Jarvis, Arthur Norman (Warrant Officer, b.1911 - d.1982)

Places
Accession Number AWM2020.356.8
Collection type Private Record
Record type Collection
Measurement Extent: 3.5 cm; Wallet/s: 2; Oversize: 1
Object type Log book, Notebook
Maker Jarvis, Arthur Norman
Various
Place made Australia, Canada, Caribbean: Bahamas, India, United States of America
Date made 1942-1945
Access Open
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
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 Second World War service of 423131 Warrant Officer Arthur Norman Jarvis, 159 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, United States of America, Canada, the Bahamas and India, 1942–1945.

Wallet 1 of 2 – Contains two folders of personal material relating to Warrant Officer Arthur Norman Jarvis.

Wallet 1 of 2, Folder 1 of 2 consists of one diary, two sets of pages of diary entries, and one set of pages of notes relating to Warrant Officer Arthur Norman Jarvis. The diary contains entries dated between December 1941 and December 1943, and cover the period of Warrant Officer Jarvis’ training and service in Australia, Canada, and the Bahamas. In his diary, Warrant Officer Jarvis writes about enlistment, embarkation, life on board the ship, arriving in the United States of America, travelling to Canada by train, his impressions of Canada, training as a wireless air gunner, being on leave in New York City, recreational activities, travelling to serve in the Bahamas, and participating in operational flights. This diary also contains various training notes. The two sets of pages of diary entries were made by Warrant Officer Jarvis between December 1943 and mid-1944. These diary entries cover his flight over North Africa, and service in India as part of 159 Squadron. In these diary entries, Warrant Officer describes his journey from Morocco to Libya, his impressions of India, visiting Indian villages, working from an airfield, daily duties, going on leave, sightseeing, the local climate and environment, flying in operations over Burma, and his journey back to Australia. The second set of pages also includes training notes relating to the operation of an aircraft turret. The final set of pages includes notes on types of fleet ships, and aircraft undercarriage procedures.

Wallet 1 of 2, Folder 2 of 2 consists of souvenirs collected by Warrant Officer Arthur Norman Jarvis. This folder contains:
1x Menu for the Southern Pacific Railway, United States of America, [October 1942].
1x Souvenir booklet titled ‘Scenic Wonders of the West’, containing eight coloured pictures of south-west American scenes, United States of America, [October 1942].
1x Graduation booklet for the 54th Entry, No 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 April 1943. The booklet contains signatures of many of the course participants.
1x Newspaper clipping of story relating to Warrant Officer Jarvis, c June 1943.
1x Menu for Christmas Dinner for the Australian Royal Air Force, Middle East Forces, Cairo, Egypt, December 1943. This menu contains several signatures.

Wallet 2 of 2 – Contains two folders of official material relating to Warrant Officer Arthur Norman Jarvis.

Wallet 2 of 2, Folder 1 of 2 consists of one log book of Warrant Officer Arthur Norman Jarvis, containing entries dated between November 1942 and June 1944. This log book covers the period of Warrant Officer Jarvis’ training in Canada, and service as a wireless operator and air gunner in the Bahamas and India. The log book entries record details such as dates and times of flights, aircraft types and numbers, pilots, and purposes of flights. Some of the recorded purposes of lights include wireless and gunnery training, operational training, anti-shipping patrols, transportation, and bombing operations.
Wallet 2 of 2, Folder 2 of 2 consists of official documents relating to Warrant Officer Arthur Norman Jarvis. This folder contains:
1x Royal Canadian Air Force leave pass of Warrant Officer Jarvis, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, October 1942 - April 1943.
1x Document describing the permitted areas for service personnel in Nassau, Bahamas, c October 1943.
1x Royal Australian Air Force Certificate of Service and Discharge, Melbourne, Victoria, issued 13 December 1945.

Oversize Item 1 of 1 – Consists of one souvenir menu from the restaurant ‘Billy Rose’s Diamond Horseshoe’, New York City, New York, United States of America. This menu was collected by Warrant Officer Arthur Norman Jarvis during his leave in New York City, and is dated Thanksgiving Day, 25 November 1943.

History / Summary

Warrant Officer Arthur Norman Jarvis enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 20 June 1942 at Sydney, New South Wales. He travelled to Canada to train as a wireless operator and air gunner under the Empire Air Training Scheme, and graduated in mid-1943. Warrant Officer Jarvis then went on to complete his operational training at Nassau, Bahamas. In December 1943, he travelled to India to serve with 159 Squadron. With this unit, he participated in bombing operations against Japanese targets in Burma. Warrant Officer Jarvis returned to Australia in July 1944, and was discharged on 25 September 1945.