Botham, William George

Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX114261 Captain (later Major) William George 'Bill' Botham, Officer Commanding (O/C) Rabaul Fortress Company, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE), Rabaul, 1941-1942. The main item is a carbon copy of a four page typed document titled 'Diary by Capt. W.G Botham DCM, O/C Rabaul Fortress Coy RAE, Covering period January 19th - February 27th 1942'. Botham describes his escape from Rabaul, after the invasion by the Japanese, with 12 of his men travelling down the south coast of New Britain in small boats 'borrowed' from missionaries. He makes mention of a similar journey headed by Captain Harold W Nicholls, who sailed independently to Botham. Both Botham and Nicholls were airlifted to Port Moresby on 1 March 1942. This copy of the diary contains Botham's signature at the bottom of the final page. Two appendices to Botham's diary can be found in the Official Records Collection, AWM54, 253/5/9 along with a copy of the diary of Nicholls for the same period. Other items in this collection are a small Royal Australian Engineers, Rabaul, Christmas Card, 1941, with envelope addressed to Mr and Mrs Wayne, c/o Supreme Court Rabaul, and an envelope addressed to Mrs H Wayne, Blue Mountains NSW.

• Wallet 1 of 1 - Diary and papers relating to the Second World War service of Captain (later Major) William George 'Bill' Botham, 1941-1942