The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Discussing call up notice for 53rd Battalion; army training at Ingleburn Camp; selection as signaller; embarkation for New Guinea on the Aquitania; arrival at Port Moresby; poor morale of battalion due to inadequate preparations for New Guinea; reaction of battalion members to term "choco"; air raids on Port Moresby and looting of Burns Philp stores; movement of C Company to Koitaki and then to Kokoda Trail; retreat from Kokoda Trail; combining 53rd and 55th Battalions and criticisms of 53rd Battalion; tensions between AIF and Militia; Australian Comforts Fund Services; Sanananda Campaign; medical evacuation to Australia; hospitalisation; rejoins Battalion; casualty rates in Sanananda Campaign; post-war health.
Part 1 of Harvey Haig Blundell, Signaller 55/53rd Battalion, interviewed by Daniel Connell for the Keith Murdoch Sound Archives of Australia in the War of 1939-45
Part 2 of Harvey Haig Blundell, Signaller 55/53rd Battalion, interviewed by Daniel Connell for the Keith Murdoch Sound Archives of Australia in the War of 1939-45
Discussing pre-war employment; call-up for 55th Battalion; army training at Greta Camp; tensions between AIF and Militia recruits; embarkation for Port Moresby; description of bombing of the Macdhui;
Discussing pre-war employment; formation of 53rd Battalion; AIF/Militia conflict; embarkation for New Guinea on the Aquitania; landing at Port Moresby; first raid on Port Moresby; lack of training and
Discussing enlistment in militia; pre-war employment; transfer to AIF in 1941; embarkation for Port Moresby on the Aquitania; Kokoda Campaigns and inadequacy of Australia's preparations; battalion cas
Discussing pre-war employment; enlistment and training; formation of 53rd Battalion; inadequacy of training period prior to embarkation for New Guinea; arrival in Port Moresby; inadequacy of supplies;
Discusses enlistment in militia (AMF); army training at Greta Camp; recruits; leisure; embarkation for Port Moresby; Kokoda Trail; militia (AMF)-AIF rivalry; transfer to the AIF; amalgamation with 53r
Discusses childhood and early adulthood; religion; nationalism; enlistment; pacifism; Australia; army; militia; AIF / militia relations; 39th Battalion; embarkation for New Guinea; propaganda; looting