Cosgriff, Eugene Francis (Corporal, b.1911 - d.1980)

Diary of VX122191 Corporal Eugene Francis Cosgriff covering June-August 1945 when he was stationed at Morotai with 1 Australian Advanced Reinforcement Depot (1AARD). He was admitted to 2/9 Australian General Hospital (AGH) at Morotai soon after arriving and the diary largely documents his experiences and observations from there. It describes a stopover at Biak Island, Japanese air raids and troop and ship movements (including the apperance of a captured hospital ship on 5 August), the arrival of casualties from fighting on Morotai and elsewhere (e.g. Tarakan, Borneo), and preparations for and news of the offensive on Balikpapen, as well as hospital conditions and Cosgriff's recreational and other activities, often related humorously. The diary features a number of poems by Cosgriff. Also a copy of the Army newspaper 'Table Tops' dated 12 August 1945, signed by staff and patients of 2/9 AGH.