John Frederick Thomas Down NX60079, message to his family read by a radio announcer on "Postman Calls", Radio Tokyo. Accession Number: S05891

Description

Message from Lance Sergeant John Frederick Thomas Down NX60079, Headquarters, Royal Australian Artillery read by a radio announcer on "Postman Calls", Radio Tokyo. The message written by John Down was broadcast during a Japanese propaganda program and picked up on short-wave radio by B. O. South, 460 Larkin Street, San Francisco, California, USA, on 23 April 1945. The message was transferred to a magnetic wire spool and then put on to a cardboard record which was posted to Australia.

TRANSCRIPT:
ANNOUNCER: Lance Sergeant John Down sends the following message to his mother Mrs Ivy Mary Down Five Four Macquarie Street, Parramatta, Sydney

"Dear Mater my health is excellent. Love to family, Ted and [inaudible], hope happy ending soon. Jack Dooley of Maroubra, Kirk Nicholas of Croydon, Jim McHugh of Roseville, Jack McLennan Armadale, here and all well. Your loving son, John."

ANNOUNCER: We’re right there with you John on that happy ending and hope the good folks around Sydney will pass your message on to your mother, Mrs Ivy Mary Down, 54 Macquarie Street, Parramatta, Sydney.

Down was taken prisoner of war of the Japanese after the fall of Singapore in February 1942. He survived the war and was repatriated back to Australia in October 1945 being discharged from service in January 1946.

Details

Conflicts

• Second World War, 1939-1945

Units

• Radio Tokyo