Colquhoun, Michael Anthony 'Rory' (Lieutenant Colonel)

Places
Accession Number PR05098
Collection type Private Record
Record type Collection
Measurement 2 wallets: 4 cm; and 2 custom made boxes: 10 cm.
Object type Diary, Document, Card, Souvenir, Serial
Maker Colquhoun, Michael Anthony 'Rory'
Place made Australia, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon
Date made 1997-1998; 2004-2005
Access Open
Conflict Period 1990-1999
Iraq, 2003-2013
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) 1948 -
Copying Provisions Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.
Description

Collection relating to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) and Iraq War service of 234897 Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anthony "Rory" Colquhoun, Israel and Lebanon 1997-1998, Baghdad 2004-2005.

The collection consists of documents, identity cards, diaries, and souvenirs related to Colquhoun's deployments as a United Nations Military Observer (UNMO) with the UNTSO from 1997 to 1998 and as a J3 [Director General of Operations] at Australian National Headquarters, Joint Task Force 633 (JTF 633) in Baghdad, Iraq, from 1 August 2004 to 18 February 2005.

Wallet 1 of 4 - Consists of documents related to then Major Colquhoun's deployment with UNTSO from 1997 to 1998. The wallet includes Colquhoun's UNTSO driver's permit, a UNTSO Field Efficiency Report while at duty station Observer Group Golan - Tiberias (OGG-T) for the period 4 February to 5 August 1997, four UNTSO leave request forms, ten Duty Rosters from OGG-T for the period March to August 1997, and ten Duty Rosters from Observer Group Lebanon (OGL) for the period August 1997 to January 1998.

Wallet 2 of 4 - Contains Major Colquhoun's original handwritten diary from his deployment with UNTSO. The diary covers the period 23 January 1997 to 16 February 1998. Colquhoun left Australia in January 1997 with his wife and two young children. The diary documents the family's preparations for the deployment and their journey to Tiberias, Israel, via Bangkok and Rome. Colquhoun spent the first six months of his deployment at Observer Group Golan - Tiberius (OGG-T) on the Israeli side of the border and the following six months with Observer Group Lebanon (OGL). The diary is detailed and describes Colquhoun's daily activities while on duty, including patrolling and cooking; bombings; explosions; killings; rising incident levels; his impressions of the area; weekly situation reports and summaries; family life; and sight-seeing. The diary contains many inserts, including: tourist souvenirs; paper currency; a program for an Anzac Day ceremony and a memorial service for Captain Peter McCarthy [killed in 1988]; and newspaper clippings reporting the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mother Theresa.

Wallet 3 of 4 - Consists of documents related to Lieutenant Colonel Colquhoun's deployment to Iraq from 2004 to 2005. The wallet includes Colquhoun's Multi-National Force / Corp Iraq identity card, a printed copy of a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade publication, "Iraq – the Path Ahead", a memo from the Iraqi Ministry of Defence regarding use of military identification, two printed copies of articles on Iraq issued by Media Monitors from 2007, and printed copies of the Chief of the Defence Force's Orders of the Day, "Completion of Operation Catalyst" and "Conclusion of Operation Catalyst", dated 30 July and 3 August 2009, respectively.

Wallet 4 of 4 - Contains Lieutenant Colonel Colquhoun's original handwritten diary from his deployment to Iraq. The diary covers the period 31 July 2004 to 19 February 2005. The Iraq diary is detailed and describes Colquhoun's daily activities while serving as the J3 in JTF 633. His primary task was to ensure force protection occurred for all Australian personnel in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO), particularly Iraq. Colquhoun's diary also discusses communication with his family at home; hostage incidents; attacks on patrols; attacks using Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED); and the Iraqi Parliamentary elections held in January 2005. The diary contains many inserts, including newspaper clippings, computer printed photographs, and news reports on incidents and events in Iraq.