- Inside folder
-
- List of family birthday dates
- Jazzland
Pass-out, Saturday,
December 27th on
it is written in pencil "Remember the night out when I
staged a performance? Honey"
- Two Melb. &
Metrop. Tramways Board
2d tickets
- A passage written in ?
pigeon/Malay re Japanese/English war movements
- Two Photography pamphlets
- NOTES IN THE BACK
commence on 24/1/42 with
- a list of the details of 9
photos, the list
is overwritten, and
- the rest of the two pages
filled with names/addresses mainly in Sydney.
- Two pages further on there
are two Brisbane addresses (both ladies)
- Two pages further on there
are more addresses, numbers.
Then the Diary commences
- it is written in
pencil and very cryptic with many words foreshortened.
August/42
[this date appears to refer to something else, the Diary starts
in Oct. Ô42, see more
details of next couple of days in letter to Edna dated 21st. Oct]
Wed, 14th, 3:45am
Woken, breakfast and on parade 4:15
Onto trucks to wharf, wait till sun rises on wharf
Embark onto SS Ankui. Pull
out of Townsville 18:0pm
Sea calm
Rigged hammock in afternoon on deck
Slept well. L.
foot bruised
Thur. 15th
Woke 6.30 Breakfasted and helped tidy stores in hold.
Hot. Ate tin
peaches choc. ? Passed
Cairns 8:30pm. Saw
islands on starboard Well
within sight of coast. Calm
Sunbaked sand hills in view on coast late afternoon, Good
meals, baked beans, pork, tinned peaches, biscuits, butter, jam and
tea, (10 knots)
boat drill this morning
Fri 16th
Slept in sun, spent hour in mess on fatigue.
Sea calm
Sat 17th
Islands in view all way. Left
Aust. coast (Point) 06
am. Passed Thursday Isl.
08 am. Anchored off inlet
(Banks?) 15.00hrs & stay night.
Sea calm, night warm.
Sun 18th
Started off again 09.30hrs.
Picked up corvette ?eo 10.0hrs (J 204)
Anchored 12.00hr till 15.00hrs.
Saw hammerhead shark swimming alongside ship, this is probably
last night on board.
Mon 19th
Up for early breakfast 06.00
Packed kit, sea medium, boat rolling slightly
Corvette dead ahead. Sea
deep blue-green last few days. Sky
overcast (Church parade yesterday)
Padre. Begbe.
Sighted N. Guinea
16:30 hrs thin line of white and indistinct outline of hills
covered in clouds. Pulled
into harbour 18:00 hrs
Embarked on corvette Colak 19:30 for
wharf. Raining, heavy
clouds. Into army truck to headquarters wing, shower!
had tea then slept in semi-built barrack
Tue 20th
So this is Moresby! Clump
of coco-trees ahead, ships
in harbour. Breakfast of
beans, crispies and coco. Swim
in baths till 12:00. Parade
14:00 erected tents on flat (old golf club).
Loan Jap raider about 21:30,
AA fire, dropped
eggs some miles away.
Wed 21st
Lay around camp. Wrote
letters. In afternoon
ships dispersed as all prepared for raid.
However rained and heavy clouds prevented raid.
Thur 22nd
Leave all day. Swim
in afternoon. Comforts
fund given out. Boat in
wharf to be unloaded tomorrow. Tried
out rifle. Accurate at
500yds. Good enough.
Nose is peeling. Weather
good. Might see Japs
tonight. Feel mighty like
a swim again now , Hot. Pictures
on tonight in open. Screen
erected, Newsreel of bombing of Moresby started.
Air raid. 2 in
perfect formation passed over. Searchlight
& AA opened up but missed. Am
sitting on top of trench writing and waiting.
Full moon, little cloud. All
clear at 21:30. Back to
picture saw Artists & Models
Fri 23rd
Heard eggs dropped on wards.
Strip. May delay
us. News came in Jap.
downed on Tues. night. Dug
trenches this afternoon. Nearly
roasted. 19:45
Alert. All clear
20.00 False alarm
Bombs dropped 7 mile out on strip.
Sat 24th
Packed ready to move when ship comes for unloading.
Gen. Sir T. Blamey inspected AIF & AMF force, here today.
Bit off colour today. One
alert at 21:00 till 21:45 and again at about 23:45 to 00:10 hrs.
No planes visible
Sun 25th
Good rest all morning. Roy.S.
feels sick. Water here
full of salts etc. Wrote
to Edna & Bill. Another
alert tonight. plane
circled, made several runs but either off target or on recon.
Mon 26th
Hot! missed
breakfast time, dinner at
10:30. Detailed to No 1
sorting party, leaving when ship docks.
No raid. Tojo must
be saving it up for us at the strip.
Tue 27th
Boat not in yet. Wrote
to Edna, Jim has
touch of blood poisoning. Another
raid.
Wed 28th
Out to strip at 8:30 Unloaded
trucks till 17:00. Back
to town & collected kit returned to strip
Thurs 29th
Raid at 03:15 this morning.
Bombs dropped in 2 runs. Swung
pick and shovel all day digging hole for tank.
Shower & drew out stretcher and mossy net, windy as usual.
Raid alert.
Fri 30th
Erected tents & unloaded stores all day. Very
hot. Met Len Smith and
Don Bartle. Had alert
about 8:0 no kite.
Sat 31st
On stores again in morning.
Erected Marquee in afternoon.
Alert at 03:00hrs. Went
to 30 Squ. fights at night, light
rain. Raid late, Bombs in
harbour
Sun 1st
NOV. Dug tent
site. Had alert at 10:00
hrs. Lightning up to
intercept. Raider over
low at 20:30 didn’t
drop anything.
Mon 2nd
Half day off. Did
washing. Unloaded stores
in afternoon. Dug trench
after tea. J. Rutherford
came over at night. had
supper of crabs, 2 tins fruit & cream
Tues 3rd
Unloaded stores all day. Collected
US boots and galoshes. Dug
out rear of tent after tea.
Wed. 4th
On stores again all day. Keith
Bloy ill & in hospital. We
now have a tin opener! Wrote
to Dad tonight. Sent
telegram to twins.
Thurs. 5th
Edna & Bills birthday.
Hear we are to commence operations on Sunday.
Jim Perry out here today,
Fri. 6th
Anniversary of 2nd year in RAAF.
Went up hill in afternoon.
Bludgin.
Sat 7th
Collected some mangos in morning at Bondi.
Helped in building store in afternoon
Sun 8th
Down at strip digging trenches.
Bit off colour today.
Mon 9th
Worked at strip all day. dinner
there. 3 more Bostons
arrived, 6 in all now.
Opp flights to commence in morning.
No kero. no light.
Tue 10th
Went on Sick Pde this morning for sores.
Worked at strip. A
28-13 blew up in midair
this afternoon on bombing practice.
Wrote to Edna. A
19. gave scare. all
lights up etc but flares
fired.
Wed. 11th
Bought pennants today. 2
more planes came up today. Very
cloudy.
Thur. 12th
Made applicat. for remuster to Aircrew.
80 Squn. packing up. Lucky
Cows! P.S.(Bullsh !)
Fri 13th
Dug trench this afternoon at strip.
Received letter from Jan McClure
wrote to Beverley. Yesterday
water tanks fell and smashed. No
showers. Rained tonight.
Sat 14th
Worked in Barracks area on concete drain.
Alert in afternoon, no raid.
Rained again tonight.
Sun 15th
Air raid red warning this afternoon,
many fighters up A20s
on operation straffed native huts.
Rain set in about 17:00 hrs.
Up during night with diarrhorea.
most of the camp has it, or
sores
Mon 16th
A 20Õs on
operation at 08:00 and again at 11:00
All returned safely. Destroyed
machine gun post and barge.
Air raid warning in middle of night.
Still very wet.
Tue 17th
Sleeping down at strip tonight Retribution nearly finished
engine mod. on supercharger. Raid
on tonight.
Wed 18th
Called up this afternoon for aircrew test.
2 A19Õs
made forced landings on the strip,
both OK.
Thurs. 19th
Had Air Crew Medical this morning,
took afternoon off as it rained all day.
Wrote to home, Betty, John Friday and Mr. Leslie.
Fri
20th A20-22
completed recog. Jap over
in afternoon. Clear
night, but no alert.
Sat. 21st
Day off. Went to
Rounna Falls and on to Base 1 near Kaitahi.
Very good day took
photos etc tonight
am very weary.
Sun 22nd
40 hrly on A 28-21, all
day at strip.
2
A19s crashed landed on strip,
one guard killed under A19, being lifted off strip.
Both kites shot up. one by 2 zeros.
Two more A19s crash landed.
Mon 23rd
Finished 40 hrly on A25-21.
Full moon tonight
Tues 24th
Hudson burst into flames on strip this morning.
80 planes off in raid on Buna.
3 engines to change. Pictures
on. Air raid at 21:00 hrs
and again at 01:00, dropped 4 eggs, one delayed.
Wed 25th
Removed engine of A28-1 and found gears OK
Wasted time. Comforts
fund issue this afternoon.
Thur 26
Bad day. Lost
F1t Lt. MacDonald and crew in A28-22.
A28-15 crash landed full of flack.
One WAG shot. A28-14
crash-landed on 7 mile.
Removed engine on A28-7.
Two raids tonight late. Bombs
dropped between Wards and 7 mile.
2 Doug. troop
transports lost and one P40.
Fri 27th
Services for crew of A28-22 this morning.
Mail in from home. Bill
Roche and Ernie Perry. Wrote
to Bill, C.R.
Sat 28th
Received 4 parcels in afternoon.
Concert tonight. Average
show, alert on, but no raid.
Sun 29th
On operation, A28-20
lost, with FO Bullmore and crew.
Exploded on raid. Wrote
explanation on ÔCycloneÕ 2 stage Blower.
Received papers from Marion.
2 raids early morning.
Bombs dropped on 7 mile.
Mon 30th
Replaced engine in A28-7.
Gona taken. Heard
Japs 200 yds from beach been slaughtered.
Tue 1st Dec.
Finished off A28-7 in morning.
Made canvass belt. Cleaned
up for inspection by AO etc. To
supper of pudding, nuts, fruit, cream and coffee.
Wed 2nd
A28-1 wiped off, leg collapsed on take off.
Fortress crashed into hill,
8 killed. Bostons
had operation last night. Dropped
500 lb bomb on destroyer. Went
to Koitaki today.
Thur. 3rd
Two more engine changes, A28-4.
Operation this morning and again tonight.
Dropped 500Õs on Buna strip.
Dragon into ditch at end of strip.
Fri 4th
Operation today with 5 A20s.
One aircraft lost. 14.
Boston ran into ditch. Slept
down at strip.
Sat
5th A20-14 found.
All OK. Turner
bushed and put down at Wairopi. Slade
to bring her back. New CO
arrived. Beaufort overran
strip into ditch. Removed
No1 cyl. on A20-4
Sun 6th
Replaced cyl. on A28-4. Aircraft
leaving in morning for Wairope. Gave
G. Kendall my camera. Saw
good pictures last night.
Mon 7th
Squad. Ldr. Bell returned with A28-3.
brought back tabs for 4. & 6.
Beaufighter & B25S shot
down 20 Zero. One Beau.
crash landed. Have to
work though till a/c [aircraft] are finished.
Tue 8th
Received 3 parcels from Edna.
A28-14 said to be bogged at Wairope.
Wed 9th
Operation this moning. Aircraft
safely returned. Wish I
could get a day off. One
in I0 not so good. Wake
at 6:0 and work till 4, asleep
at 10pm Long day in
this heat. Mail in also
parcel from Miss Walker. Sqd.
Ld. Bell hands over to new CO.
Rumours of move.
Thur 10th
Did drawing of gun modification for P.O. Goldfinch.
6 Bostons out on raid this afternoon,
all returned safely.
Fri 11th
Usual work at strip. Very
hot all day.
Sat 12th
6 machines on operation all returned safely.
Straffed & bombed.
Sun 13th
No work. Had day
off in bed all day. Wrote
letters.
Mon 14th
Air raid 12:30am till 02:00am,
Dropped bomb close to machines, no damage.
Went to village Papa, got skirt, beads
10 mile walk. Further
raid at 20:00
bombs fell near us. heard whistle.
unexploded bomb fell near hospital.
Tue 15th
Very little work. Had
commando drill in afternooon. Raid
at 21:00 to 22:30hs. 8
planes dropped bombs. One
bomb hit tree killed 2 Yanks in trench.
Wed. 16th
Removed pots on No6. Received
parcel from Miss Walker. Pictures
on tonight.
[On the opposite page, here, there
is a rough sketch of (probably) the barracks]
Thurs 17th
Raid last night. Shrapnel
fell round us. Two
attempts & runs
Fri 18th
Small raid last night. Bombs
dropped near 30 Sqd. Sleeping
down at strip tonight.
Sat 19th
No raid but 2 alerts last night.
Mosies and lice bad.
Doing cyl. job on A28-6. Snake
in tent last night.
Sun 20th
Finished off A28-6. Last
night had alert, & lightening went up but no Jap appeared.
Saw about 15 tanks (14 tons) on way to Buna.
Mon 21st
Mosquitos very troublesome last night.
No15 came in today for rebuild.
Tues 22nd
Removed engine from A28-15, and prepare to strip down.
Raid last night. Raid
last night. Bombs dropped
on 1st run, fell near 30 sqdn.
Wed 23rd
Comforts issued today. Day
off, going for swim to 12
mile. Gave tent a clear
out. Refused comforts as
were minus cake & puddings. Alert
but no raid last night.
Thur 24th
Stripped down engine of A28-15.
Got comforts complete. Raining
again as all this week. This
is Xmas eve!! Last
night concert at 6 squ. Cinderella.
Fri 25th
Slept in till 08:00. Pde.
& then Church Parade. read
all morning. Dinner of
lamb, parcel from Edna, wrote
to Dad. All are sprawling
around camp stark naked on beds, very hot.
Sat 26th
Aircraft out on operation to Lae.
Armed recce. Salvage
dump of stuff stripped from dead near here.
Hurt nose - Perry's rifle
Sun 27th
Operations again today to Lae.
Starting writing musical skit.
15,000 Yanks landed from mainland.
Got letter & card from Norma a couple of days ago.
Replied telling her not to write again.
Mon 28th
Rained today. Worked
under tent.
Tue 29th
Pulled port engine out of A28-15 started to strip
Wed 30th
Supercharger modif.
carried out. Put in
application for Commission. Received
word from Tech. cnnnot do
Diploma course. Doing
Drawing at Melbourne
Thurs 31st
Got parcel from Bill, 4
books from Jan. Nice kid!
Boxing on tonight & had day off.
Slept all morning, & wrote letters
Frid. 1st Ô43
Good concert on last night.
Fights and Jim Gerald Orchestra.
Today had day off after parade.
Rested in camp. Rained.
Operations to Lae.
Aircraft landed at Buna (Popendetta),
Sat 2nd
a/craft back from Popendetta OK.
Off on opperation. Started
drawing of supercharge mod.
Sun 3rd
slept down at strip all last night
Tue 4th[sic]
Did drawing of crane
Wed 5th[sic]
Aircrafty lined up for operation, then returned.
stood by all day.
B25.5
copped rough time from Zeros & A/A
Thur 7th
a/craft in oper. early this morning.
A28-4 shot up by
Zero & made forced landing. Wipe
off. A25-7 wiped off
pitot head. Went to
Moresby today got lakatoi & bow & arrow
Fri 8th
Letter from Bill & Edna.
finished off engine on A28-15 today.
Still raining each night.
going to strip on fire-tender tomorrow.
Pictures on at MRS.
Sat 9th
On fire-tender all day. Beaufighter
had ??ing carburetta. Yarned
with Yank doctor.
Sun 10th
Not relieved until 11:00.
Beaufighter nearly crashed into DC.2.
Off rest of day. Scrubbed
application for Commission.
Mon 11th
Alert last night, no planes near here.
Took half day off, site
shifted over to other side of strip.
Tue 12th
Took off 3 pots on engine from Richmond.
Raining again all day. Alert
at 21:00 hrs.
Wed 13th
Removed one more pot. valve seats warped.
Sending engine back to mainland.
Went on 2 operations today.
One a/craft A21-14 in
at Dobu Dura engines out. A28-13
arrived from Australia.
Thur 14th
Commando drill today. Wrote
letters to home, Jan, Miss Walker & Beryl.
Went to pictures saw Rage of Paris at 12 mile.
Fri
15th Beaufighter
dived in on landing, burnt, 2 killed.
Took motor out of A28-3. Blower
tab job.
Sat 16th
Had raid on Thursday night but last night had a beaut.
Jap dropped 4 bombs within 1/4 mile of here, one on top of
hill, end of valley. Pulled
engine out of A28-3.
Sun 17th
Raid alert last night no bombs dropped.
Took more pots off spare engine. Prepared J. Juices
Mon 18th
Rained very heavily all day today.
On drawing of mod. for supercharger
Tue 19th
Milne Bay was raided heavily on Sunday and again yesterday.
All pots coming off spare engine
Wed
20th Put
pots back on spare engine. Went
to pictures tonight poor show.
Thur. 21st
Went on picnic to
Rouna. Fights on tonight.
Fri 22nd
Excellent night last night.
All fights good.
Sat 23rd
All night session with Tojo.
4 raids, bombs dropped ack-ack hill & in harbour.
Sun 24th
One alert last night finished off spare engine today.
Mon 25th
3 alerts, bomb dropped on 12 mile.
1 Douglass destroyed, Working
at camp.
Tue26th
Alert early last night. Heavy
cold today. 80 hrly on
A28-7
Wed 27th
J. Juice no kick!
Heavy raid. 2
Beaus. hit, 2 damaged. Lightening
got 2 Japs.
Thurs 28th
Rained last night. no
raid. Usual day at strip.
Fri 29th
Rained last night.
Played two-up, won £3.15.0.
Finished inspection on A28-7
Sat 30th
Day off. spine barked all morning,
darned sox & wrote letters in afternoon.
Sun 31st
Carby trouble on A28-7. worked
back tonight. Got letter
from Edna.
Mon 1st
Feb. Alert
early this morning. No
raid, Shifted camp
site to opp. hill. Still
on A28-7
Tue 2nd
Finished off A28-7. Tested
OK.
Wed. 3rd
A28-6 in with blower trouble
Thur 4th
Received films of Wairopi
- Good.
Fri 5th
Day off yesterday. Slept
all day. This site better
than last one
Sat 6th
Reparing cowls for A28-15.
Lost A28-21 today, Ack-ack
Sun 7th
Still on cowls. Learning
morse for a/crew. Letter
from Margaret today.
Mon 8th
Letters from Dad and Bill.
Doug DC 2 crashed.
Props blew off.
Tue 9th
Letter from Miss Walker.
Wrote to Dad
Wed
10th Finished
off cowls. A28-14
lost, believed crashed after raid.
Thur 11th
A28-16 down at Dobu Dura.
Jim P. and Sharman to go.
Pulled engine out of A28-5.
Fights
Fri 12th
Day off - slept
all morning. Last night
cyclone panic after fights
Sat
13th Loaded
engine on Doug. Perry
& crew went to Dobu Dura.
Sun 14th
Tabs arrived. Worked
back on A28-6
Mon 15th
Started work early & on A28-6 all day
Tue 16th
Parcels from Edna yesterday & today still on A28-6
Wed 17th
Another parcel today, finished
off A28-6. Getting 2 days
off
Thur 18th
Commandos in morning. Slept
in afternoon. Parcel of
books
Fri 19th
Wrote to Edna & Marion. Received
buzzer, started R.F
Sat 20th
Cyl. job on A28-11, new
pot needed.
Sun 21st
Raid last night, A.A
scared him, jettisoned
eggs over Bluff
Mon 22nd
Finished off A28-11. Alert,
no raid last night
Tues 23rd
Jim Perry back yesterday.
Preparing new motor for A28-8
Wed 24th
Letter from Jan. Started
removing motor from A28-8
Thur 25th
concert last night. splendid.
Best I've seen on Island.
Day off today
Fri 26th
Stripping access off new engine for A28-8
Sat 27th
Still working on A28-8. Purchased
Tommy Gun today
Sun 28th
Kites on opp. Very
heavy rain
Mon 1st March
All accs stripped and placed on new engine for A28-8
Tue 2nd
opps every day lately, Jap
fleet on way here.
Wed 3rd
Fortress's and Libs (170) out at convoy.
Hell of a do.
Thur 4th
All but 3 ships sunk. Convoy
smashed. Day off
Fri 5th
A letters from Dad and Edna.
Fights last night not so good
Sat 6th
All ships sink
Sun 7th
Parcels in today from Miss Walker.
A28-8 finished off
Mon 8th
Worked back last night on A28-8.
Rev. up OK. Raining
today
Tue 9th
All a/craft to be ready by Sunday.
big Do on
Wed 10th
Rumours about that I'm posted to a/crew.
You beaut!
Thur 11th
Got clearence today -
ready to leave at any moment
Fri 12th
Off island by flying-boat.
Good trip to Townsville
Here ends the Island.
Subsequent letters reveal that due
to the heat, long hours, illness and interrupted sleep he had lost a
considerable amount of weight during these months. Neville returned to
Australia and trained as a pilot, he was posted to 80 Squadron and
returned to New Guinea in August 1944.
He was killed on a
raid over Halmahera Island, Indonesia (off Western New Guinea),
in January 1945
From Cassie Thornley cassethor@ozemail.com.au
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