Wallet 1 of 2 - Diary of Denis Patrick (alias Rupert Bert Patrick), 1941-1945

Patrick, Sydney Denis (Flight Lieutenant, b.1920 - d.1961)

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Places	Asia: Borneo Asia: Netherlands East Indies, Dutch New Guinea, Noemfoor Island Asia: Netherlands East Indies, Halmahera Island, Morotai Island Asia: Russia Europe: Norway Europe: United Kingdom, England, Cumberland, Silloth Europe: United Kingdom, England, Dorset, Bournemouth Europe: United Kingdom, England, Greater London, London Europe: United Kingdom, England, Sussex, Thorney Island Europe: United Kingdom, Scotland Europe: United Kingdom, Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Dyce Europe: United Kingdom, Scotland, Fife, Leuchars North & Central America: Canada, Alberta North & Central America: Canada, Alberta, Calgary North & Central America: Canada, Manitoba, Winnipeg North & Central America: Canada, Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown North & Central America: United States of America, New York, New York City Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Narrandera Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney Oceania: Australia, Queensland Oceania: Australia, Queensland, Lowood Oceania: Australia, Victoria, Sale Oceania: New Guinea Oceania: New Zealand Oceania: New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Auckland Oceania: New Zealand, North Island, Wellington, Wellington Oceania: Pacific Islands, New Hebrides
Accession Number	AWM2020.22.223
Collection number	AWM2017.636.1
Collection type	Digitised Collection
Record type	Wallet
Item count	1
Object type	Diary
Physical description	166 Image/s captured
Maker	Patrick, Sydney Denis
Place made	Australia, Canada, New Guinea, United Kingdom
Date made	1941-1945
Conflict	Second World War, 1939-1945
Copying Provisions	Digital format and content protected by copyright.
Source credit to	This item has been digitised with funding provided by Commonwealth Government.

Description

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 403468 Flight Lieutenant Sydney Denis Patrick (alias Rupert Bert Patrick), 233 Squadron, 32 Squadron, and First Tactical Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, New Guinea, 1941-1945.

Wallet 1 of 2 – Consists of one diary of Flight Lieutenant Patrick, with entries dated between 13 June 1941 and 20 June 1945. In his diary, Flight Lieutenant Patrick records his experiences of service in the Royal Australian Air Force. Some of these experiences include his journey to Canada via New Zealand, life on board ship, undertaking pilot training courses in Alberta, completing tests and exams, seeing films in the cinema, attending a special navigation course on Prince Edward Island, going to local dances, embarking for the United Kingdom, a storm at sea, arriving in the United Kingdom, being on leave in London, going out with girls, converting to Lockheed Hudson aircraft, completing operational training, learning to fly Handley Page Hampden aircraft at a station in Scotland, leave in Bournemouth, flying through storms and enemy occupied territory to Russia, assisting the Russian air force with special operations, returning to the United Kingdom via cruiser, patrolling the coasts of Norway, completing further training in Scotland, missing friends that had died in operations, and completing his first operational tour. He then travelled back to Australia via the United States and New Zealand.

After a period of leave at home in Sydney, Flight Lieutenant Patrick writes that he was posted to 32 Squadron based at Lowood, Queensland, where he helped to train new crews, and was subsequently posted to First Tactical Air Force in New Guinea. He writes of experiences such as doing desk work, transporting large amounts of personnel and supplies, being posted to 11 Communication Flight, flying a Ventura aircraft for the first time, and thinking about what his life would be like after the war.

This diary also contains poems, pressed flowers, telegrams and letters from family members, and a list of names and service numbers of acquaintances met while in service.

Note: Flight Lieutenant Patrick began his entries on 13 June 1941, in the centre of the book, continued until the end of the book, and resumed in January 1942, at the beginning of the book.