Bracht, William Henry (Petty Officer, b: 1916)

Large manuscript titled `Memoirs in peace and war'. Covers service in RAN from enlistment in 1934. Describes service on HMAS Perth, including visit to 1939 World Fair in New York; outbreak of war; being stationed at Kingston, Jamaica; return to Australia via Tahiti, Fiji, and New Zealand; service in the Mediterranean including Egypt, Malta (and the bombing of HMS Illustrious in the Grand Habour), Battle of Matapan, Libya, evacuation of Greece, the battle for and evacuation of Crete; return to Australia; and transfer to HMAS Melville, describing the Japanese bombing of Darwin. (Includes chapter by J. Willis who was on board HMAS Perth when sunk in Sunda Straits with USS Houston). Mentions torpedoing of HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney Harbour by Japanese Midget subarines; and instructing WRAN trainee officers. Bracht then transfers to HMAS Warrego as a Gunner's Mate, describes survey work on the east coast of New Guinea; bombardment of Wewak; surveying Islands in the Philippines, Mindoro Strait, Lingayen Gulf and Manila Harbour, Leyte; Balikpapan; end of war; and position as Gunnery Instructor at HMAS Cerberus. Includes photocopies of certificates, photographs, and newspaper articles. Also includes excerpt from Merrylands RSL Club Journal Oct/Nov 1995, where Bracht describes a pilgrimage to Borneo and Singapore as part of the `Australia Remembers' activities marking the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII.