Quote:
Originally Posted by renormalised
Dad was up in PNG...he was a reconnaissance scout. Before that, he was in the Middle East...fought at Tobruk and such.
He used to tell us all stories about what went on...unfortunately, he passed away 7 years ago, now, and it never occurred to me to write them down. I can still remember most of what he said, so I might just do that anyway. Before I end up forgetting!!!.
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Similar story here Carl. Dad also was in the Middle East and then PNG. He didn't talk much about the war, but he had kept a daily diary and was also a photographer (processed his own work). After he died in 1998 I reproduced his diary to cd complete with his photographs of the Middle East and PNG campaigns. He didn't like anyone to see the diary while he was alive, but at least we have his personal record of 6 years in active service in WW2. Interestingly there are 2 pages deliberately torn out of his diary. He was only "courting" my mum at that time, so maybe something happened that he recorded, but later regretted. We'll never know now!
The Australian War Museum have shown an interest in his diary and the photos - active servicemen were not supposed to keep records, let alone photos, even though they were more a reflection of daily life in the AIF - but now they are a rare historical record that helps keep the history of Australians at war real and accurate.
Paul