The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Large manuscript titled `Memoirs in peace and war'. Covers service in RAN from enlistment in 1934. Describes service on HMAS Perth, including visit to 1939 World Fair in New York; outbreak of war; being stationed at Kingston, Jamaica; return to Australia via Tahiti, Fiji, and New Zealand; service in the Mediterranean including Egypt, Malta (and the bombing of HMS Illustrious in the Grand Habour), Battle of Matapan, Libya, evacuation of Greece, the battle for and evacuation of Crete; return to Australia; and transfer to HMAS Melville, describing the Japanese bombing of Darwin. (Includes chapter by J. Willis who was on board HMAS Perth when sunk in Sunda Straits with USS Houston). Mentions torpedoing of HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney Harbour by Japanese Midget subarines; and instructing WRAN trainee officers. Bracht then transfers to HMAS Warrego as a Gunner's Mate, describes survey work on the east coast of New Guinea; bombardment of Wewak; surveying Islands in the Philippines, Mindoro Strait, Lingayen Gulf and Manila Harbour, Leyte; Balikpapan; end of war; and position as Gunnery Instructor at HMAS Cerberus. Includes photocopies of certificates, photographs, and newspaper articles. Also includes excerpt from Merrylands RSL Club Journal Oct/Nov 1995, where Bracht describes a pilgrimage to Borneo and Singapore as part of the `Australia Remembers' activities marking the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII.
Collection relating to the Second World War service of J90808 M602 Signalman Leslie Edward Stuart Clifford, HMAS Stuart, and Captain Sir Philip Weyland Bowyer-Smyth, HMAS Perth, 1941. Wallet 1 of 1 -
Collection relating to the Second World War service of 19590 Petty Officer George Ireland Woodgate, HMAS Perth, Royal Australian Navy, At sea, 1941. Wallet 1 of 1 - Contains a handwritten diary kept
Typescript memoir (44p), (January 1939 to February 1952), entitled "A life on the ocean wave" written by 22719 Chief Petty Officer Richard W. Stanton relating to his career as a radio operator in the
Diaries covering service on HMAS Moreton Bay, HMAS Penguin, HMAS Nizam, HMAS Parramatta and HMS Barham. The diaries include references to evacuation of Crete, the Mediterranean campaign and operation
Memoirs of Harold Brabin, recalling enlistment in Australia in RAAF, training in Canada, Scotland, and Litchfield, leave in New York and England, qualification as Wireless Air Gunner and posting to 10
Recollections of war service with 2/6 Commando Squadron in New Guinea, including Markham and Rimu valleys. Also describes garrison service on Ocean Island, attack by Japanese aircraft, and evacuation