Raymond Norman Parry MM as a member 2/2nd Australian Independent Company, Timor 1942, interviewed by Brad Manera

Place	Asia: Timor
Accession Number	S02786
Collection type	Sound
Measurement	32 min 56 sec
Object type	Oral history
Physical description	digital audio tape (DAT); BASF DM 124; 44.1kHz; 16 bit; stereo
Maker	Parry, Raymond Norman (Ray) Manera, Brad
Date made	4 February 2002
Access	Open
Conflict	Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright	Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
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.

Description

Parry speaks of his educational background and employment prior to his enlistment in the AIF; selection for 2/2nd Independent Company; training in Australia; deployment to Timor; experience of the Japanese attack on Dili; feelings as a seventeen year old having to fight 'professional' Japanese soldiers; hiding in the mountains near Alas awaiting evacuation from Timor; lack of food and water; threat of illness and disease; enduring a trying reconnaissance patrol overland to Dili; sighting a large Japanese naval presence in Dili harbour; return to Alas to transmit a warning by makeshift radio to Australia; the impact of Japanese leaflet drops; his view of the 'typical' Japanese soldier; eventual evacuation from Timor and return to Australia.
A transcript of this recording may be available. For further information please contact the Sound section.

History / Summary

Parry speaks of his educational background and employment prior to his enlistment in the AIF; selection for 2/2nd Independent Company; training in Australia; deployment to Timor; experience of the Japanese attack on Dili; feelings as a seventeen year old having to fight 'professional' Japanese soldiers; hiding in the mountains near Alas awaiting evacuation from Timor; lack of food and water; threat of illness and disease; enduring a trying reconnaissance patrol overland to Dili; sighting a large Japanese naval presence in Dili harbour; return to Alas to transmit a warning by makeshift radio to Australia; the impact of Japanese leaflet drops; his view of the 'typical' Japanese soldier; eventual evacuation from Timor and return to Australia.