrigation from shower overflow and manually with a bucket brigade of volunteers.

The struggle for farm labour and equipment continued under the command of Lieutenant Nielson in March 1941. The tide began to turn with the arrival of Warrant Officer Campbell on 23 May 1941. Campbell obtained additional labour from 2/40 Infantry Battalion who detached platoons for a week or so to clear 30 acres. An irrigation scheme was also established and men from a nearby RAE unit supervised the construction of a 20 000 gallon iron tank.

By November 1941, the war establishment for a Farm Section AASC was approved and the personnel rose to 1 officer and 54 other ranks. Lieutenant Campbell was sent to a training camp in Brisbane to select suitable farmers and these men were sent to Wycliffe Well. Central Australia also had several unit gardens and one of these was located at Elliot. One soldier reported that they had to keep raising the height of the brush fence that they constructed around this garden. The problem was not with local wildlife, but people interested in seeing what was behind the fence. It was hoped that the higher the fence got, the less inclined people would be to climb over and have a look.

AWM254 [317], page 71

During 1944 and 1945, a 16 acre area at Katherine was developed as an experimental farm by army personnel with agriculture specialist qualifications. The work that they did helped establish what varieties of fruit and vegetables were likely to be successful. This work was largely based on recommendations from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research after a visit in September and October 1944. This also called for further training for Major Campbell, Captain Kjar and Lieutenant Scott-Young to study modern methods in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and the vegetable research station in Canberra.

AWM254 [317], page 39

It is unclear what happened to the farms after the end of the war. A report, written shortly after the end of the Second World War, indicates that there were discussions during 1944 and 1945 about the future of the army farms once the Northern Territory returned to civilian control.  Unit war diaries exist for 1 Australian Farming Company until the 6 August 1946 when Captain J C MacDonald moved to 7 Military District. By this time the posted strength for 1 Australian Farm Company had been reduced to 1 officer and 1 other rank.

References:

AWM52 10/26/2 August 1940 to July 1945. 1 Farm Company Summary of Farm Activity

AWM54 337/7/5 [Farms and Gardens - Farming Units:] Inspection report on 1 Australian Farm Coy, Australian Army Service Corps, Northern Territory by Lieutenant N A M Kjar, August 1943

AWM54 337/7/12 Part 1. [Farms and Gardens - Farming Units:] Data relating to Australian Army Service Corps, Farm Coy project and associated farm activities (1939-1945)

AWM54 351/1/3 [Food - General:] History of nutrition in Australian Army. Nutrition and food, requirements and catering. System of dieting. Rationing of hospital patients.

AWM254 [317] Army Farms AASC [Australian Army Service Corps report, photographs and newspaper clippings relating to 1 Australian Farm Company in the Northern Territory, 5 Australian Farm Company in Queensland, 3 Australian Farm Company in New Guinea, and 9 Australian Farm Company in New South Wales]

The Iconic Changi Quilts

16 November 2011 by Sue Ducker. No comments
Collection,Collection Highlights,News

The Memorial is interested in making contact with the relatives or contributors to the famous Changi quilts.  If you can provide more information about the women who made these quilts please contact sue.ducker@awm.gov.au. 

REL/14235 - Embroidered quilt : Female internees, Changi Prison, "Australian Quilt" REL/14235

When Singapore fell on 15 February 1942, 400 women and children were interned. The quilts were the idea of Mrs Ethel Mulvaney. Supposedly made for the wounded in Changi hospitals, the quilts were actually meant to relieve boredom, to boost morale, and to pass information to other camps. Three quilts were made, one each for the Red Cross organisations of Britain, Australia and Japan. 

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Remembering the first-year battles of the Pacific war

15 November 2011 by Emma Campbell. 2 Comments
News

On 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked the United States’ Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, destroying dozens of ships and planes, and killing thousands of American servicemen. Japan and the United States were at war.

Australians were already fighting in Europe and the Middle East, but Prime Minister John Curtin quickly expanded Australia’s Second World War commitments, declaring that we, too, were at war with Japan because of its “unprovoked attack on British and United States territory”.

In the first year of the war in the south-west Pacific, Australians and Americans would fight the Japanese in Malaya and Singapore; in Ambon, Java and Timor; the Philippines; Papua, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Borneo. Not often, however, did they come together on the ground, and so some of the best known land campaigns fought by Australians – on the Kokoda Trail, and at Milne Bay – are unknown to Americans. Australians, meanwhile, play down the importance of the concurrent US campaign at Guadalcanal and the naval battle at Midway Island.

In December, on the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, an international conference of experts and veterans from America, Australia and Japan will meet in New Orleans to discuss the first-year battles of the Pacific war, and to share the experiences of each of the nations involved, as well as some of the misconceptions that exist. Among the speakers are two of the Australian War Memorial’s senior historians, Dr Steve Bullard and Dr Karl James.

Bullard, a Japanese-speaker, has translated extracts from the Senshi sōsho (War history series), the official account of the Japanese experience of the Second World War. His talk on “Japanese operations in New Guinea: a prelude to invasion of Australia?” will introduce an American audience to Australia’s wartime fears of Japanese invasion , and our continuing misconceptions of Japanese intentions.

In the early part of the Pacific war – January, February and March of 1942 – the Japanese were discussing a partial invasion of Australia, but this idea was quickly rejected, Bullard says. Japan’s main motivation for going to war was to secure natural resources, such as oil, rubber and tin, in south-east Asia and the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Occupation of bases in Papua and New Guinea, and attacks on the Australian mainland, were designed to protect the supply of these resources.

“There is a common misconception that they [the Japanese] were coming south and they weren’t going to stop until they had captured Australia; and that our boys in Papua stopped them. But in actual fact the Japanese had clear objectives … and it never involved them continuing on to take Australia,” Bullard says.

James will deliver a talk on “The Kokoda Trail” that takes in the Australian actions along that well known track in Papua, as well as the fighting at Milne Bay.

“Kokoda and Milne Bay were among the best known Australian campaigns in the Second World War, but an American audience will probably have never heard of them,” he says. “A conference like this helps give the global perspective to the first year of the Pacific War, and remind an American audience that Australians were heavily involved in the south-west Pacific.”

The Japanese suffered their first defeat in the Papuan campaign at Milne Bay. The Japanese saw the Allied airstrips in the area as a stepping stone on their way to Port Moresby. On the night of 25 August 1942, they landed by sea at Milne Bay. Two Australian brigades (about 4,500 men), some American engineers, and two RAAF squadrons were awaiting them. A savage battle raged along the shore, but the Japanese never took the airstrips. They were evacuated by sea on 4 September.

The Kokoda campaign, fought between July and November 1942, saw some of the most desperate and vicious fighting encountered by Australian troops in the Second World War. The Australians were ultimately successful in stopping the Japanese from capturing the Papuan capital of Port Moresby.

Both Kokoda and Milne Bay were part of a larger campaign fought in Papua that – after the bloody beachhead battles of Buna, Gona, and Sanananda at the end of the year, from November 1942 to January 1943 – cleared the Japanese from Papua.

James says Australia’s victory in the Kokoda campaign is linked to the US victory at Guadalcanal: severe losses suffered by the Japanese in the Solomon Islands resulted in their South Seas Detachment on Kokoda being ordered to withdraw, which was the beginning of the end for their campaign in the Owen Stanley Range.

James says being able to share the Kokoda story with American historians – and, in turn, to learn more about what happened at Guadalcanal – will “help to put the Australian story into context, which makes it more meaningful”.

The conference, from 7 to 9 December, is the first of a series of five on the Second World War that will be convened by the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.

1942-10-01. NEW GUINEA. MILNE BAY. AUSTRALIAN TROOPS PLOUGH THROUGH THE MUD AT MILNE BAY SHORTLY AFTER THE UNSUCCESSFUL JAPANESE INVASION ATTEMPT. 013335

Curating from Afghanistan : Collecting in Action, February 2011

14 November 2011 by Stephanie Boyle. 2 Comments
Collection,From the collection,New acquisitions,News,Personal Stories

As senior curator of Film and Sound at the Memorial, I was greatly privileged in February this year to go with the ADF to the Australia’s area of Middle Eastern Operations.   Not only did I meet with and interview an amazing range of ADF members based in or around Al Minhad, Kandahar, Tarin Kot and Kabul, but I found myself in the rare position of being a female civilian, totally immersed in the ADF’s world.   I trained with ADF.  I wore body armour.  I travelled by armoured convoy and by Hercules aircraft.  

Interviewing at Camp Holland, Tarin Kot

I had meals in the food halls where everybody else ate – lining up outside to sterilise my hands - and slept in the same accommodation, sharing bathroom and laundry facilities.   Every day brought a hectic round of new names, acronyms, places, and protocols to remember;  every day was a day of early starts and late nights.  Some days were marked by fun (joining in Camp Baker’s Trivia Night) or frustration (repeated cancellation of flights), whilst other days were memorable for their sadness  – the loss of an Australian sapper the day we left Tarin Kot; attending, with a host of coalition force members,  a US ramp ceremony at Kandahar Airfield.  

There was nothing about this trip for which the standard day at the office could have prepared me.    

As one of a three person team of Memorial curators for the Collecting in Action program,  I  spent three weeks on  deployment, travelling across the Middle Eastern Area of Operations (MEAO). In keeping with the Memorial ‘s tradition of documenting Australians’ experience at war,   I recorded  interviews with  a wide cross section of the ADF  - men and women of  different ranks, performing different duties , in a range of locations on base and in the field. Their stories were fascinating and inspiring, providing a unique insight into the life and times of Australia’s current serving military.  The team also sought items to include in the Memorial’s collection, from photographs and personal cloth patches, to gear too big to bring back right away, such as vehicles.

This video compiles a small selection from the many hours recorded during my deployment.  The Memorial thanks all those who contributed their time to this program.

The ADF do their utmost to prepare you for travelling to a war zone. Along with a large cohort of ADF members, our team undertook a training course at Randwick Barracks. Full days of lectures covered topics as diverse as vaccination, how to speak to the media, and how to conduct oneself in the event of capture.  A month later we departed with the scheduled ADF sustainment flight to Australia’s Al Minhad base, where we undertook  a further four days of lecturers and training. This included being taught how to assemble and fire a rifle, how to identify explosive devices, to call in a medivac (evacuation by air), how to apply a tourniquet, and how to dress an open wound.  My wound dressing skills being somewhat more theoretical than actual, I quietly hoped no one would have to depend on my training in an emergency!

During the training period I met many people who were , like me , about to go “in country”, but unlike me, would stay on for many months past the date of my return to the comforts of  “civvy” life. They would continue to work the long hours,  in  harsh environmental conditions, which  characterise  Middle Eastern and Central Asian deployments.  These and other  ”pattern of life” matters were discussed by many of  my interviewees.  

Outside Kabul

My interviewees included troopers, snipers, members of mentoring task groups, medical staff, unmanned aerial vehicle operators, artillery trainers, ground support crew, engineers, a Chaplin, a legal officer, a Federal policeman and, offering a different perspective, an Afghan translator.    In every case, I asked them how they came to enlist, what brought them to their current situation, what their jobs entailed, what life is like on an Australian base.  What did they enjoy about life in the Forces, what was not so good? If they had any downtime, how did they spend it? And what is it like to work with other nationalities?

Artillery practice

 People willingly shared their experiences, personal insights and thoughts for the future.  A nurse spoke of the bravery of an Afghan child who’d sustained horrific facial injury in a tractor incident.  A Lieutenant Colonel, remembering his earlier work the UN, described having to repatriate the bodies of UN personnel killed in the war between Hezbollah and Israel.   A postal operator, missing her own young family, told how amongst the inmates of Camp Baker she was known as the Morale Princess, for distributing precious news and gifts from home.  An experienced Warrant Officer described the importance of keeping people busy when sad events at home or at war tested their morale.  One interviewee showed me his publically displayed artworks, which, while allowing him artistic outlet, enlivened both his spare time and the walls of the base , pleasing ADF and coalition personnel alike.    A sniper described how his team narrowly avoided being taken out by an insurgent with a rocket propelled grenade launcher. A female officer told me about the respect shown her as a trainer, working with Afghan military.  Another interviewee described meeting his Canadian fiancée at a fitness class on base.

Stencil Art - Kandahar Airlfield Base

Some interviewees felt they might not have enough to tell, or suggested that they “weren’t interesting enough”.      The fact is everyone has a story to tell. Not only are their individual experiences interesting in their own right, but every single interview contributes a part to the whole story of Australia’s history.   In the years to come, their descendants will come to the Memorial seeking out their stories, just as the grandchildren and great grandchildren of our First and Second World War veterans are now looking for the records and recordings of their ancestors, which form the Memorial’s collections.    

The Memorial seeks to build its collection of film, photo and oral history with material from current and recently serving ADF members.  Please contact the Film and Sound section if you would like to help.

Tobruk diaries: To Cairo and beyond

14 November 2011 by Carlie Walker. No comments
1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, cairo, Cosgriff, Tobruk

Bryant’s diary:  Friday 14^th November 1941    

Despite a slow and tiring train trip we arrived in Cairo at 2 in the afternoon.  Ted Taylor and I got into some strife with some Kiwis and were done over properly.  We were badly outnumbered and I finished up with a couple of black eyes and a busted lip.

Cosgriff’s diary:  Friday 14 November 1941 

Keeping up the early morning rising.  Salter sick with s-fly fever – moaning like blazes.  Met Gillespie in town today – going to Pt Said.  I’d just looked in at the DPO and Johnston spent 12 pound.  I was going to buy the head but he turned me off her.  To the pyramids in the afternoon.  Nothing to rave about.   Photoed on a camel with 3 others.  Have the use of the AD’s camera but not so keen on the high-priced ones since I have seen so many mistakes with them.  Mail today – Elsa, McPoland, Home and Bill Kirby.  Pictures tonight to see Deanna Durbin – had to get permission to come home late.  Home at 12:30am…

Bryant’s diary:  Saturday 15^th November 1941

Had a look around Cairo and saw a couple of Mosques and the bazaar.  It wasn’t very interesting at all.

Australian soldiers on leave in Cairo examine an ancient Egyptian wall carving whilst on a sight-seeing tour of Cairo, 1941. 030008/05

Cosgriff’s diary:  Saturday 15 November 1941 

Not so hot getting up today after late night last night… Town early for silk and Len’s bracelets – neither ready yet.  Met Tim and heard of Foley’s death RIP.  Mick Galvin and Tom Barry also dead.  Roberts picked up my 25 acca note and said it was his.  Races this arvo and hired me over taxi for 80 accas – backed three winners 6 pound up after.  Tim and Connelly there also Stapleton who does not recognise us.  Saw Marie with half the British army hanging to her.  Got Elsa’s present but I do not like it very much.  Ken Starer left for England today.  Len bought a Bible today.  Mousky not a cheap place – can’t get it…

Bryant’s diary:  Sunday 16^th November 1941

We went to the races at the Heliopolis.  I only backed one winner, but finished up losing only 55 piastres.

Bryant’s diary:  Monday 17^th November 1941

I spent a quiet day looking over the city.

Bryant’s diary:  Tuesday 18^th November 1941

Ted and I met a couple of Queenslanders and visited the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and Temple and the zoo.

Bryant’s diary:  Wednesday 19^th November 1941

A full day was spent on a visit to the Delta Barrage, olne of the many units of the mighty irrigation system of the Nile.  It was a very good day indeed and for the price it was definitely worthwhile.

Bryant’s diary:  Thursday 20^th November 1941

Our last day of leave was spent quietly having a last look at Cairo.  An air raid alert was sounded in the night, but nothing happened.

Owen Thomas Cosgriff’s diary finished on 16 November 1941.  He was discharged from the army on 13 July 1944 and he soon returned to Australia.  Once home, Cosgriff shared his experiences at Tobruk as a Catholic Chaplain in public lectures.  In a newspaper article entitled Fr. Cosgriff recalls: Epic of Tobruk, a reporter wrote:

Father Cosgriff spoke feelingly of the burials of Australians.  Chaplains of all denominations aided each other. There were no coffins and the bodies were lowered to the graves as the enemy planes dived overhead…[he] told of how the Germans found out the time of Mass on a Sunday and accordingly sent over planes to bomb the church. Not a soldier moved from the church and there was not a single casualty. The following Sunday, the time of Mass was changed and the Stukas came and razed the church for 30 minutes before the arrival of the priest and troops…

If anyone has any more information about Owen Thomas Cosgriff’s later life, please let us know.

Remember remembering : Oral Histories of the First World War

09 November 2011 by Stephanie Boyle. 2 Comments
From the collection,News,Opinion, views and commentary,Personal Stories

Well, we got wind in the morning that the Armistice was either signed or about to be signed… And the word finally came through and of course there was great excitement… I was only sorry I hadn’t arrived there Armistice night because the chaps that got off the train, the girls just formed a ring around them.. and they wouldn’t let them out of the ring till they’d kissed every one of them.
- Former Corporal Ted Smout, a member of the 3rd Sanitation Section,  Australian Imperial Forces, 1915-1919 ( S03424)

Remembrance Day was once known as Armistice Day,  the day when World War I ended. It is a day to reflect on the losses incurred by the “Great War”, as it was known at the time. The Memorial holds many stories of the Great War; these are the oral histories of survivors, veterans who recorded their stories of the war years leading up to Armistice, and in some cases beyond.    These stories are a fascinating insight into the minds of a previous generation, revealing not only the history of how campaigns were fought – essential information for researchers -  but also the realities of war at the individual level, deeply personalising the Australian history of war. read on