043893
Photograph 043893 Period 1970-1979HMAS SYDNEY LEAVING SYDNEY HARBOUR FOR THE LAST TIME, 1975-12.
041990 Accession Number: 041990
Description
WESTERN DESERT, EGYPT. 1942-09-01. WHILE ON A BOMBING RAID OVER TOBRUK, A BRITISH BOMBER WAS SHOT DOWN 17 MILES WEST OF THE TOWN. THE CREW OF SIX WERE UNINJURED AND DECIDED TO TRY TO GET BACK TO OUR LINES BY WALKING. THEY TRAVELLED BY NIGHT AND SLEPT BY DAY, EATING MALTED MILK TABLETS UNTIL THESE RAN OUT. THEY MET ARABS WHO GAVE THEM FOOD AND WATER. THE REST OF THEIR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY THEY LIVED ON FOOD THEY PICKED UP AND EVENTUALLY REACHED BUQ BUQ. HERE TWO OF THE MEN WENT OFF ON THEIR OWN. BUT THE OTHER FOUR REMAINED TOGETHER, WORKING THEIR WAY EASTWARDS. THEY HAD COUNTLESS ADVENTURES, BEING CHASED BY ENEMY PATROLS AND SHOT AT BY ENEMY SENTRIES, BUT THEY ALWAYS MANAGED TO EVADE THEIR FOES. ON THE LAST TWO DAYS OF THEIR JOURNEY, BY WALKING DAY AND NIGHT, THEY COVERED 65 MILES AND WERE PICKED UP BY A BRITISH PATROL. IT HAD TAKEN THEM 22 DAYS TO REACH SAFETY. APART FROM SORE FEET, THEY WERE LITTLE THE WORSE FOR THEIR ORDEAL. THIS PICTURE SHOWS THE FOUR THAT REACHED SAFETY BOARDING A LORRY BOUND FOR BASE. LEFT TO RIGHT:- SERGEANT PILOT A.E.O. BARRAS, RAAF OF PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, (IN TRUCK); SERGEANT J. SHIRRA, R.A.F. OF LARBERT, SCOTLAND; FLIGHT SERGEANT F. WARWICK, RAAF OF ADELAIDE AND SERGEANT A.I. JONES, R.A. F. OF HITCHIN, HERTFORDSHIRE.
Details
Accession Number
041990
Classification
Photograph
Object Type
Black & white - Film polyester negative
Physical Description
Colour: Black & white
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain
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