| Accession Number | PR00791 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | 3 wallets: 5 cm. |
| Object type | Diary, Log book, Manuscript |
| Maker |
Halsall, Cliff William |
| Place made | Australia, France, United Kingdom: England |
| Date made | 1943-1945 |
| Access | Open |
| Related File This file can be copied or viewed via the Memorial’s Reading Room. | AWM371 96/0763 |
| 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. |
Halsall, Cliff William (Flying Officer, b.1914 - d.1995)
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War service of 418268 Flying Officer Cliff William Halsall, 460 Squadron RAAF. Collection consists of three original handwritten diaries, and a flying logbook. The diaries cover the period from August 1943 to June 1945 commencing with Halsall's embarkation at Port Adelaide on the 'Denbighshire' and his voyage via the Panama Canal to Avonsmouth, England; his time spent at RAAF reception depot at Brighton, Sussex and 27 Operational Training Unit (27 OTU), Lichfield, Midlands before joining 460 RAAF Heavy Bomber Squadron at Binbrock, Lincolnshire flying in Lancaster bombers. It includes descriptions of London in 1943, impressions of Winston Churchill, and his participation in air raids over Europe in 1944 especially D-Day (6 June 1944). Later periods cover Halsall's time at Enstone OTU, Oxfordshire and his voyage to Sydney aboard the 'Rangitata' arriving June 1945.
Also include in the collection is a manuscript based on the diaries entitled "An Australian Lancaster air-gunner in the United Kingdom" written by Halsall and dedicated to the memory of his RAAF friends who did not survive.