McCarthy, Bernard Arthur (Private, b.1912 - d.1959)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of WX8802 Private Bernard Arthur McCarthy, 2/28 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Middle East and Germany, 1941-1945.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one pictorial notebook and two diaries of Private Arthur McCarthy. The pictorial notebook contains pencil sketches of locations where Private McCarthy served with 2/28 Australian Infantry Battalion in Lebanon and Syria in 1941. It also includes notes relating to the events that took place on the landscapes depicted, such as encounters with enemy forces, artillery fire and air raids.

The first diary contains entries dated between 1 January and 25 December 1944, and was written while Private McCarthy was a prisoner of war of the Germans. In this diary, Private McCarthy writes about his earlier service and capture as a prisoner of war during the First Battle of El Alamein 1942, a previous escape attempt, and changing camps. He then goes on to write about his hopes relating to the end of the war, his feelings regarding work parties, receiving medical treatments, receiving mail from home, attending concerts and plays put on by fellow prisoners, being in hospital, living quarters, rumours about the war, writing letters, the weather, comparisons to Benghazi and camps in Italy, inadequate food rations, his attempts to be repatriated by pretending to have a heart condition, bitterness towards his captors, gambling with food and cigarettes, mysterious deaths in the camp, poor mental health, watching sports such as football and cricket, unfriendliness between prisoners of different nationalities, being ill, seeing aircraft crashes, bedbugs and fleas, receiving Red Cross parcels, air raids, suicide attempts by many prisoners, and hunger. This diary also includes names and addresses of acquaintances, and a loose book page on which Private McCarthy copied a section of a report relating to the First Battle of El Alamein.

The second diary contains brief entries dated between 15 January and 13 May 1945. This diary was written by Private McCarthy during his time as a prisoner of war of the Germans. In this diary, Private McCarthy writes about the prisoners being moved away from camp during the Russian advance, hearing Russian artillery fire and bombing, being transported in a crowded truck of sick prisoners, inadequate rations, air raids, hearing news of the end of the war, and being flown to England.

Private Bernard Arthur McCarthy enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 23 October 1940. After a period of training, he joined 24 Anti-Tank Battalion, and later transferred to 2/28 Australian Infantry Battalion. With these units, Private McCarthy served in North Africa (including Benghazi and Tobruk), Lebanon and Syria. In July 1942, he was captured as a prisoner of war by the Italians during the First Battle of El Alamein. Although he attempted escape, Private McCarthy remained a prisoner until the end of the war in Europe, interned in camps in Italy and Germany. He suffered from various illnesses during his time as a prisoner. After the war, Private McCarthy returned to Australia, and was discharged on 24 October 1945.