DOCSLIB.ORG

Interview Transcript As

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Interview Transcript As Australians at War Film Archive Ronald Halsall - Transcript of interview Date of interview: 22nd August 2003 http://australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/574 Tape 1 00:38 Ok. Tell us about your life story? Well my great grandfather came from England. He sailed from Liverpool in 1858 I think it was. He lobbed in Melbourne and settled there for a while, and then he went to Yea. Selected land at Yea. 01:00 He had been going along the Hume Highway or City Road as it was called in those days to Albury and he discovered…he noticed a very nice, little, running stream and it always seemed to have water in it, so he had an idea he’d like to shift his property or his selection. They were cutting up the stations at the time, so he put 01:30 in for the one over at Creighton Creek it was called. It ran beautiful water, about a foot deep and never ran dry. They were there for over 100 years. And it dried up twice in that time. A beautiful stream, still there today. Then he went on to Violet Town, that’s where the Land Office was situated in those days and they said, “No you’ve already had a selection you can’t go again.” But he said, “I’m going to put this in my young 02:00 son’s name,” who was about ten or twelve. So they did and he put it in his son’s name and it’s still in the Halsall name now. It’s out at Creighton which is half way between Longwood and Avenel on the Hume Highway. Ned Kelly used to come through there when he was shifting from, going through to his property when he shifted up to…when did he go? 02:30 Glenrowan. I can’t think of the name. Shall I still keep going? Can you stop and start easy? Just keep going. You’ll cut it out. Why can’t I think of the name…Gosford. Not Gosford. Greta. That’s where he lived for years and then he became a wanderer. 03:00 He had a few horses. There were a lot of Irish policemen in those days, probably related to you. They heard about this chap who they reckoned was stealing horses. And they hounded old Ned. His mother, they locked her up when she had a babe in arms. So the police…the big flat foots from Ireland didn’t get a very good name up there. 03:30 Of course, Ned shot about three or four of them out at that shootout, out at Mansfield on the creek, out there. That was the first chap he ever shot, I think. And they hounded him after that of course. Four years he was free for, to go up into New South Wales and rob the bank in 1888, I 04:00 think. And old Ned was well liked around there. A lot of people would help him. He’d say, “Where’s the police?” And they’d tell him. Kate Kelly too, that was Ned’s sister, she was a very popular girl around the place. They all seemed to want to help the Kellys. But anyhow he came to grief at 04:30 Glenrowan at that shootout at the hotel. Glenrowan was when he had the armour on. It’s been in the news lately. They’ve been testing it at the Lucas Heights electronic place. Did your grandfather know Ned Kelly? Yes he knew him. They always had beautiful horses, the Kelly gang. There were about three or four of them going through. Dan…Ned was the leader, and Dan was his 05:00 two in charge, and they used to ride…see when they landed in Victoria they came up to an old house and I think it might be still there, and then they went from there up to Avenel which is 22 mile, and then from there he used to ride up to Greta where he finally settled. 05:30 But they lived a few years at Avenel. As a matter of fact I think Ned’s son…no Ned wasn’t married, Ned’s grandfather saved a chap from drowning in Hugh’s Creek at Avenel. He was a popular boy down there then too. They used to ride through my grandfather’s and great grandfather’s selection. The boys…there was going to be a country dance on that night and they were calling out, 06:00 there were no phones or anything in those days. They used to have to call out to the bush. So they were hollering out to their girlfriends who lived miles away really. Three or four miles. They were hollering out. And he got very frightened one day, he said, “What’s going on?” He thought they were letting the police know they were riding through. They weren’t doing that at all. What’s the matter? 06:30 So old Ned baled them up see. Grandfather Sam Halsall and his brothers Mark and they explained to him what they were doing. And Ned said, “That’s alright boys, have a good night,” and rode on. And they used to see him on other times but he never stopped. 07:00 That was at Creighton about five miles south of... And your grandfather would tell you these stories? Yes. Grandfather would say… What would he say about them personally? Well he said, like a lot of people at the time, the police hounded them and they didn’t give them a chance. A bit like the present politicians, I think. 07:30 They thought the Kelly’s were a good mob. Just like themselves. Just trying to earn a living. They might have knocked off a cow or two, they’re still doing that. Where they mark them in the Northern Territory, who’s cows are whose. By helicopter now it would be harder. Where do we go from here? 08:00 Tell us about your father’s service in World War I? Oh yes. My Uncle George who was the second eldest of his family, he joined the Light Horse and I think he went over to Egypt and then to France. He never got to Gallipoli I don’t think. I don’t think he did any brave deeds. 08:30 One of our cousins did get a MM [Military Medal], Lesley Halsall. That would be my Dad’s cousin. He got an MM in France. Maygar who Dad trained with in the Light Horse around Seymour and that, they used have to camps. And Maygar, Lieutenant Maygar, and Major Freddie Tubb, later Major, he won his VC [Victoria Cross] at Lone Pine 09:00 with Corporal Burton. Burton and who else, there was three of them. But two of them came from Euroa. God, there we go, a black out. Doesn’t matter. Maygar got his VC in the Boer War in South Africa in about 1900 and he 09:30 got it for rescuing a chap under fire [Lieutenant Leslie Maygar, VC, Natal, 1901]. This chap had had his horse shot from under him. He was wounded and Major Freddie Tubb jumped on his horse and Maygar went out and brought the wounded fella in. It wasn’t Tubb. Tubb was at Lone Pine. Maygar, after the Boer War, he joined the Great War [First World War]. He was killed at the Charge 10:00 of the Light Brigade [Light Horse charge on Beersheba, Palestine] there. It was an aerial bomb. In the days when they used to grab the bomb and put it over the side of the cockpit and aim it. It was very unlucky to get hit by one of them. That’s where he met his Waterloo. And Burton was the brother of the chap who had the store, and I never knew him. And Tubb, he got his at Lone Pine [Lieutenant Frederick Tubb, VC, Lone Pine, 1915] which is a little spot 10:30 on the Gallipoli Peninsula. You’ve heard of Lone Pine probably. They kept building the barricades. They were getting knocked down by Turkish artillery and they’d build it up again. They were both killed…no, Burton was killed there, Tubby was killed later on fighting in France somewhere, I think. His parents came to Longwood in about 1890, 11:00 and his father was a school teacher and he taught my mother. At the old Longwood…see Longwood’s been shifted. The railway was put through in 1870. They shifted it away from the hills. Steam trains in those days couldn’t get up hills, so they took it down into the flat country, three mile west of where it was going through (UNCLEAR) 11:30 Hill and so forth. What about your father in World War I? My father didn’t do much I don’t think. He was trained up to go over there but he must have been pulled out. I don’t know what happened, I never asked Dad that. I presume because there was no other man on the farm, he had a quite a few acres by then, and I guess Dad was called out to work on the land. He grew sheep and that for the 12:00 bully beef and biscuits. But he was in the…in the last war he was in the Home Defence. And as you know they did start up and a lot of the old chaps formed up into battalions and did stunts and that in our defence.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • World War II and Australia
    Essay from “Australia’s Foreign Wars: Origins, Costs, Future?!” http://www.anu.edu.au/emeritus/members/pages/ian_buckley/ This Essay (illustrated) also available on The British Empire at: http://www.britishempire.co.uk/article/australiaswars9.htm 9. World War II and Australia A. September 3, 1939, War 1 (a) Poland Invaded, Britain Declares War, Australia Follows (b) Britain continues ‘Standing By’ – the Phoney War (c) German U-boat and Air Superiority B. Early Defeats 5 (a) Norway, then France, Fall (b) A British Settlement with Hitler? (c) Challenge to Churchill’s leadership fails C. Germany invades Russia 11 (a) Germany Invades Russia, June 22, 1941 (b) Churchill and Roosevelt Meet – the Atlantic Charter D. Japan Enters WWII 16 (a) Early lightning gains – with historical roots (b) Singapore Falls; facing invasion, Australia fights back (c) Midway Battle turns the Naval Tide (d) Young Australians repel forces aimed at Port Moresby (e) Its Security Assured, how then should Australia have fought the Pacific War? E. Back to ‘Germany First’& further delaying the Second Front 30 (a) The Strategy and Rationale (b) Post-Stalingrad Eastern Front: January 1943 – May 1945 (c) Britain’s Contribution to ‘Winning the War against Germany’ F. The Dominions and the RAF’s Air War on Germany (a) The Origins of the ‘Empire Air Training Scheme’ (EATS) 35 (b) EATS and the Defence of Australia - any Connection? (c) Air Operations – Europe (d) Ill-used Australian Aircrew (e) RAF Bomber Command and its Operations – (see Official UK, US Reports!) (f) A contrast: US Air Force’s Specific Target Bombing from mid-1944 G.
    [Show full text]
  • Study Guide in Class Is: Australia Is at War with Japan
    www.theeducationshop.com.au www.metromagazine.com.au 1 SCREEN EDUCATION SCREEN STUDYGUIDE BOB LEWIS SYNOPSIS OF THE FILM A SUGGESTED The small section is cut off from their CLASSROOM APPROACH okoda (Alister Grierson, 2006) line of communication with the main is a 96 minute film set in Papua force of the 39th Battalion. Isolated in A suggested approach for using this K(New Guinea) in August 1942. the jungle behind enemy lines, they Study Guide in class is: Australia is at war with Japan. Port must attempt to make their way back Moresby is under threat of inva- through an unforgiving, hostile terrain 1 Introductory exercise – formulating sion from Japanese forces who wish to return to their mates. Allegiences ideas from photographs capture the airfields there and so form, strengths and weaknesses 2 Locate and interview a veteran dominate the region, preventing the emerge and leadership battles threaten [see 2/16th web site www.starwon. build-up of Unites States forces on to destroy the group as the going gets com.au/-skip] the Australia mainland and in the sur- tougher and tougher. 2 Watch the film rounding islands. 3 Film discussion: General questions After three days with no food or sleep, about war, such as ‘Why did we A small group of Australian soldiers carrying their wounded and suffering fight: was it necessary [in 1942]? from the 39th Battalion have been sent the effects of malaria and dysentery, AND/OR as a forward patrol beyond the de- they emerge from the jungle exhausted 4 Film discussion: Is Kokoda good fensive perimeter of Isurava, a village to the point of collapse.
    [Show full text]
  • ADF Serials Telegraph Newsletter
    John Bennett ADF Serials Telegraph Newsletter Volume 10 Issue 3: Winter 2020 Welcome to the ADF-Serials Telegraph. Articles for those interested in Australian Military Aircraft History and Serials Our Editorial and contributing Members in this issue are: John ”JB” Bennett, Garry “Shep” Shepherdson, Gordon “Gordy” Birkett and Patience “FIK” Justification As stated on our Web Page; http://www.adf-serials.com.au/newsletter.htm “First published in November 2002, then regularly until July 2008, the ADF-Serials Newsletter provided subscribers various news and articles that would be of interest to those in Australian Military Heritage. Darren Crick was the first Editor and Site Host; the later role he maintains. The Newsletter from December 2002 was compiled by Jan Herivel who tirelessly composed each issue for nearly six years. She was supported by contributors from a variety of backgrounds on subjects ranging from 1914 to the current period. It wasn’t easy due to the ebb and flow of contributions, but regular columns were kept by those who always made Jan’s deadlines. Jan has since left this site to further her professional ambitions. As stated “The Current ADF-Serials Telegraph is a more modest version than its predecessor, but maintains the direction of being an outlet and circulating Email Newsletter for this site”. Words from me I would argue that it is not a modest version anymore as recent years issues are breaking both page records populated with top quality articles! John and I say that comment is now truly being too modest! As stated, the original Newsletter that started from December 2002 and ended in 2008, and was circulated for 38 Editions, where by now...excluding this edition, the Telegraph has been posted 44 editions since 2011 to the beginning of this year, 2020.
    [Show full text]
  • Fighting Against the French: Australians in the Allied Invasion of Lebanon and Syria, 1941
    Fighting against the French: Australians in the Allied invasion of Lebanon and Syria, 1941 Daniel Seaton Introduction In the nearly three quarters of a century since the end of the Second World War, popular memory of Australia’s involvement in the conflict has been shaped around several key cornerstones of engagement. Tobruk, Kokoda, and Singapore, for example, are easily understandable stories of heroism and sacrifice, which have been etched into Australian national consciousness as symbols of the nation’s contribution to the war. These symbols provide unambiguous displays of the courage and determination shown by Australian service personnel, fought against easily recognisable enemies: the Germans and Japanese. Where areas of conflict did not fit into these clear-cut criteria, they often became subsumed by the popular narrative of the war. An example of this is the Lebanon-Syria campaign of June–July 1941, fought against pro-Axis Vichy French forces, which has remained a far less well-known and understood area of Australian engagement to this day.1 Though the campaign was a relatively minor event in the grand scheme of the war, it held great significance for the men, mostly of the recently-formed 7th Australian Division, who fought there. In his 1989 memoir, Corporal Anthony MacInante, a veteran of the campaign, wrote that “very little credit, if any, has been given to the Commanding Officers and troops who secured this vital northern flank of Lebanon- Syria … In Australia we hardly get a mention”.2 MacInante’s complaints may have been
    [Show full text]
  • Telling Pacific Lives
    TELLING PACIFIC LIVES PRISMS OF PROCESS TELLING PACIFIC LIVES PRISMS OF PROCESS Brij V. Lal & Vicki Luker Editors Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at: http://epress.anu.edu.au/tpl_citation.html National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Telling Pacific lives : prisms of process / editors, Vicki Luker ; Brij V. Lal. ISBN: 9781921313813 (pbk.) 9781921313820 (pdf) Notes: Includes index. Subjects: Islands of the Pacific--Biography. Islands of the Pacific--Anecdotes. Islands of the Pacific--Civilization. Islands of the Pacific--Social life and customs. Other Authors/Contributors: Luker, Vicki. Lal, Brij. Dewey Number: 990.0099 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design by Teresa Prowse Cover image: Choris, Louis, 1795-1828. Iles Radak [picture] [Paris : s.n., [1827] 1 print : lithograph, hand col.; 20.5 x 26 cm. nla.pic-an10412525 National Library of Australia Printed by University Printing Services, ANU This edition © 2008 ANU E Press Table of Contents Preface vii 1. Telling Pacic Lives: From Archetype to Icon, Niel Gunson 1 2. The Kila Wari Stories: Framing a Life and Preserving a Cosmology, Deborah Van Heekeren 15 3. From ‘My Story’ to ‘The Story of Myself’—Colonial Transformations of Personal Narratives among the Motu-Koita of Papua New Guinea, Michael Goddard 35 4. Mobility, Modernisation and Agency: The Life Story of John Kikang from Papua New Guinea, Wolfgang Kempf 51 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Telling Australia's Story to the World: the Department of Information
    Telling Australia’s story to the world: The Department of Information 1939-1950 Edward Louis Vickery August 2003 A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of The Australian National University. i Declaration I hereby declare that the work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original, except as acknowledged in the text, and that the material has not been submitted, either in whole or in part, for a degree at this or any other university. Eddy Vickery ii Acknowledgments Many people have provided assistance and support during the preparation of this thesis. My first debt is to my supervisors, Professor Ann Curthoys and Dr Nicholas Brown, who oversaw, guided and encouraged the preparation and completion of this thesis. My thanks go also to the people who agreed to be interviewed for this thesis, in particular Mr Ron Younger who gave very generously of his time. Archivists and librarians at various institutions, including the National Archives of Australia in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, the National Library of Australia, the Australian National University, the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy, the Noel Butlin Archives of Business and Labour, the National Film and Sound Archives and the Australian Tourism Industry Association, were courteous and helpful in obtaining and locating material, for which I am grateful. A range of friends have provided support throughout the extended process of preparing this thesis, foremost amongst these was my brother Richard. Their ready ears and thoughtful comments were appreciated.
    [Show full text]
  • Films About the Pacific Islands
    A GUIDE TO 'FILMS ABOUT THE PACIFIC ISLANDS Compiled by Judith D. Hamnett Workinl Paper Series Pacific bland. Studies Pro,ram Center for A.ian and Pacific Studies Univeraity of Hawaii at Manoa This guide to films about the Pacific was developed out of a sense that such an item was sorely needed. The chore took longer than anticipated, and it was completed only with a major effort and considerable patience on the part of Ms. Judith D. Hamnett. We intend to update the guide periodically, and we urge readers to pay special attention to the last paragraph of Ms. Hamnett's introduction. New items, corrections, and other relevant information received from readers will be incorporated into future editions. We intend to keep the guide in print and available for the asking, and such input will be appreciated and help improve its quality. Robert C. Kiste, Director Pacific Islands Studies Program Center for Asian and Pacific Studies University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii A GUIDE TO FILMS ABOUT THE PACIFIC ISLANDS Compiled by Judith D. Hamnett Pacific Islands Studies Program University of Hawaii 1986 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Lending Collections ••••••••••••••••• 3 Abbreviations Used for Producers/Distributors •••• 8 Section I.: Films and Videocassettes about the Pacific Islands, Excluding Hawaii ••••••• 14 Section II. Films and Videocassettes about Hawaii ••• . • • • 59 Section III. Films about the Pacific Islands Available Outside of the U.S •••••••••••• 110 1 A GUIDE TO FILMS ABOUT THE PACIFIC ISLANDS INTRODUCTION This gUide to films about the Pacific Islands was prepared during the summers of 1985 and 1986. During that period a number of important films were added to the University of Hawaii's film collection and are included here.
    [Show full text]
  • Directory of World Cinema: Australia and New Zealand 2
    DIRECTORY OF | LEALAND GOLDSMITH | RYAN WORLD CINEMA AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND 2 2 EDITED BY BEN GOLDSMITH, MARK DAVID RYAN AND GEOFF LEALAND Building on and bringing up to date the material presented in the first installment of Directory of World Cinema: Australia and New Zealand, this volume continues the exploration of the cinema produced in Australia and New Zealand since the beginning of the twentieth century. Among the additions to this volume are in-depth treatments of the locations that feature prominently in the countries’ cinema. Essays by leading critics and film scholars consider the significance in films of the outback and the DIRECTORY OF DIRECTORY beach, which is evoked as a liminal space in Long Weekend and a symbol of death AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND 2 in Heaven’s Burning, among other films. Other contributions turn the spotlight on previously unexplored genres and key filmmakers, including Jane Campion, Rolf de Heer, Charles Chauvel, and Gillian Armstrong. Accompanying the critical essays in this volume are more than 60 new film reviews, complemented by full-colour film stills and significantly expanded references for further study. From The Piano to Red Dog, from Pictures to The Orator, Directory of World Cinema: Australia & New Zealand 2 completes this comprehensive treatment of two similar – but also different – and consistently fascinating national cinemas. WORLD CINEMA DIRECTORY OF WORLD CINEMA Directory of World Cinema ISSN 2040-7971 Directory of World Cinema eISSN 2040-798X Directory of World Cinema: Australia & New
    [Show full text]
  • Beaufighters Over New Guinea.Pdf
    BEAUFIGHTERS OVER NEW GUINEA Other titles in this series: Secret Action of 305 Smith & Coghlan Winner of the 1988 Heritage Award The RAAF Mirage Story Compiled by Wing Commander M.R. Susans Winner of the 1989 Heritage Award Alfresco Flight — The RAAF Antarctic Experience David Wilson Winner of the 1990 Heritage Award Edge of Centre—The eventful life of Group Captain Gerald Packer Chris Coulthard-Clark Winner of the 1991 Heritage Award BEAUFIGHTERS OVER NEW GUINEA No. 30 Squadron RAAF 1942-1943 GEORGE TURNBULL DICK Royal Australian Air Force Museum An occasional series Number 5 First published in 1993 by Royal Australian Air Force Museum RAAF Base Point Cook, Vic, 3029, Australia Copyright © Royal Australian Air Force Museum Production by Sylvana Scannapiego, Island Graphics Cover and text design by David Constable Typeset in 12/13pt Sabon by Solo Typesetting, South Australia Printed in Australia by Impact Printing, Melbourne All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cataloguing-in-publication information Dick, George, 1921- Beaufighters over New Guinea. ISBN 0 642 18836 X 1. Australia. Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron, 30. 2. World War, 1939-1945 —Papua New Guinea —Aerial operations, Australian. I. Royal Australian Air Force Museum. II. Title 940.544994 CONTENTS Preface vii Acknowledgements x 1 Fashioning a Superb Weapons Platform 1 2 Work-Up to a War Footing 7 3 Early Days at Ward's Strip 21 4 Tree-Topping Wave-Hopping Warplanes 38 5 Bully Beef & Dog Biscuits 53 6 Life at the June Valley Camp 72 7 Moresby Attacked by 100 Aircraft 91 8 Rain, Rain, Rain 113 9 Operations from Vivigani Strip 127 10 Christmas at Kiriwina 149 Nominal Roll 169 Bibliography 173 PREFACE HEN office-bearers of No.
    [Show full text]
  • Parer's War and Biography
    PARER’S WAR © ATOM 2014 A STUDY GUIDE BY ROBERT LEWIS http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN: 978-1-74295-443-1 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au 4 1 2 3 1: Damien Parer (Matthew Le Nevez) 2: Damien Parer runs from explosion * SUMMARY 3: Damien Parer 4: Marie Cotter (Adelaide 5 Clemens) and Damien Parer 5: Damien Parer Parer’s War is a telemovie about praying Australian cameraman Damien Parer, whose films of Australians in combat in In the teeming hell of jungle warfare, World War Two helped Australia then, the crowds lining up at the theatres Damien films his masterpiece of front- and can help students now, under- stretch around the block. The film is a line battle in all its shocking, intimate, stand the true nature and seriousness hit – an Academy Award awaits. frightening reality. Amidst the turmoil, of the war in Papua and New Guinea. his camera is broken. His shield is To his shock, Damien discovers that gone. Damien vows to return to find It’s six short months after Pearl one of his images of a lookout post Marie. Harbour. Alongside the commandos, has been improperly released to 29-year-old Damien Parer lugs his the papers. It precipitates a furious But it’s a very different Marie he’s heavy camera gear up and down the fight with Damien’s Department of coming home to. Wiser, smarter, razorback ridges of New Guinea, film- Information boss, the officious Bob wittier, she knows what to do with ing the savage skirmishes. Hawes. Damien is assigned to cover this man.
    [Show full text]
  • Blackfella Armies - Kastom and Conflict in Contemporary Melanesia 1994 - 2007
    University of Wollongong Thesis Collections University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Year Blackfella armies - kastom and conflict in contemporary Melanesia 1994 - 2007 Ben Bohane University of Wollongong Bohane, Ben, Blackfella armies - kastom and conflict in contemporary Melanesia 1994 - 2007, M.A. thesis, Journalism and Creative Writing, University of Wollongong, 2007. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/648 This paper is posted at Research Online. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/648 i BLACKFELLA ARMIES - KASTOM AND CONFLICT IN CONTEMPORARY MELANESIA 1994 - 2007. A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree Master of Arts (Journalism) from The University of Wollongong by Ben Bohane Faculty of Creative Arts School of Journalism and Creative Writing 2007 ii CERTIFICATION I, Ben Bohane, declare that this thesis, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Master of Arts (Journalism), in the School of Journalism and Creative Writing, University of Wollongong, is wholly my own work unless otherwise referenced or acknowledged. The document and associated photographs have not been submitted for qualifications at any other academic institution. Ben Bohane May 2007 iii Abstract This dissertation accompanies photographs taken in my role as a photojournalist in the region under study. The photographs on CD are a visual narrative in their own right while serving as part of the overall text and they are referred to regularly throughout the dissertation. The past decade has seen a significant rise in armed conflict throughout the established nations of Melanesia, as well as in those still fighting for their independence.
    [Show full text]
  • Paul Kelly on War Correspondent Chester Wilmot
    C.E.W. Bean Foundation Annual Dinner Delivered 22 February 2018 Chester Wilmot; War Correspondent, Historian, Interpreter of Worlds By Paul Kelly On the morning of Sunday 10 January 1954, BOAC flight 781 took off from Rome’s Ciampino Airport bound for Heathrow on the final leg of its flight from Singapore. The plane was the third built of the new Comet 1. It veered west over the Mediterranean but at 10.51 am the aircraft suffered an explosive decompression at altitude. A group of startled Italian fishermen saw the remnants plunge into the water adjacent to the island of Elba, location of Napoleon’s first exile. All passengers and crew were killed. This included an internationally known Australian, the BBC journalist, Reginald William Winchester Wilmot, aged 42, who had been in Australia on assignment. Wilmot was Melbourne born, captain in his final year at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, a graduate in arts and law from Melbourne University where he was SRC president and represented in inter-varsity debating. Wilmot was steeped in an Anglo-Australian classical education, wrote part-time for local newspapers, developed a taste for foreign travel and had visited Germany during the Munich crisis. As a young man he had great energy, physical presence and a vibrant voice with what was once called an educated Australian accent. Wilmot’s life was cut short yet his achievements are astonishing. He became a prominent figure in the greatest generation – the generation of my parents that was defined by the Second World War. In a competitive field he was probably the most illustrious Australian correspondent of World War Two, a broadcaster unrivalled in Australia and then Britain, a highly professional journalist who, in a national crisis, became a participant.
    [Show full text]