Interview with Ren De Garis (When the war came to Australia)

Interview with 39467 Sergeant Renfrey Curgenven De Garis. Mr De Garis talks about a Dad's Army which was created in Millicent after the war broke out. It was intended for people waiting to be called up or waiting to enlist, so that they could learn skills passed on from those that had served in the First World War. Mr De Garis discusses the community's fear of a German invasion. He notes that there was quite a large German population in Millicent and although many of them served in the Australian Army during the First World War, some people were interned during the Second World War. Mr De Garis enlisted in 1941 and his brother in 1942. His brother was a Lancaster pilot killed in Germany in March 1945. Mr De Garis notes that the war affected the town very deeply as a large number of people left to join the armed services. He mentions the local Volunteer Defence Corps and the Postmaster teaching Morse code to men such as himself who were waiting to be called up. Mr De Garis worked as a radio operator in Darwin establishing radio stations and radio contacts in the South West Pacific. He arrived in Darwin in March after the first air raid but explains that there was no fear of Japanese invasion as people in the forces concentrated on their work. The group he worked in monitored Japanese stations and he followed the Coral Sea battle. Mr De Garis mentions that he and his colleagues were certain Australia would be able to repel a Japanese attack. He discusses attitudes towards American servicemen in Australia. Mr De Garis speaks about Australian Aircraft and how they compared with British, Japanese and American planes. He discusses the Morse code shorthand used by the Japanese and how he was able to intercept messages. Mr De Garis also recalls how he and his co-workers were able to recognise peoples' signatures and from this were able to catch a Japanese bomber fleet refuelling in Kupang that were planning to attack Darwin the next day. Mr De Garis' father was chairman of the fundraising group 'Be Happy Keep Fit Win the War' and he talks about their fundraising efforts during the war years. Mr De Garis was in hospital with tuberculosis for 18 months following the end of the war and whilst there he met a number of recovering POWs. He also talks about the effect of the war on his family's business. Mr De Garis also makes note of the impact the war had on small communities in this country.