DOCSLIB.ORG

Scorched Earth: Australia’S Plan for Total War Under Japanese Invasion in World War II

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Scorched Earth: Australia’S Plan for Total War Under Japanese Invasion in World War II Australian Historical Studies ISSN: 1031-461X (Print) 1940-5049 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rahs20 The Shadow Men: The Leaders Who Shaped the Australian Army from the Veldt to Vietnam; Scorched Earth: Australia’s Plan for Total War under Japanese Invasion in World War II Andrew Richardson To cite this article: Andrew Richardson (2018) The Shadow Men: The Leaders Who Shaped the Australian Army from the Veldt to Vietnam; Scorched Earth: Australia’s Plan for Total War under Japanese Invasion in World War II, Australian Historical Studies, 49:2, 283-285, DOI: 10.1080/1031461X.2018.1454281 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/1031461X.2018.1454281 Published online: 04 Jun 2018. Submit your article to this journal View related articles View Crossmark Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=rahs20 Reviews: Books 283 Australia’s postwar immigration scheme was Several titles over the past fifteen years have ‘visionary and, ultimately, successful’ (201). This sought to highlight the stories of lesser known inconsistency in argument reveals an unresolved key figures in the Australian army’s history. conflict of the author: Persian wants to critique Works such as James Wood’s Chiefs of the Austra- Australian government policies (possibly with lian Army and Justin Chadwick’s Sword and Baton: one eye on current debates) while at the same Senior Australian Army Officers from Federation to time laud the program for introducing ethnic 2001, Volume 1, 1900–1939, have brought forth diversity into Australia. the contributions of more obscure senior officers Methodologically, the author makes sus- from the first half of the twentieth century. These tained use of archival material held at the works have been welcomed for their balance and National Archives of Australia and personal intellectual rigour against more populist biogra- papers held at the National Library of Australia. phies of well-known Australian military Curiously, she under-utilises the twenty-two leaders, especially Sir John Monash. Fortunately, oral history interviews she conducted with DPs, The Shadow Men, edited by Craig Stockings and which is a pity as this material would have John Connor, looks beyond luminaries like added much-needed depth to the narrative of Monash and approaches each senior officer’s personal experiences. Unfortunately, Persian biographical essay with a critical eye. fails to include any direct reference to the volumi- All contributors to the volume are military nous and accessible UNRRA records held at the historians who understand the scope of United Nations archives in New York, or the IRO command responsibility, exigencies of oper- records held in Paris, and instead relies on pub- ational requirements, and the complexities of lished materials. This is a significant omission, the politico-military machine. Combined, their especially given the fact that the first third of Beau- scope is broad, covering officers from the tiful Balts details the UNRRA/IRO management of immediate post-Federation period through to the camps and selection of DPs for resettlement, the conclusion of the Vietnam War. The officers and it would have benefited considerably by the featured are Lieutenant-General Sir Edward inclusion of more archival material. Hutton; Major-General Sir William Bridges; There is much to admire about Jayne Per- General Sir Cyril Brudenell White; Major- sian’s Beautiful Balts; however, this book rep- General Gordon Legge; Brigadier John O’Brien; resents a starting point rather than a definitive Lieutenant-General Sir John Northcott; Lieute- account. Hopefully, Persian (or other historians) nant-General Sir Sydney Rowell; Colonel can delve deeper into this fascinating topic, inte- Eustace Keogh; Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas grating international archival material with Daly; and Lieutenant-General Sir Mervyn national and personal accounts. Brogan. Each chapter allows more substantial military analysis than their respective Australian Dictionary of Biography entries. RACHEL STEVENS Hutton was a giant of his day, yet is all but University of Melbourne unknown now. His involvement in the formation © 2018, Rachel Stevens of national defence policy places his influence on the post-Federation army above such luminaries as Harry Chauvel, John Monash and James McCay, making his apparent modern anonymity even more surprising. Abrasive and polarising, The Shadow Men: The Leaders Who Shaped the Hutton approached his job with exceptional com- Australian Army from the Veldt to Vietnam. petence, but lacked the political acumen to Edited by Craig Stockings and John Connor. patiently convince doubters of the efficacy of his Sydney: NewSouth Publishing, 2017. Pp. 266. plans. This places him in sharp contrast to North- A$34.99 paper. cott, for example, who worked closely with and for Thomas Blamey during World War II. Scorched Earth: Australia’s Plan for Total War Hutton’s story places the pre-World War I era under Japanese Invasion in World War II. into better context at the politico-strategic level, By Sue Rosen. Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 2017. and establishes that tensions between political Pp. 284. A$32.99 paper. intent and financial reality were a feature from 284 Australian Historical Studies, 49, 2018 the very beginning. Similar trends can be dis- NSW, planning for resource denial was meticu- cerned in later chapters too, as various senior offi- lous and impassioned. His January 1942 paper cers faced the difficulty of managing government on the matter convinced the NSW premier to expectations within resource constraints. install Swain as chair of the ‘Scorched Earth Like many officers of the pre-World War I Sub-Committee’. Under this official body and period, Bridges was a protégé of Hutton and his with the participation of the military authorities, career was materially advanced by the association. a formal policy eventually received government His rise intersected with Legge’s, who disagreed endorsement in November 1942. By then, the with Bridges’ ‘imperialist’ outlook for Australian critical threat of Japanese invasion had passed, defence policy. Such revelations uncovered by though Prime Minister Curtin formally declared these probing biographical studies allow the the risk had passed in June 1943. The work of reader to better understand the frictions and com- senior army officers like Northcott informed the petitiveness between army officers and bring into strategic level discussion over civilian and military focus how they interacted with each other. The preparation for invasion that men like Swain chapter on White by Peter Stanley, for example, were planning. The works reviewed here, there- illustrates how he cruelled the ambitions of fore, are in some ways complementary for the others, ending Legge’s operational command era and themes they cover. after Poziéres and frustrating ‘Pompey’ Elliott’s Within the context of Japanese midget sub- ambitions for promotion to Major-General. marine attacks in Sydney Harbour and bombing White’s somewhat hagiographical reputation across northern Australia, the NSW Scorched (established by C.E.W. Bean) is challenged and Earth Sub-Committee drafted very specific and major new directions for research on White and detailed plans, outlining which areas were to be his career are identified, including on the for- defended (predominantly industrial centres), mation and transmission of orders within the those that should be evacuated, where, and in Australian Imperial Force staff system. Many what manner. Rosen has reproduced Swain’s chapters suggest further opportunities for initial paper and the documents of the Scorched research for budding PhD students to break new Earth Sub-Committee to illustrate just how ground. The volume also contains some of the serious the fear of invasion was. While Peter last work written by the late Jeffrey Grey (Pro- Stanley has convincingly demonstrated that the fessor of History at UNSW, Canberra) – specifi- Japanese were not planning to invade (see his cally, the chapters on O’Brien, Keogh and Daly. Invading Australia, Penguin, 2008), such fears of This book is well researched and written; it invasion were still tangible for an Australian situates these officers’ careers within the context public denied access to Allied intelligence assess- of their time, and serves as a ‘tasting plate’ for the ments and intercepts. generalist reader to learn about comparatively Most of the book is the transcription of key unknown figures in the army’s history. Further, policy documents directing the planning of the it is a welcome alternative to uncritical military scorched earth policy. These are valuable titles filling bookshelves nationally. The Shadow resources, though serious researchers may prefer Men deserves better quality print stock and final to consult the originals. Rosen provides a short production values from the publisher, as the contextual introduction to each section of docu- review copy had marginal quality paper and ment reproduced, including the ‘General Citizen some pages had less than sharp print. Code’, ‘General Industry Code’, and ‘Denial of Sue Rosen’s Scorched Earth is based on Resources to the Enemy’: Jetties and Wharves; records found in New South Wales (NSW) For- Watercraft; Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants; Motor estry files she discovered while researching Transport; Motor and Repair Equipment; Coal another project. The book uncovers the NSW Mines; and Public Utility Services. Combined, the government’s detailed plans for the denial of work is expansive and detailed, covering every- resources to the enemy – a scorched earth thing from the recommended destruction of policy – in the event of Japanese invasion in machinery to the role of the Volunteer Defence 1942–43. It makes fascinating reading, especially Corps in guarding mooring sites. The documents to those familiar with NSW geography. are explicit on the public’s obligation to participate Driven by the forceful personality and vision in resource denial to the enemy, something Swain of Edward Swain, Commissioner for Forests in referred to as ‘total civilian collaboration in a Reviews: Books 285 master plan’ (5).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • RUSI of NSW Article
    Jump TO Article The article on the pages below is reprinted by permission from United Service (the journal of the Royal United Services Institute of New South Wales), which seeks to inform the defence and security debate in Australia and to bring an Australian perspective to that debate internationally. The Royal United Services Institute of New South Wales (RUSI NSW) has been promoting informed debate on defence and security issues since 1888. To receive quarterly copies of United Service and to obtain other significant benefits of RUSI NSW membership, please see our online Membership page: www.rusinsw.org.au/Membership Jump TO Article USI Vol61 No2 Jun10:USI Vol55 No4/2005 21/05/10 1:31 PM Page 24 CONTRIBUTED ESSAY Conflict in command during the Kokoda campaign of 1942: did General Blamey deserve the blame? Rowan Tracey General Sir Thomas Blamey was commander-in-chief of the Australian Military Forces during World War II. Tough and decisive, he did not resile from sacking ineffective senior commanders when the situation demanded. He has been widely criticised by more recent historians for his role in the sackings of Lieutenant-General S. F. Rowell, Major-General A. S. Allen and Brigadier A. W. Potts during the Kokoda Campaign of 1942. Rowan Tracey examines each sacking and concludes that Blameyʼs actions in each case were justified. On 16 September 1950, a small crowd assembled in High Command in Australia in 1942 the sunroom of the west wing of the Repatriation In September 1938, Blamey was appointed General Hospital at Heidelberg in Melbourne. The chairman of the Commonwealth’s Manpower group consisted of official military representatives, Committee and controller-general of recruiting on the wartime associates and personal guests of the central recommendation of Frederick Shedden, secretary of figure, who was wheelchair bound – Thomas Albert the Department of Defence, and with the assent of Blamey.
    [Show full text]
  • Major General James Harold CANNAN CB, CMG, DSO, VD
    Major General James Harold CANNAN CB, CMG, DSO, VD [1882 – 1976] Major General Cannan is distinguished by his service in the Militia, as a senior officer in World War 1 and as the Australian Army’s Quartermaster General in World War 2. Major General James Harold Cannan, CB, CMG, DSO, VD (29 August 1882 – 23 May 1976) was a Queenslander by birth and a long-term member of the United Service Club. He rose to brigadier general in the Great War and served as the Australian Army’s Quartermaster General during the Second World War after which it was said that his contribution to the defence of Australia was immense; his responsibility for supply, transport and works, a giant-sized burden; his acknowledgement—nil. We thank the History Interest Group and other volunteers who have researched and prepared these Notes. The series will be progressively expanded and developed. They are intended as casual reading for the benefit of Members, who are encouraged to advise of any inaccuracies in the material. Please do not reproduce them or distribute them outside of the Club membership. File: HIG/Biographies/Cannan Page 1 Cannan was appointed Commanding Officer of the 15th Battalion in 1914 and landed with it at ANZAC Cove on the evening of 25 April 1915. The 15th Infantry Battalion later defended Quinn's Post, one of the most exposed parts of the Anzac perimeter, with Cannan as post commander. On the Western Front, Cannan was CO of 15th Battalion at the Battle of Pozières and Battle of Mouquet Farm. He later commanded 11th Brigade at the Battle of Messines and the Battle of Broodseinde in 1917, and the Battle of Hamel and during the Hundred Days Offensive in 1918.
    [Show full text]
  • 04 Chapters 8-Bibliography Burns
    159 CHAPTER 8 THE BRISBANE LINE CONTROVERSY Near the end of March 1943 nineteen members of the UAP demanded Billy Hughes call a party meeting. Hughes had maintained his hold over the party membership by the expedient of refusing to call members 1a together. For months he had then been able to avoid any leadership challenge. Hughes at last conceded to party pressure, and on 25 March, faced a leadership spill, which he believed was inspired by Menzies. 16 He retained the leadership by twenty-four votes to fifteen. The failure to elect a younger and more aggressive leader - Menzies - resulted in early April in the formation by the dissenters of the National Service Group, which was a splinter organisation, not a separate party. Menzies, and Senators Leckie and Spicer from Victoria, Cameron, Duncan, Price, Shcey and Senators McLeary, McBride, the McLachlans, Uphill and Wilson from South Australia, Beck and Senator Sampson from Tasmania, Harrison from New South Wales and Senator Collett from Western Australia comprised the group. Spender stood aloof. 1 This disturbed Ward. As a potential leader of the UAP Menzies was likely to be more of an electoral threat to the ALP, than Hughes, well past his prime, and in the eyes of the public a spent political force. Still, he was content to wait for the appropriate moment to discredit his old foe, confident he had the ammunition in his Brisbane Line claims. The Brisbane Line Controversy Ward managed to verify that a plan existed which had intended to abandon all of Australia north of a line north of Brisbane and following a diagonal course to a point north of Adelaide to be abandoned to the enemy, - the Maryborough Plan.
    [Show full text]
  • Sir John Northcott
    30 Sir John Northcott (1 August 1946 – 31 July 1957) Chris Cunneen The 30th representative of the Crown in New South Wales, John North- cott, was the first Australian to be State or colonial Governor.1 It was only after extraordinary pressure from the Premier William McKell that King George VI, advised by the British Government, agreed to the selection. Birth and military career John Northcott was born on 24 March 1890 at Creswick, Victoria, eldest son of English-born parents: his father, also named John, owned a general store in the nearby town of Dean, his mother was Elizabeth, née Reynolds. Young John was the eldest of four sons and one daughter. Educated at Dean State School and Grenville College, Ballarat, he was a keen member of the school cadets. He was also an enthusiastic horse rider, so in 1908 he enlisted in the Ninth Light Horse Regiment, a militia unit. Deciding on a full time career in the Army he passed the entry examinations and in 1912 joined the Permanent Military Forces as a Lieu- tenant on the Administrative and Instructional Staff. He was posted to Tasmania. On the outbreak of World War I he transferred to the Aust- ralian Imperial Force and in August 1914 was appointed Adjutant of the 12th Battalion, based at Anglesea Barracks, Hobart.2 Northcott’s service record at this time described the 24 year old as five feet eight and a half inches tall, with a fair complexion and blue eyes. His Battalion left for Egypt in October 1914. On Sunday, 25 April 1915, Northcott was one of the first to land at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli.
    [Show full text]
  • The Final Campaigns: Bougainville 1944-1945
    University of Wollongong Thesis Collections University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Year The final campaigns: Bougainville 1944-1945 Karl James University of Wollongong James, Karl, The final campaigns: Bougainville 1944-1945, PhD thesis, School of History and Politics, University of Wollongong, 2005. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/467 This paper is posted at Research Online. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/467 The Final Campaigns: Bougainville 1944-1945 A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree Doctor of Philosophy from University of Wollongong by Karl James, BA (Hons) School of History and Politics 2005 i CERTIFICATION I, Karl James, declare that this thesis, submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy, in the School of History and Politics, University of Wollongong, is wholly my work unless otherwise referenced or acknowledged. The document has not been submitted for qualifications at any other academic institution. Karl James 20 July 2005 ii Table of Contents Maps, List of Illustrations iv Abbreviations vi Conversion viii Abstract ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 1 ‘We have got to play our part in it’. Australia’s land war until 1944. 15 2 ‘History written is history preserved’. History’s treatment of the Final Campaigns. 30 3 ‘Once the soldier had gone to war he looked for leadership’. The men of the II Australian Corps. 51 4 ‘Away to the north of Queensland, On the tropic shores of hell, Stand grimfaced men who watch and wait, For a future none can tell’. The campaign takes shape: Torokina and the Outer Islands.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ambon Forward Observation Line Strategy 1941-1942
    The Ambon Forward Observation Line Strategy 1941-1942 A Lesson in Military Incompetence By David A Evans B. Asian Studies, BA (Hons) History. History Faculty of Arts and Humanities A dissertation submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Murdoch University Declaration Except where I have indicated, I declare that this dissertation is my own work and is an account of my research that has not been submitted for assessment for a degree at a University or other Tertiary Institution. (Signed) David A Evans i Copyright Acknowledgement I acknowledge that a copy of this dissertation will be held at Murdoch University Library. I understand that, under the provisions s51.2 of the Copyright Act 1968, all or part of this dissertation may be copied without infringement of copyright where such a reproduction is for the purposes of study and research. This statement does not signal any transfer of copyright away from the author. (Signed) David A Evans Full Name of Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Title: The Ambon Forward Observation Line Strategy 1941-1942: A Lesson in Military Incompetence Author: David A Evans Year: 2010 ii Acknowledgements I acknowledge Senator Chris Back for facilitating my entry into tertiary education at Curtin University’s Muresk Agricultural College in Western Australia. Under Senator Back’s mentorship I developed a lifelong interest in learning that led to the completion of my university studies at Murdoch University. I also acknowledge Associate Professor Lenore Layman and Professor Michael Durey for their professional approach in mentoring and guiding me through my education as a historian at Murdoch University.
    [Show full text]
  • Wednesday 22 June 2011
    Thursday 30 October 2014 WHAT’S IN A (STREET) NAME Local street names like Anzac Avenue and Diggers Avenue are easy to identify as having a link to our WWI history. But what about Beltana Street and Monash Road? Beltana and Monash are two of the nineteen local streets identified as having direct WWI connections – either through a prominent soldier or an event - that will be identified with specially designed WWI commemorative signage as part of the Centenary of Anzac commemorations. Anzac Avenue in Denistone/West Ryde, will be the first street to receive the new Anzac Centenary street signage. Ryde’s Local Studies Librarian, Angela Phippen, said: “Street names are a direct link to the history of a place and through them you can get an understanding of your suburb’s heritage. “The high number of streets in the City of Ryde bearing a WWI connection is indicative of the huge impact WWI had on our young nation, and particularly on the local community from which an estimated 2,000 men and women enlisted to serve.” An interactive map showing the location of the local WWI named streets can be found on the Ryde Remembers section of the Council website www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/ryderemembers along with details of other local Centenary of Anzac activities, including the 2,000 POPPIES Project. CENTENARY OF ANZAC STREETS OF RYDE PROJECT (named after prominent WWI soldiers and events) AMIENS STREET, Gladesville – previously Bay View Terrace A main town in the Somme region of northern France, the scene of a series of battles in 1916.
    [Show full text]
  • This Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation Has Been Downloaded from Explore Bristol Research
    This electronic thesis or dissertation has been downloaded from Explore Bristol Research, http://research-information.bristol.ac.uk Author: Williams, Richard Title: County and municipal government in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset 1649- 1660. General rights Access to the thesis is subject to the Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International Public License. A copy of this may be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode This license sets out your rights and the restrictions that apply to your access to the thesis so it is important you read this before proceeding. Take down policy Some pages of this thesis may have been removed for copyright restrictions prior to having it been deposited in Explore Bristol Research. However, if you have discovered material within the thesis that you consider to be unlawful e.g. breaches of copyright (either yours or that of a third party) or any other law, including but not limited to those relating to patent, trademark, confidentiality, data protection, obscenity, defamation, libel, then please contact [email protected] and include the following information in your message: •Your contact details •Bibliographic details for the item, including a URL •An outline nature of the complaint Your claim will be investigated and, where appropriate, the item in question will be removed from public view as soon as possible. COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN CORNWALL, DEVON, DORSET AND SOMERSET 1649-1660 by RICHARD WILLIAMS xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx A THESIS Submitted to the University of Bristol for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 1981 XXXXXXX*1XXXXXXXXXXX County and Municipal Government in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset 1649-1660.
    [Show full text]
  • Ten Journeys to Cameron's Farm
    Ten Journeys to Cameron’s Farm An Australian Tragedy Ten Journeys to Cameron’s Farm An Australian Tragedy Cameron Hazlehurst Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at http://press.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Author: Hazlehurst, Cameron, 1941- author. Title: Ten Journeys to Cameron’s Farm / Cameron Hazlehurst. ISBN: 9781925021004 (paperback) 9781925021011 (ebook) Subjects: Menzies, Robert, Sir, 1894-1978. Aircraft accidents--Australian Capital Territory--Canberra. World War, 1939-1945--Australia--History. Australia--Politics and government--1901-1945. Australia--Biography. Australia--History--1901-1945. Dewey Number: 320.994 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 and layout by ANU Press Printed by Griffin Press © Flaxton Mill House Pty Ltd 2013 and 2015 Cover design and layout © 2013 ANU E Press Cover design and layout © 2015 ANU Press Contents Part 1 Prologue 13 August 1940 . ix 1 . Augury . 1 2 . Leadership, politics, and war . 3 Part 2 The Journeys 3 . A crew assembles: Charlie Crosdale and Jack Palmer . 29 4 . Second seat: Dick Wiesener . 53 5 . His father’s son: Bob Hitchcock . 71 6 . ‘A very sound pilot’?: Bob Hitchcock (II) . 99 7 . Passenger complement . 131 8 . The General: Brudenell White (I) . 139 9 . Call and recall: Brudenell White (II) . 161 10 . The Brigadier: Geoff Street . 187 11 .
    [Show full text]
  • October 2020
    Official Journal of the Royal South Australia Regiment Association Inc CHANGES TO THIS NEWSLETTER WHO ARE THEY? For the past 10 years I have sent out newsletters every month, with some special editions thrown in for good measure. Sometimes, just after I have published an edi- tion, important information comes through that needs to be urgently disseminated. For that reason all newsletters from now on will have an “edition number” instead of a month on the front page. You may receive two newslet- ? ters per month or when stories are few and far between, one newsletter every two months. This newsletter would have been October 2020. Instead, it is now Edition 10. 2020. If any readers have alternate ideas, I would love to These two photos appear on the front page of our web- hear them. Until then….Believe it, or not! site www.rsara.asn.au and yet no one seems to know who they are! The photo at LEFT has soldiers wearing Inside this issue: the old WW2 Pattern webbing, yet they are carrying SLRs. The pic at RIGHT shows the digger carrying a The Battle for Milne 2/3 Steyr of the old type. If you can identify them, contact the Bay New Money Cruncher Secretary. ADF Holiday 4/5 We have a NEW Accommodation Treasurer in NEW ADDRESS Christian Bennett, FOR TREASURER Letters to the Editor 6 a serving member of 10/27 Battal- Fees and Merchandise can be paid by EFT 2020 AGM 7 ion. Chris takes over from David through the following Bendigo Bank account: Hope and will RSAR Association Pte Teds’ Humour 10/ apply his skills in 11 BSB 633 000 keeping us in the Acc.
    [Show full text]
  • DALKIN, ROBERT NIXON (BOB) (1914–1991), Air Force Officer
    D DALKIN, ROBERT NIXON (BOB) (1960–61), staff officer operations, Home (1914–1991), air force officer and territory Command (1957–59), and officer commanding administrator, was born on 21 February 1914 the RAAF Base, Williamtown, New South at Whitley Bay, Northumberland, England, Wales (1963). He had graduated from the RAF younger son of English-born parents George Staff College (1950) and the Imperial Defence Nixon Dalkin, rent collector, and his wife College (1962). Simultaneously, he maintained Jennie, née Porter. The family migrated operational proficiency, flying Canberra to Australia in 1929. During the 1930s bombers and Sabre fighters. Robert served in the Militia, was briefly At his own request Dalkin retired with a member of the right-wing New Guard, the rank of honorary air commodore from the and became business manager (1936–40) for RAAF on 4 July 1968 to become administrator W. R. Carpenter [q.v.7] & Co. (Aviation), (1968–72) of Norfolk Island. His tenure New Guinea, where he gained a commercial coincided with a number of important issues, pilot’s licence. Described as ‘tall, lean, dark including changes in taxation, the expansion and impressive [with a] well-developed of tourism, and an examination of the special sense of humour, and a natural, easy charm’ position held by islanders. (NAA A12372), Dalkin enlisted in the Royal Dalkin overcame a modest school Australian Air Force (RAAF) on 8 January education to study at The Australian National 1940 and was commissioned on 4 May. After University (BA, 1965; MA, 1978). Following a period instructing he was posted to No. 2 retirement, he wrote Colonial Era Cemetery of Squadron, Laverton, Victoria, where he Norfolk Island (1974) and his (unpublished) captained Lockheed Hudson light bombers on memoirs.
    [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]