Informal portrait of Sergeant Frank Butt; an unidentified American sergeant; NX110497 Major ...

Informal portrait of Sergeant Frank Butt; an unidentified American sergeant; NX110497 Major Thomas Richard Wildie and NX205228 Captain John Balfour of the Australian Historical Records team, Historical Division, GHQ, SWPA, . In April 1945, Balfour proceeded to Manila. Initially working with a lack of clerical assistance and typing facilities, Capt Balfour subsequently received assistance from Sgt Butt, an Army photographer, and Major T R Wildie in installing and operating microfilming equipment. Balfour's efforts to have Wildie accompany him when the Historical Division moved to Tokyo at the end of January 1946 fell through. In February 1945, it was agreed between the Australian Prime Minister John Curtin and General Douglas MacArthur, Commander-in-Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, that an officer of each of the Australian services be attached to the Historical Division, GHQ, SWPA to facilitate access to historical information in GHQ records needed, in part, for the writing of the Australian Official History. The Australian Defence Committee recommended the appointment of Captain Balfour (AMF), Lieutenant Anderson (RAN), and Pilot Officer Pratt (RAAF).