Minchin, William Bruce (Sergeant, b.1921 - d.2009)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 29161 Sergeant William Bruce Minchin, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia and the United Kingdom, 1940-1949.

Wallet 1 of 3 – Contains two folders of material relating to Sergeant William Bruce Minchin.

Wallet 1 of 3, Folder 1 of 2 consists of 61 items of personal correspondence received by Sergeant Minchin from family and friends. These items are dated between September 1942 and April 1949, and include letters, telegrams, cards, and notes. Some of the writers include Sergeant Minchin’s mother, Mrs Kathleen F Minchin (née Franklyn), Sergeant Minchin’s wife, Mrs Ivy A Minchin (née Morse), and Ivy’s mother, Mrs L E Morse. In their correspondence, Sergeant Minchin’s family and friends share news regarding their lives, the family, and mutual acquaintances. They also ask Sergeant Minchin questions, urge him to write, and send their congratulations on the occasion of Sergeant Minchin’s wedding. In her letters to Sergeant Minchin, Mrs Ivy Minchin writes about her preparations to join him in Australia, her pregnancy, and the birth of their son.

Wallet 1 of 3, Folder 2 of 2 consists of 51 official documents relating to the service of Sergeant Minchin in the Royal Australian Air Force in Australia and the United Kingdom between 1940 and 1946. These documents include an enlistment document, a pay book, leave passes, equipment forms, ration cards and coupons, financial documents, accommodation cards, travel tickets, official telegrams, diagrams of machinery, and discharge documents.

Wallet 2 of 3 – Consists of three notebooks relating to the service of Sergeant Minchin. These notebooks were used by Sergeant Minchin during his service in the Royal Australian Air Force between 1940 and 1946. They contain course notes on subjects such as explosives, bomb-carrying aircraft, and different types of guns. One notebook also contains a handwritten copy of a poem titled “Australia Will Be There”.

Wallet 3 of 3 – Consists of three notebooks relating to the service of Sergeant Minchin. These notebooks were used by Sergeant Minchin during his service in the Royal Australian Air Force between 1940 and 1946. They contain notes on subjects such as explosives, mechanical equipment relating to bombs, gun installation and repairs, gun mechanics, different types of guns, and electricity.