Seeking copyright holders
The Memorial’s Research Centre Digitised Collections team digitises archival collections at risk of deterioration. This process preserves the original items and enables the selected collections to be accessed online into future.
The Memorial is seeking permission from the copyright holders to publish the collections listed below on the Memorial’s website. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of persons named, please contact the Memorial via email: Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au
Sir Charles David Griffin, July 1915 – March 2004
Sir Charles David Griffin, always known as David Griffin, was born on 8 July 1915 at Leura, New South Wales, to Nellie Clarendon Devenish-Meares and Eric Furnival Griffin.
During his career David Griffin was a lawyer, a businessman, and the Lord Mayor of Sydney from 1972 to 1973. He was also a theatre actor and director, poet, author, an ABC radio panellist, and a lecturer of Australian literature at Sydney University. Griffin was appointed CBE for services to industry in 1972 and knighted in 1974 for public service. He was named Senior Australian of the Year in 1996.
During the Second World War he served as NX69235 Sergeant Charles David Griffin in the 2/3 Motor Ambulance Convoy. In 1941 he sailed for Malaya and was present at Singapore during its fall to the Japanese in 1942. A prisoner of war in Changi for three years, he was released in 1945.
In 1941 he married Jean Falconer Whyte, from then known as Jean Griffin (1919–2011). The marriage produced two sons, Edward Griffin and Alastair Griffin (dates unknown).
Sir Charles David Griffin died in March 2004 in Bowral, New South Wales, at age 88.
A poem written by David Griffin appears within the private collection of Harry Ernest Jessup. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant David Griffin, please contact the Memorial via email on Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: PR00683
John Masefield, June 1878 – May 1967
John Edward "Jack" Masefield was born on 1 June 1878 at Ledbury, Herefordshire, England, to Caroline (née Parker) and George Masefield.
He was a famous English poet and writer, and Poet Laureate from 1930 until 1967.
In 1903 he married Constance Maud de la Cherois Crommelin (1867–1960). Their marriage produced two children, Judith Isabel Yeats Masefield (1904–1988) and Lewis Crommelin Masefield (1910–1942). Judith was an amateur actress, successful Illustrator and children’s book author. Lewis, a novelist, was killed in action in Africa while serving as a private in the British Army Medical Corps in the Second World War.
John Masefield died in May 1967 in Abington, Northamptonshire, England, at the age of 88.
Four poems written by John Masefield appear within the private collection of Harry Ernest Jessup. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of John Masefield, please contact the Memorial via email on Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: PR00683
904022 Corporal O'Donnell
A poem titled Night Sentries written in 1939 by 904022 Corporal O'Donnell is included within the private collection of Harry Ernest Jessup. He served in the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of Corporal O'Donnell, please contact the Memorial via email on Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: PR00683
Major Alexander Norman Thompson MBE, March 1906 – April 1992
Alexander Norman Thompson was born on 12 March 1906 in Ashington, Northumberland, England.
NX34974 Major Alexander Norman Thompson enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force in July 1940 and embarked for Malaya in March 1941. At the time of the surrender of Singapore, Major Thompson was DAQMG at HQ 8 Division and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner in Changi. During this time he was quartermaster for the AIF in Changi, and was required to work in the Japanese office for much of his internment. He was discharged in December 1945 and was later awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1947.
In 1930 he married Constance Elsie Edmonds, from then known as Constance Elsie Thompson (1908–2001). Their marriage produced one son, Allan Thompson (dates unknown).
Alexander Norman Thompson died on 21 April 1992 at St Ives, New South Wales, at age 86.
The Australian War Memorial holds a collection of handwritten diaries and cards written by Alexander Norman Thompson which cover the period 1942 to 1945 in Changi prison. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of Alexander Norman Thompson, please contact the Memorial via email on Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: PR00016