Warfe, Peter George (Colonel, b.1951)

Collection relating to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda II (UNAMIR II) service of 315389 Colonel Peter George Warfe, Australian Service Contingent, 1995.

The collection consists of five wallets containing a diary, correspondence, and documents related to Colonel Warfe's deployment to Rwanda as Commander Second Australian Contingent and Force Medical Officer to UNAMIR II from February to August 1995. The collection also includes correspondence and documents regarding the Kibeho massacre.

Wallet 1 of 5 - Consists of a typed diary Warfe maintained between 13 February and 23 August 1995 while deployed to Rwanda. He writes of his daily activities, reports, briefings and meetings, discusses tensions between the staff of the Australian Medical Support Force and UNAMIR headquarters, reflects on the role of UNAMIR and the scope of its operations, and mentions clashes between Australian personnel and the Rwandan Patriotic Front. He also discusses political and diplomatic tensions, the performance of the medical contingent, his efforts to avoid bloodshed, medical cases (including a measles epidemic and anti-personnel mine incidents), violence and a deterioration in the security situation, increasing tensions at the Kibeho displaced persons camp, and his concerns over the conditions and number of deaths in Rwandan prisons. The diary also details the reactions to and aftermath of the massacre at Kibeho, the visit by the Land Commander Australia [Major General Peter Arnison], observing Anzac Day in Rwanda, the efforts of Care Australia, the work of war artist George Gittoes, and interactions and relations with other contingents and non-governmental organisations.

Wallet 2 of 5 - Consists of eight cards and 101 letters Warfe received from his wife, daughters, and brother during his preparation for and deployment with UNAMIR II. The letters keep Warfe updated on home news, daily life and activities, the children's progress at school and their performance in sporting events, politics, popular culture, the latest rugby league and AFL results, news from friends and colleagues, and his eldest daughter's preparations for and acceptance into the Australian Defence Force Academy. Warfe's family also write how much they love and miss him and enquire about his activities in Rwanda.

Wallet 3 of 5 - Consists of 16 letters and 8 cards Warfe sent to his family during his preparations for and deployment to Rwanda (folder 1), as well as official reports and documents (folder 2). Warfe writes to his family of his work, the composition of the Australian contingent and UNAMIR, recreational activities, his interactions with personnel from other national contingents and the United Nations headquarters staff, the busy nature of his work, Anzac Day, and reflects on his role as a doctor, soldier and diplomat in Rwanda. The documents in folder 2 include: a health threat survey of Kibeho camp from May 1995; correspondence regarding (and a copy of) an article published in The Bulletin on the Australians present during the Kibeho massacre; a medical case study on a de-identified patient diagnosed HIV+; Warfe's order of the day on the return home of the second contingent; a draft message by Warfe for the ASC 2 Magazine; and a copy of the citation for the Meritorious Unit Citation that was retrospectively awarded to the Second Australian Contingent in 2019.

Wallet 4 of 5 - Consists of official correspondence, instructions and letters of appreciation written to or from Warfe during his deployment with UNAMIR II. The wallet includes instructions regarding the daily and weekly SITREP [situation reports], Warfe's order of the day issued in the aftermath of the Kibeho massacre, instructions regarding interviews for the Commission of Inquiry into Kibeho, a Force Medical brief for the period 21 May to 1 June 1995, and instructions for the United Nations medal presentation parade for the Australian Medical Support Force. The wallet also includes letters of appreciation from Warfe to Brigadier (later General Sir) Peter Cosgrove, Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) Richard Wilson, Major General William "Digger" James, Colonel Joseph Karemera and others for the support lent to the Australian contingent to UMAMIR II, correspondence between Warfe and the staff and students of Pinjarra Primary School and Calwell Primary School regarding the Australian contingent in Rwanda, correspondence regarding the granting of membership to the Returned and Services League (RSL) to those deployed with UNAMIR, and correspondence with the Australasian College of Physicians about the possibility of public health programs in Rwanda. In addition, the wallet includes letters of appreciation sent to Warfe from Major General Peter Arnison, Major General Michael Jeffrey, Major General Guy Tousignant, the local UNICEF representative, and Warrant Officer Arthur Francis. The documents were housed in a Department of Defence file.

Wallet 5 of 5 - Consists of a folder of documents and correspondence regarding the Kibeho massacre and the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the massacre. The wallet includes a copy of the commission's report on the massacre, a summary of events leading up to the incident, United Nations instructions regarding the inquiry and the interviews conducted for it, and correspondence with the Department of Defence regarding media reports on the massacre.

• Wallet 1 of 5: Diary typed by Warfe, Peter George (Colonel, b.1951) 13 February and 23 August 1995 while deployed to Rwanda [Preservation - no redactions]