The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX50190 Private Leslie William Baird, 4 Reserve Motor Transport Company, Malaya, Singapore, Thailand, Burma, Australia, 1941-1985.
Wallet 1 of 4 - consists of a copy of Private Leslie Baird's diary, with entries dated between 8 December 1941 and 31 December 1942. The diary is prefaced by an author's note, written in December 1948, and a timeline of events. Early entries outline the Japanese advance through Malaya, air raids, his relief following the evacuation of the last Australian nurses and civilians from Singapore, and news of the Allied surrender. Much of the diary is devoted to Baird's experiences as a prisoner of war, describing living conditions, receiving poor, often contaminated food, and regular mistreatment by the Japanese guards.
Wallet 2 of 4 - contains a copy of Private Baird's diary, with entries dated between 1 January and 31 December 1943. Baird continues describing his experiences as a prisoner of war, including being posted to work on the Thai-Burma railway with A Force, camp conditions, illnesses and receiving medical treatment, duties as a water carrier, relentless rain, repairing huts with bamboo, and deaths due to poor health or in attempting escape.
Wallet 3 of 4 - contains a copy of Private Baird's diary, with entries between 1 January 1944 and 14 September 1945. In one entry, Baird mentions hiding his diary in the false bottom of a water bottle. He goes on to describe carpentry duties, altercations with camp guards, the prevalence of dysentery, malaria and beriberi, being selected for relocation to Japan but failing a medical assessment, attending a concert at Tamarkan camp, air raids, and receiving news of the Japanese surrender. The wallet concludes with a description of Baird's return to Australia, additional anecdotes written post-war, and an epilogue, reflecting on the high mortality rate and the pressures to deliver the railway.
Wallet 4 of 4 - contains 11 photocopied documents, including a telegram from Baird's liberation, diagram of his water bottle, records relating to the Malayan campaign, illnesses, and the Japanese surrender.
Oversize folio 1 of 1 - consists of four newspaper clippings featuring Leslie Baird, referencing his experiences as a prisoner of war, dated between10 January and 9 February 1985.
Collection relating to the First World War service of 128 Private Herbert William Ransom, 6 Battalion, AIF, Australia, Egypt, Gallipoli, Malta, England, 1914-1915. Wallet 1 of 3 - Consists of two fol
Collection relating to Second World War service of QX23582 Private George Douglas Anthony Kennedy, 2/26 Australian Infantry Battalion, Australia, Malaya, Singapore and Japan, 1939-1945. The collectio
Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX35135 Gunner Francis William Christie, 4 Anti-Tank Regiment, Singapore, Japan, 1941-1945. Wallet 1 of 2 - consists of a diary transcript rela
Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX38630 Signalman Arthur Hugh Johnston, 2/1 Fortress Signals and prisoner of war, Australia, Timor, Singapore, Thailand and Japan, 1940-1990. Cu
Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX50109 Lance Corporal Charles Matthew Tennent (Chas) Watson, 4 Australian Reserve Motor Transport Company, prisoner of war, The collection con
Collection relating to the Second World War service of Q101926 Private Leslie William Braun, 25 Company Australian Army Service Corps, 152 Australian General Transport Company, 61 Transport Platoon an