The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Port Moresby, New Guinea. Members of the concert party called the "Moresby Microbes" standing on the stage in the Rec[reation] Hut in which they performed. There are plants and lights on each side of the stage and a Union Jack is hanging above it. The Microbes presented 50 weekly concerts between 8 May 1942 and 28 April 1943 (including the "Jubilee Concert" which was the last). Due to postings, the line up and support crew of the Moresby Microbes changed often. The following people were involved with the Moresby Microbes at some stage (taken from the "souvenir programme" from the Jubilee Concert): "Arthur Cockings (the stand-by), Geoff Kinder (pianist), Jack Kirkman (the Baby Crooner), Dirk ? (author and singer), `Pops' the Yank (a dive-bomber crew-man, comedian), Frank Smith (violinist), Hughie the Painter (scene painter and uke player), Scotty (mouth-organ blower), WO [Warrant Officer] McFadden (banjoist and sax expert), Norman Abbey (basso), Matt Bains (props), Frank Lansdowne (curtains and lights), Ernie Thompson (singer), the Native Boys (who put on a complete show), Bill Burgess (stooge in chief), The 53rd lads (piano, shifters, singers and barrackers), Phil Joliffe (ballad singer), Norm Fallon (our `Widow Twankey' female impersonator), Paddy Ryan (Irish to the heart), The Bomb Disposal blokes, Kim Messner (winner and sole competitor of the first Amateur Trials, actor), Ken Howarth (one of a trio), Bob Murphy (poet), John Blackman (violinist), Eric Stephenson (the Dutch Nightingale), Max Fullerton (lyric tenor), Len Campbell (singer), Jack Crook (the N.Z. baritone and reciter), Bill Grey (the singing sailor), Alec McLeod (lights), Dick Yates (lantern), Doug Cox (poet), Dunc Hattrick (Scots guitarist and poet), Ron Ward (the shantey-man), Hal Ley (tenor), 4 F. S., 2 M.W.S., the American Swing Band (101 Batt. [Battery]), 23rd Batt. [Battalion] Army Band, Padre Timpson, Sqn Ldr [Squadron Leader] S. Harris." Regular members of the Moresby Microbes included: "Tom O'Donnell, the long suffering pianist and accompanist, Fred Foster, the Box-boy who also plays the piano, Dave Frecknell, the 4.B.C. wonder boy! On the Box, the concertina and the piano; stooge and fill-in man, Gordon Woolley, pianist and composer." The hut was obtained and furnished by Padre P. Sands (the first RAAF Chaplain in wartime New Guinea) who then formed the Moresby Microbes with Billy Challoner. Padre Sands wrote the verse which accompanies each photograph in an album given to Leading Aircraftman Frank Lansdowne, a member of the Moresby Microbes, now held in the Private Records collection at the Australian War Memorial. (Donor J. Treseder)
Port Moresby, New Guinea. "The plumbers and the carpenters, the 'tricians and their likes - They scrounged, and won; and wangled to stage the MORESBY MIXES (MIKES?)! From May, 'way back in forty-two T
Port Moresby, New Guinea. "Who was it gave the carpet And fans? We'll never know! But STEAMSHIPS gave the curtains To brighten up the show!" A view of the stage (with closed curtains) that the concert
Port Moresby, New Guinea. "Who was it gave the carpet And fans? We'll never know! But STEAMSHIPS gave the curtains To brighten up the show!" A view of the stage (with open curtains) that the concert g
Port Moresby, New Guinea. "Here's to old BILL, the stooge of the show. At concerts or billiards he made the thing go - " Portrait of Billy Challoner, who helped Padre P. Sands, the first RAAF Chaplain
Port Moresby, New Guinea. Members of the concert party called the "Moresby Microbes" performing on stage in the Rec[reation] Hut that they performed in weekly. Note the Union Jack flag hanging above t
Port Moresby, New Guinea. "Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Priest, Gather together to our Household feast. Where the week-day's merriment Becomes the Sunday's sacrament." The altar on the stage used by the M
