Furness, Norman Harold (Corporal, b.1920 - d.2020)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX23557 Corporal Norman Harold Furness, 2/22 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, New Britain and Australia, c1940-2009.

This collection was compiled by Corporal Norman Harold Furness during his service with 2/22 Australian Infantry Battalion and subsequent involvement with the 2/22nd Battalion ‘Lark Force’ Association. The collection contains material relating to the service of 2/22 Australian Infantry Battalion in New Britain, the Japanese invasion of Rabaul, the sinking of the Montevideo Maru, and activities of the 2/22nd Battalion ‘Lark Force’ Association. The material dates between c1940 and 2009, and includes copies of accounts of people who experienced the Japanese invasion of Rabaul, scrapbook pages, and excerpts of published items.

Wallet 1 of 7 – Consists of 15 items, including copies of accounts of servicemen who experienced the Japanese invasion of Rabaul in January and February 1942. This wallet contains the accounts of VX18194 John Finch Akeroyd, VX8370 Ernest Smyth Appel, VX114261 William George Botham, VX30531 Hubert Charles Burgdorf, NX56978 William Cook, VX41567 Howard Hammond Carr, NX57343 Wilkie Desmond Collins, VX23533 Harry Cooling, VX44779 John Geoffrey Donaldson, VX42841 Ashley Vance Dore, VX22932 Allan Francis Ferguson, VX38844 Dudley Frederick Field, VX35754 Alexander Richard Tolmer, and VX44411 Peter Ernest Figgis.

Wallet 2 of 7 – Consists of 15 items, including copies of accounts of servicemen who experienced the Japanese invasion of Rabaul in January and February 1942. This wallet contains the accounts of VX39091 Robert Henri Gries, VX47386 Robert Francis Greenwood, VX37499 William Arthur Gullidge, VX24800 Cuthbert Oswald ‘Bill’ Harry, VX24106 Charles Neil Head, VX112414 Ralph Raymond James, VX29061 Frederick William Kollmorgan, VX43446 John Claud Mollard, VX24229 Harry Sydney Maloney, VX45210 Gwynne ‘Peter’ Matheson, VX44959 James MacKnight Hamilton, VX45855 John Thornbury McCallum, VX46497 Colin Lachlan McInnes, VX46460 Henry Maurice McLaren, and 10679964 William Taylor Owen.

Wallet 3 of 7 – Consists of 10 items, including copies of accounts of servicemen who experienced the Japanese invasion of Rabaul in January and February 1942. This wallet contains the accounts of VX27796 Kenneth Robert Watt, VX46970 George Scott Rogers, VX50630 Ronald Henry Symons, VX23843 David Ormond ‘Mick’ Smith, VX30794 John Joseph Sheridan, VX15628 Victor Harold Turner, PX176 Allan Thomas Timperley, VX47748 Alan March Vinnell, and VX19707 Issy Weingott.

Wallet 4 of 7 – Contains 2 folders of material relating to the Japanese invasion of Rabaul in January and February 1942.
Wallet 4 of 7, Folder 1 of 2 consists of one copy of the diary of VX23931 Alec Williams. This diary was originally written in 1942, shortly after his escape from New Britain. It contains details of William’s experiences of the Japanese invasion and his subsequent evacuation.
Wallet 4 of 7, Folder 2 of 2 consists of 19 items, including copies of accounts of servicemen and civilians who experienced the Japanese invasion of Rabaul in January and February 1942. This folder contains the accounts of VX23931 Norman Ronald McLeod, Reverend F R Berger [exact identity unknown], Reverend Roger Brown, Gladys Baker, L C Boile [exact identity unknown], Leo McMahon, NGX263 Alfred Lampton Robinson, Jim Ritchie, and Joseph Roca. This folder also contains published and official documents relating to Rabaul and the Japanese invasion of New Britain, dating c1941.

Wallet 5 of 7 – Consists of 39 items, including scrapbook pages and loose newspaper clippings dating between c1941 and 2006. These items relate to the general service of people in the Armed Forces during the Second World War, the 2/22 Australian Infantry Battalion, the Japanese invasion of New Britain in 1941-1942, and the loss of the Montevideo Maru in 1942.

Wallet 6 of 7 – Consists of 49 items, including scrapbook pages and loose newspaper clippings dating between c1941 and 2008. These items relate to the 2/22 Australian Infantry Battalion, the Japanese invasion of New Britain in 1941-1942, the loss of the Montevideo Maru in 1942, the activities of 2/22nd Battalion ‘Lark Force’ Association, and commemoration.

Wallet 7 of 7 – Contains two folders of published material and documents relating to the Japanese invasion of Rabaul in 1941-1942 and the sinking of the Montevideo Maru in 1942.
Wallet 7 of 7, Folder 1 of 2 consists of six items, including excerpts of published material and documents relating to the Japanese invasion of Rabaul and the sinking of the Montevideo Maru. These items date between c1976 and 2009.
Wallet 7 of 7, Folder 2 of 2 consists of one bound document titled ‘Remember Rabaul’. This document was compiled by Allen Stenhouse and Clifton Tamblyn in 2002. It includes background information on New Britain, and copies of historical documents, published material, and digital sources relating to the Japanese invasion of Rabaul.