Neeman, Thomas Richard "Tom" (Corporal, b.1917 - d.2006)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX4539 Signalman (later Corporal) Thomas Richard "Tom" Neeman, initially Headquarters Company 2/6 Infantry Battalion, later K Section Signals 17 Brigade and 6 Australian Division Signals, 1939-1944.

The collection covers the period of his service from enlistment in 1939 until his return to Australia from overseas service in June 1944. It consists of numerous letters to his wife Barbara and others from Puckapunyal (Victoria) (1939-40), Egypt, Palestine and North Africa (mid-1940 to mid-1942) and New Guinea (mid-1942 to mid-1944). Though predominantly personal (dealing with the nature of their relationship, the effect of the enforced absence on it and related domestic concerns), the letters describe Neeman's activities and experiences as a wireless operator, including battle experiences, and his observations of desert and jungle warfare, especially from the signals perspective. There are detailed descriptions of his involvement in, or impressions of the battle of Bardia (Libya), the retreat from the German offensive on Greece (from where he escaped direct to Egypt, bypassing Crete), the battle of Damour (Syria) and elsewhere in the Beirut/Damascus theatre. He also describes jungle fighting against the Japanese in New Guinea, later in the war.

The collection also includes a notebook concerning signals operations and techniques, letters from his wife and others, service documents, photographs and printed material. Additional material received in 1999: French-language notice sent to Vichy French troops fighting Allies in Syria; three additional letters written by Neeman to his wife; commercially-published maps owned by Neeman's father-in-law, Captain Edward William Downing: "Greece, and the Archipelago; With The Neighbouring Portions of Turkey" (annotations by hand, dated during 1917) and "The Nile From Its Mouth to Khartoum" (published 1915).

Some wallets in this collection have been digitised and are available online.

• Wallet 2 of 14 - Letters written by Corporal Thomas Richard Neeman to his wife Barbara, 1940-1941