Chief Petty Officer Victor Ernest Montague (Monty) Tuckerman, (Rtd).

Victor Ernest Montague Tuckerman (Monty Tuckerman), (Service number 21164 ) interviewed as a former member of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), 1936-1948, by James McDonald RAN (Ret'd). PO Tuckerman was a Stores Vittler in HMAS Australia, Albatross, and Warnambool, in the Middle East, Darwin, and Dutch East Indies. He was born in Drummoyne, Sydney, in 1917, and his significant postings were with HMAS Australia (1936), HMAS Albatross, 1937, HMAS Hobart, 1938 & 1941 and HMAS Warnambool, 1939 & 1942.

Part 1: Monty describes the colour film footage he took of the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese on 19 February 1942, while on HMAS Warnambool.
Part 2: Interview with James McDonald, in which Monty Tuckerman describes the sinking by Japanese aircraft of USS Peary in Darwin Harbour, as "the worst sight he'd ever seen"; witnessing strikes and/or aftermath of strikes on hospital ship Manunda, SS Zealandia, USAT Meigs, MV British Motorist and The Neptunia. He also discusses his filming of the event and being reprimanded for making the film, but having it returned nevertheless, and showing it to the rest of the crew; his experiences in HMAS Hobart while in the Red Sea; recollections of incidents while in Australia; taking rations to Japan on HMAS Quiberon; joining the Navy during the Depression, and how he suffered hearing loss from the ship's guns.

Part 1: Description of colour film footage he took of the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese on 19 February 1942 while on HMAS Warnambool.

Part 2: Interview with James McDonald. Describes the sinking by Japanese aircraft of HMAS Pirie in Darwin Harbour; experiences on HMAS Hobart while in the Red Sea, recollections of incidents while in Australia, taking rations to Japan on HMAS Quiberon, joining the Navy during the depression, how he lost some of his hearing from the guns on board ship.