Tisdall, Guy Davidson (Lieutenant, b.1909 - d.1962)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX14244 (340073) Lieutenant Guy Davidson Tisdall, HQ 1 Australia Corps, New Guinea, 1942-1943.

The collection consists of a single Daily Shipping Movement Control Diary. The diary covers the period 15 May 1942 to 18 July 1943, and records the daily shipping movements at Port Morseby. Typical details include time ship berthed, what cargo or crew was unloaded, time sailed. Some ships dock at the wharf, while others use lightering to transfer cargo. Tisdall records frequent aerial bombing raids, one of which makes a direct hit on the Burns Philp passenger ship Macdhui with the loss of several crew. [The next day the ship was again hit and became a total loss.]. Tisdall records the loading and unloading of such cargo as personnel, petrol drums, gelignite, rubber, copra, manganese ore, coffee, landing mats, deceased soldiers effects, oxygen cylinders, mail. When hospital ships berth, large numbers of sick and wounded are embarked. Tisdall's records reveal a very busy port where over a dozen vessels may be simultaneously discharging or uplifting cargo.