The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Discussing under age enlistment; training at Dromana; embarkation on the Aquitania for Port Moresby; camp at Tubusereia; lack of training for jungle warfare; contact with Papuan's; Kokoda Campaigns; offer made by Colonel Jim Davidson to join 50-50 army show; mixing with professional entertainers; standards of morality; effect of change from Militia to AIF on 39th Battalion identity; entertainers and army discipline; return to Australia; popular songs.
Part 1 of Harold Sydney Charles (Syd) Heylen, as a Private, 39th Battalion and 1st Australian Entertainment Unit, interviewed by Ros Bowden for The Keith Murdoch Sound Archive of Australia in the War of 1939-45
Part 2 of Harold Sydney Charles (Syd) Heylen, as a Private, 39th Battalion and 1st Australian Entertainment Unit, interviewed by Ros Bowden for The Keith Murdoch Sound Archive of Australia in the War of 1939-45
Part 3 of Harold Sydney Charles (Syd) Heylen, as a Private, 39th Battalion and 1st Australian Entertainment Unit, interviewed by Ros Bowden for The Keith Murdoch Sound Archive of Australia in the War of 1939-45
Discusses Australia; education; religion; economic depression; music; Militia; Australian Imperial Force (AIF)- Militia relations; 39th Battalion; discipline; embarkation; SS Aquitania; health; medica
Discusses prewar education; religion; nationalism; bandsmen; health; embarkation; SS Macdhui; food and medical supplies; stretcher bearer; air raids; Australian American relations; leisure; concert pa
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
Discusses prewar employment; religion; education; politics; joined militia; at age twenty one conscripted to 39th Battalion in Melbourne; transported by train to Sydney; embarkation on SS Aquitania; a
Discussing pre-war employment; Anzac tradition; enlistment; training at Redbank, Qld; Vickers machine gun; embarkation on the Aquitania for Middle East; arrival in Palestine at Khassa Camp; reputation