The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX6784 Private John Leslie ‘Jack’ Boyle, 2/6 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Germany, England and Australia, c 1941-1946.
Wallet 1 of 1 – Contains two folders of material relating to the service of Private John Leslie Boyle, his time as a German prisoner of war, and his return to Australia after the war.
Folder 1 of 2 consists of one notebook of Private Boyle. This notebook was used by Private Boyle between c 1941 and 1945, while he was a German prisoner of war. It contains copies of poetry by various authors (including other prisoners of war), copies of the contents of propaganda leaflets, a record of mail sent and received between 1942 and 1945, and a commentary on the early days of the war.
Folder 2 of 2 consists of five letters and two documents relating to Private Boyle. The letters were written by Private Boyle to his wife, Mrs Edna May 'Wendy' Boyle (née Hinchley), between 11 August and 18 September 1945. They cover the period of Private Boyle’s time in England after his liberation from captivity as a German prisoner of war, and his return to Australia after the war. In his letters, Private Boyle writes about end-of-war celebrations, plans for returning home, missing his wife, his voyage home, being ill, seeing films, and looking forward to arriving in Melbourne. The documents consist of one Equipment Card issued to Private Boyle by the Australian Military Forces in mid-1945, and one Ex-Prisoner of War Identity Card issued at Stalag VII-B, Germany on 6 May 1945.
Private John Leslie ‘Jack’ Boyle enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 23 November 1939. After a period of training, he embarked for overseas service with 2/6 Australian Infantry Battalion in April 1940. With this unit, Private Boyle served in Palestine, Egypt, Greece and Crete. He was captured by the Germans during the Battle of Crete in May 1941, and became a prisoner of war. Private Boyle was interned at several camps, including Stalag 344 in Germany (now Poland). He was liberated in May 1945, and returned to Australia in September 1945. Private Boyle was discharged on 22 February 1946.
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Collection relating to the Second World War service of WX6123 Private Frederick Charles Wilkinson, 2/11 Australian Infantry Battalion, prisoner of war, Germany, 1942-1944. Wallet 1 of 1 - Consists of