COMBAT STRESS RESOURCES FOR CHAPLAINS AND HISTORY INSTRUCTORS
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From around the world, resources are available for public domain download, to assist in developing Stress Management and other Chaplain-related educational products. Materials on this page include photos, war art, documents, and films. Refer back to the "CH Hughes products" webpage, and note the "Combat Stress" PDF's and videos, to see how to incorporate these materials into a block of instruction. Photos of soldiers in various types of terrain, battle, recreation, etc., are an excellent way to involve students in discussion.
There are also resources on this page Secondary School teachers can use with their students to enhance the study of World War I, II, and Vietnam. Short videos and podcasts are available from the public domain, as well as primary source materials on this page. Consideration should be given to
using the Kokoda Track, Battle of Singapore, POWs, and Vietnam sections as separate teaching modules. Blocks of instruction could also include terrain*, environment, native inhabitants, geography, and weather that contributed to Combat Stress of soldiers. Instructors can use these
materials in PowerPoint presentations.
*A good example of combat stress involving Terrain is the Australian soldiers landing at Gallipoli where their leaders
had faulty maps and the soldiers were faced with impossible objectives they could not meet. They had been landed at the wrong place, and, as happened with U.S. troops in WW2 landing at Anzio, Italy, were bunched up at the beachhead and stalled, unable to advance due mainly to the terrain.
Once past the beachhead, the terrain with it's sharp drop-off's, worked against any rapid advance. There are some excellent short films that outline these problems by historians who walked over the ground involved.
There is a music section for WW 1 & 2, which covers the main pieces of music that were used to boost the morale of soldiers and those back home, in those two wars. Instructors should consider using these videos to enhance the study of those historical periods for their students.
A brief section appears near the bottom of this page, dealing with Combat Stress in the Civil War. The webpage, "The Old South" has much more that can be incorporated in a complete course on the Civil War.
Also, included on this page, there are brief general articles dealing with Combat Stress, Shell Shock, lack of sleep, and
the role of weather and environment affecting troops.
A separate study of Pearl Harbor is available on the webpage "Jim & Joe in College" in the section that deals with Joe's graduate work at the University of Richmond on Pre-Pearl Harbor Intelligence. The research in that section covers not only American, but British, Australian, and Dutch intelligence.
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Viewer Advice: This webpage contains some language, themes, and images that may disturb some viewers. Certain primary source records may contain language or include depictions that may be considered insensitive, disrespectful, offensive or racist. This material reflects the creator's attitude or that of the period in which the item was written, recorded, collected or catalogued. They are not the current
views of this website and do not reflect current understanding and are not appropriate today. This webpage was developed only for Chaplains and other military instructors.
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WHY STUDY AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS is a good question.
First, much of what you see, read, and hear on this page was unknown years ago when I was in graduate school and teaching history in public and private schools. The whole truth about cannibalization which was perpetrated on Allied soldiers, Australians in particular, by Japanese soldiers, was kept under wraps until well into the the 1990's. It continues to be hidden from the schoolchildren in Japan who have never been taught the full history of their country's major role in WW2. In addition, much of what we now know about the success and failure of intelligence prior to Pearl Harbor has now come to light. We also know that FDR was the first President to wiretap his own White House office; long before Nixon. Much intelligence that came to assist the success at Midway came from Australia, not Hawaii. And while on the subject of U.S. Presidents, it is now a proven fact that Warren Harding had not one but two children out of wedlock.
Much of the fighting in the Far East was done by Australians, (they were fighting there two years before any extensive U.S. involvement) which is often overlooked in popular media, which gives much space to the U.S. Marines, who should not be discounted; but the Australians certainly suffered more and died more horrific deaths at the hands of the Japanese than the Americans. The Japanese were the main opponent of the Australian Army in WW2. Japanese leadership are on record as saying that the U.S. Soldiers (not Marines) were timid and overly cautious when they landed on islands that were under their occupation.
The Japanese killed more than twice as many Australians in battle as other enemies combined in WW2. More than three times as many Australians were captured by the Japanese than by other enemies, and thirty times more Australians died as POWs in the hands of the Japanese, than as prisoners of European opponents. Most of the Australians who ended up as POWs of the Japanese was due to the bumbling British leadership in Malaysia and Singapore, where thousands of Diggers were surrendered to a much smaller Japanese force. It was a disgrace. One Australian general officer even fled from his command back to Australia and ended his life as a pariah in disgrace.
After calculations are done, if Australians who died from wounds as POWs are not taken into account, the figure was more than forty times higher in Japanese captivity. Keep in mind that when in 1945, the Japanese commanders in charge of the POW camps, learned that they were going to lose the war, they ordered all POWs killed by any means before they could be released. This has been verified in written records.
It is also my intention on this page to bring a more balanced view to the implication of some historians who state that most soldiers found killing pleasurable. That may have
some ring of truth, in reference to U.S. Marines who fought in WW2 and were heavily involved in "human trophy-taking," but that is not true concerning Australians, which is borne out by a wider reading of
Australian primary sources. Attitudes of soldiers on inflicting death varied
greatly among the Australians and depended heavily on the identity of
the enemy and the circumstances in which they met. "Taking no prisoners"
only became apparent on the occasions when the Diggers found their wounded mates had been tortured, carved up and, in some cases, eaten by Jap soldiers who
practiced cannibalism.
I would suggest you read two books, "At the Front
Line" and "Fighting the Enemy" by Professor Mark Johnston for a
more in-depth discussion of this point. His use of primary source materials is extensive. More in-depth discussion is
offered about Japanese cruelty toward the Diggers in detail further down on this page. Other books with primary sources are also suggested on this page.
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Peter Pinney, a Digger who fought in the WW2 Pacific theater, summed up quite succinctly
why I am giving Australia the major focus on this page: "American war histories are notoriously frugal in their mention of Australian fighting men…the few references there, portray them as little more than camp followers. General MacArthur’s communiques habitually refrained from any mention of Australian troops, and their successes were commonly assumed to be American victories. American war histories tend to ignore the Australian offensives in New Guinea, and describe the Bougainville beachhead in November 1943, as the first important fight in the Pacific conflict. They fail to mention that the war with Japan was already two years
old before American forces played any major part in the islands campaign." “American public opinion, which is inclined to write off Australia as a fighting force for the remainder of the Pacific War, now sees the
digger in the humblest of secondary roles..mopping up behind the
real fighting slogging Yank.” (Sydney Morning Herald, quoted in P. Charlton, “The Unnessary War” (Melbourne: Macmillian, 1983).
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This webpage features Australian and New Zealand soldiers at war; with some emphasis on British, Canadian, and U.S. Soldiers.
(Another webpage, "CH Hughes products" deals with stress issues faced by American service personnel. CH Hughes - Part 3" concerns additional information on Australia; but includes Britain and Ireland as well.)
Many photos are courtesy of the Australian War Memorial. Another great resource for instructors is The Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne, Australia, where you will find many audio, visual, and written primary resources. Photos and films are generally placed under specific categories. For example, "Fall of Singapore" has specific Australian photos and films about that event.
The photos in each section on this page will reveal many Diggers appearing in groups with their Mates, generally smiling, and not self-conscious. This says much about their psychological and cultural makeup. Mates did not leave their friends on the battlefield, especially when wounded by the Japanese, as will become apparent in subsequent detail below.
It became especially important once they discovered that the Japanese were eating their wounded and dead Mates by cutting flesh from their dead bodies; in some cases, while he was still alive. Newly discovered diaries and reports by survivors, not previously known, relate this in gruesome detail. This was a personal turning point for them, (on a case by case basis), in not wanting to take prisoners, already being practiced wholesale by many U.S. Marines in the Pacific theater of war.
In doing research for this page, I found a stronger bond of "Mateship" between Australian "Diggers" (as their soldiers
are known) than between American Soldiers. Those from
New Zealand are known as "Kiwis", and they also had strong bond of friendship.
"ANZAC" is a term that refers to both Australian and New Zealand soldiers. (Australian New Zealand Army Corps). This designation was first given during WW1.
I found a sense of comradeship between American Soldiers in the field, but it was not as strong and did not last long after returning home from rotation to a war zone; or after retirement, especially after Vietnam and later wars. Other than the VFW and American Legion, plus a few disabled vet organizations, there are few permanent associations for U.S. combat veterans with ongoing organizations and public participation events.
Yet today, in the 21st Century, the average Digger will refer
to another as "Mate." And the number of "Digger" organizations and associations is numerous. They participate through annual ANZAC Day and Australia Day "marches" (parades) in all the major and minor cities and towns. In addition, the children, wives, grandchildren, and extended family, all turn out for these events and support their husbands, fathers, grandfathers, as well as these
associations, which hold their own individual events. All the Australia media outlets cover these events 'religiously,' unlike the media in the U.S., and indeed, the current president (Biden) who has given major patriotic military holidays only lip-service; as well as making major foreign policy mistakes that have directly affected our service personnel.
The typical Australian sees the importance in supporting
these events and associations. They have a sense of pride
and sincere desire for participation that is evident, even when the public events had to be scaled back due to the 2020 pandemic. One website sums it up succinctly: "Our aim is to perpetuate the camaraderie that was generated amongst us when we served." Well said.
While the U.S. Vietnam-era vets had many websites run by individuals and small groups post-the Vietnam war, they
have been in decline since 2008. Most of these websites are now extinct and no longer exist. Some sites have 'changed hands' or have attached themselves to other larger sites; many have been 'watered down'. This is unfortunate, as they were once a rich resource for research.
I have also included a section about Australian Chaplains in WW 1 & 2, Vietnam, and Afghanistan.
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Before continuing, a word to the instructor concerning the need to do careful research. I have discovered numerous websites that have outright false information, either by design or by careless unintentional error. There is one site that has a high-sounding name that supposedly gives the correct information about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; but that website has a hidden agenda of pushing their own philosophy, which is incorrect. One website, WW2TV is a youtube channel, but not recommended. The host, who seems not to be able to appear without a hat, dominates the discussion with the interviewee(s).
Most of the websites from Australia are excellent and are well worth your research time. However, I cannot say the same for several large research sites in Britain. Most all of these, though they may eventually be helpful, are pay-for-use sites; their fees are exhorbitant in my estimation for the little information that they provide. Also, their oral history interviews are sparce and incomplete; snippits of interviews that last less than a few minutes. The Canadian official websites are somewhat better, but do not have the wide range of soldier-documentation records available online. The British also don't have soldier-documentation records readily available. Be careful of using pay sites that claim they will get these records for you; they are expensive and I don't use them.
Here is another example of careless handling of information that can be found on many websites. This particular website in question, tried to make a list, with photos, of all underage boy soldiers:
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Several years ago, I did extensive research on the Royal Flying Corps and corresponded with the high school Albert Ball attended. He is remembered as one of the first 'Aces' of WW1. Here are some pictures of him, including one on the cover of a book about WW1 flying:
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The researcher must also be careful about some authors who have a subrosa agenda. They have attempted to disprove the truth of a particular battle, army group, or concept. Here is one online report concerning this problem:
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Another fictional recounting of history was exposed concerning the Kokoda Track:
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Another recent investigation into the battle of Midway, notorious for turning the tide of the war against the Japanese, has come under intense scrutiny. The resultant investigation of primary sources has revealed that one of the 'sources' previously taken for granted for at least 60 years, is completely wrong.
I am talking about the memoirs of Commander Fuchida who wrote about the battle of Midway, but did not tell the truth about one important facet of the battle. A historian, Jonathan Parshall, dug into the original Japanese records and produced an astonishing revelation which he noted in his book, "Shattered Sword." He relates what happened in the following excerpt from a recent podcast:
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FAKE PHOTO FROM AMERICAN CIVIL WAR The photo at left , "Confederate Dead on Matthews Hill, Bull Run" is from the Library of Congress.
It is a FAKE: the men are NOT DEAD, but alive; their bodies were staged by the photographer.
See the Photo Study about fake war photos below:
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Glossary of Australian Terms
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Identification of Diggers and Kiwi's in combat photos can be made by looking at dog tags (called 'meat tickets' by the Diggers); hats, short haircuts, shirtless, and wearing shorts.
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Another Digger with the Australian-type of dog tags, which are round and octagonal shaped:
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This American GI has rectangle-shaped dog tags, encased in a black rubber holder to silence them while moving in enemy territory.
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Origin of the Feathers on the Light Horse Soldier's hat:
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Here's a song about the Digger's hat,
from the film "The Digger":
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Photo Study of the British Soldier:
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A Digger in this video describes his authentic WW1 uniform:
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A Digger in another video tells the history of the Australian flag:
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A Digger discusses the Australian coat of arms and national anthem:
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Young man in his video series "The Far Off Station," describes the British Kit used by the Loyal Regiment in 1941 Singapore:
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Soldiers from Scotland also participated in WW1 and had their own uniforms:
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ACTUAL PICTURE OF TWO SOLDIERS FROM SCOTLAND STANDING IN THE SNOW ON THE WESTERN FRONT. PHOTO HAS BEEN 'COLORIZED':
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New Zealand ANZAC soldiers also had a special way of greeting their Mates; no sexual implication is implied;
it is a cultural aspect of their lives:
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Australian Army Customs and Traditions:
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Australians in the Great War
A short film with music of the period:
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Remembering the New Zealand soldiers in World War 1:
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NZ SOLDIERS WERE STATIONED IN SAMOA IN 1914:
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The first Australian awarded the Victoria Cross
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The Aussie way of Discipline
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Discipline within the AIF on the Western Front
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Diggers also show their pride in serving by use of Tattoos. But not just any type; the designs are chosen with specific intent.
Here are some films which describe the rationale behind the tattoos, followed by some examples:
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When the Battle of Kokoda is discussed further on this page, it is referred to as the "Kokoda Track," not 'trail.' Diggers used the term "Track" to refer to a 'trail.'
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Diggers grew up on a continent
surrounded by water and were, therefore, used to swimming. That becomes apparent in the descriptions and photos on this page.
They also came from a land with animals that were unique to Australia. Here are two films which describe them:
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The Virtual War Memorial is an excellent resource site for Instructors. But as of late, I have found much information missing on individual soldiers and some of it is inaccurate. Here is an example of what you can find:
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"SPIRIT OF THE ANZACS" He's a drover drifting over Western
plains
He's a city lad, a clark
down Flinder's
Lane
They're in the trenches at Lone
Pine
And on the Flander's
firing line
A willing band of ordinary men
He's all of them
He's one of us
Born beneath
The Southern Cross
Side by side
We say with pride
He is all of them
He is one of us
He's a pilot on a midnight bombing
raid
He's an Able Seaman on the Armidale
She's a nurse in Vietnam
They're on patrol in Uruzgan
Sons and daughters rising to the
call
She's all of them
She's one of us
Born beneath
The Southern Cross
Side by side
We say with pride
She is all of them
She is one of us
The spirit of the ANZACs
Proud and strong
Spirit of the ANZACs
Will live on and on and on
He's all of them
He's one of us
Born beneath
The Southern Cross
Side by side
We say with pride
He is all of them
She is all of them
They are one of us
They are one of us
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As previously stated above, The number of 'Digger' organizations and associations are numerous, and they participate through annual ANZAC Day and Australia Day marches/parades, in all the major and minor cities and towns. Thousands (yes, thousands) of people come out and support these marches. (See examples below, of the 2022 ANZAC Day marches).
In addition, the children, wives, grandchildren, and extended family all turn out for these events and support these associations, which hold their own individual events. Australia news media outlets cover these events 'religiously,' unlike the media in the U.S. which barely covers our national holidays like July 4th, Memorial Day, etc.
The typical Australian sees the importance in supporting these events and associations. They have a sense of pride and sincere desire for participation that is evident, even when the public events had to be scaled back due to the 2020 pandemic. One website sums it up succinctly: "Our aim is to perpetuate the camaraderie that was generated amongst us when we served."
Here is some of what occurred in Australia and overseas on this year's ANZAC Day, 25 April 2022:
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Dawn Services and Marches are held in all major cities and towns in Australia, as well as in Gallipoli, Turkey. Here are examples of some around the country:
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Special postage stamps were issued in honor of Australian involvement in WW1:
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Here is an overview of the Gallipoli battlefield, which observes ANZAC Day every April 25th:
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What doest it mean to be an ANZAC soldier?
"Life of Young ANZAC Soldier" is a film series that helps answer the question and would be useful to high school teachers. The young man wears the typical New Zealand uniform and hat.
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Trench Life in World War 1
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Highly recommended: "The Spirit of the Digger" as an introduction to understanding what it means to be an Australian 'Digger':
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Donald Tate went to anti-war rally and spoke in favor of going into Vietnam; reminded the crowd that he was a wounded vet from that conflict. But, he was later embroiled in controversy.
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At the Front Line by Mark Johnston is highly recommended. Here is an excerpt from the main points covered:
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"Australians at War" - Vietnam - Film Series
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STORIES FROM 110 SIGNAL SQUADRON
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"AUSTRALIANS AT WAR: THE THIN KHAKAI LINE" (A TEACHING MODULE FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS)
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ADDITIONAL TEACHER RESOURCES:
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Some who knew the intimate details of what went wrong in the planning and execution of the Gallipoli campaign, wrote about it afterward:
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Additional films for use in the classroom:
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ORAL HISTORIES - THE VETERANS WHO WERE THERE
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THE KOKODA TRACK CAMPAIGN:
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"The Last Enemy" A film series
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JAPAN JOINS THE AXIS ALLIANCE ANNOUNCED
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Prior to Pearl Harbor there were two men who predicted a war in the Pacific. One of these was Gen. Homer Lea.
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HOMER LEA wrote two important books which correctly predicted WW2 in the Pacific. He correctly predicted where the Japanese would land in the Philippines; that they would take Singapore and also attack our American fleet in the Pacific.
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Homer Lea had met President Teddy
Roosevelt, the German Kaiser, and other notable leaders of foreign countries.
U.S. military leaders studied his book, "The Valor of Ignorance" at
West Point, and it was also studied by General Douglas MacArthur, and his own
chief of intelligence. It was required
reading in Russia, Germany, and Japan.
The other book "The Day of the Saxon," correctly predicted the
decline of the British empire.
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Prior to Pearl Harbor there was another man who predicted a war in the Pacific: Hector C. Bywater.
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Bywater was a profilic writer of news stories.
Here are some samples:
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"Sacrifice at Pearl Harbor"
is a special BBC film, in public domain, that I highly recommend.
(As mentioned in the introduction, additional resources about Pre-Pearl Harbor intelligence can be found on
the webpage "Jim & Joe in College" which has more audio & visual aids to teach a section on Pearl Harbor. Those resources cover U.S., British, Dutch,
and Australian military information.)
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NBC radio produced a series of programs called "The Pacific Story."
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Several reenactor groups have produced short videos for public domain; some are quite good. Here is one about the attack on Pearl Harbor, called "The Switchboard":
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War is announced by the Prime Minister of Australia with a brief overview of the Diggers involvement in WW2:
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AUSTRALIAN COMBAT RATIONS, ILLUSTRATED:
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Additional audio resources from the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne, Australia:
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Wodonga Regional Lecture: Spirit of the Digger Shrine of Remembrance Tuesday 20 May 2014 - Mr Patrick Lindsay The Anzac spirit forms the bedrock of the Australian and New Zealand national characters. It was forged from a mateship which grew into something greater than the shared experiences of brothers-in-arms. The Gallipoli Campaign was a kind of crusade and a national rite of passage for three of the countries involved: Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. Each emerged from the devastating losses with an enhanced international reputation and its image clarified in its national consciousness. Patrick Lindsay is one of Australia’s leading non-fiction authors. He spent 25 years as a journalist and TV presenter before he began writing full-time in 2001. Since then he has written 20 books, including the best-sellers, The Spirit of Kokoda, The Spirit of The Digger, The Spirit of Gallipoli, Fromelles, Our Darkest Day, Cosgrove …Portrait of a Leader, The Coast Watchers and True Blue. Much of his work explores the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that makes up what it means to be an Australian. He sees the Anzac Spirit as a key piece of the puzzle.
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Mr. Lindsay also presented another lecture:
"The Spirit of Kokoda":
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Consider Monuments to past leaders as a visual aid in teaching history.
Monument to William Wallace:
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Wallace in
this monument at Glasgow, Scotland is....
the standard-issue freedom fighter of the imagination with:
* The Give ‘em
hell whiskers,
* The Save-me-Jesus eyes, and
* The hamstrings from hell.
Wallace was
not a one-man campaign. We don’t know if he could have been a stuntman for Mel
Gibson in the movie “Braveheart,” but his epic romance refuses to go away.
It is
important for young officers, as Patton once said, to study the biographies of
great and near-great military leaders of history in order to learn and add to
your storehouse-knowledge of tactics, strategy, and leadership.
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Photographs from the field of battle tell us a lot about a soldier, either as an individual or as a group. Their expressions tell a lot about individual and group cohesion and character. The Berserk soldier is often identified in these.
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It
is thought that wearing a bearskin into battle is the origin of the word
berserker. The word likely means “bear-shirt.” The Middle English word “serk,”
meaning shirt, supports this idea. Another theory is that berserker actually
means “bare-shirt,” suggesting that the berserkers fought completely
naked.
Here is one example of a U.S. Soldier who went naked and berserk:
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There was one American GI who went Berserk while guarding German POWS in the United States:
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One U.S. Soldier, an RTO for his unit, showed his preference for war, in the next photo:
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Soldiers and Marines who went berserk had different ways of showing it. Some American GIs collected ears off of dead Japanese and wore them as badges of achievement. Another GI extracted gold teeth. One GI in WW2 Germany, literally scalped the hair from a dead enemy soldier who had blond hair. Many Marines mailed home Japanese skulls.
I did not find any documentation that Diggers were involved in this extreme misconduct, except isolated cases where the Aussie would come across a Mate who had been cannibalized and partially eaten by Japanese soldiers; but not on the industrial scale of Americans.
US Navy men with their trophy skulls:
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What follows is first, three articles about human skull collecting by Americans and Allies, then a photo study of its practice.
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This next picture shows a South Vietnamese soldier abusing a Viet Cong:
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Some American GI's got so "numbed" by the war, they could sit and eat lunch surrounded by dead VC:
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American mutilation of Japanese war dead:
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Human trophy taking, by Americans during the Pacific War:
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One American tells why he hated the
Japanese and wanted revenge:
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During WW2 and Vietnam, U.S. Soldiers and Marines would pose with the dead enemy or their body parts, in what became known as "Trophy War Pictures."
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Next 3 photos show US Marines with Japanese trophies:
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British soldiers with trophies:
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Russian soldiers took their share of war trophies:
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The next photo below has an interesting background: On May 22, 1944, Life magazine published a photo of an American girl with a Japanese skull sent to her by her naval officer boyfriend. The image caption stated: "When he said goodbye two years ago to Natalie Nickerson, 20, a war worker of Phoenix, Ariz., a big, handsome Navy lieutenant promised her a Jap. Last week Natalie received a human skull, autographed by her lieutenant and 13 friends, and inscribed: "This is a good Jap – a dead one picked up on the New Guinea beach." Natalie, surprised at the gift, named it Tojo. The letters Life received from its readers in response to this photo were "overwhelmingly condemnatory" and the Army directed its Bureau of Public Relations to inform U.S. publishers that "the publication of such stories would be likely to encourage the enemy to take reprisals against American dead and prisoners of war". The junior officer who had sent the skull was also traced and officially reprimanded. This was, however, done reluctantly, and the punishment was not severe.
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On June 13, 1944, the press reported that President Roosevelt had been presented with a letter-opener made out of a Japanese soldier's arm bone by Francis E. Walter, a Democratic congressman. Supposedly, the president commented, "This is the sort of gift I like to get", and "There'll be plenty more such gifts".
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Consider the following film on "McNamara's Morons" and have students compare and contrast the reasons for American soldiers taking war trophies and pictures of dead in WW2 and Vietnam:
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Trophy photo from a U.S. Vietnam vet website. Note the comment made on the picture:
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US Marines pose for human trophy photos:
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Soldiers pose holding the heads of VC:
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Diggers head home after WW2 with trophies:
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Captured VC by Diggers; some are being given
medical treatment:
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Captured VC taken thru the wire:
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Clearing the battlefield:
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Wounded VC being led away:
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Captured VC by U.S. soldiers:
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In the picture below:A Vietnamese girl, 23 years old, was captured by an Australian patrol 30 feet below ground at the end of a maze of tunnels some 10 miles west of the headquarters of the Australian task force (40 miles southeast of Saigon). The woman was crouched over a World War II radio set. About seven male Viet Cong took off when the Australians appeared—but the woman remained and appeared to be trying to conceal the radio set. She was taken back to the Australian headquarters where she told under sharp interrogation (which included a “waterprobe”; see her wet clothes after the interrogation) that she worked as a Viet Cong nurse in the village of Hoa Long and had been in the tunnel for 10 days. The Australians did not believe her because she seemed to lack any medical knowledge.
They thought that she may have possibly been the leader of the political cell in Long Hoa. She was being led away after interrogation, clothes soaked from the “waterprobe” on October 29, 1966. (AP)
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Diggers with captured Japanese:
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British soldiers with captured Japanese:
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General Westmoreland inspects Australian soldiers (Note that they still go shirtless due to the heat)
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Checking on wounded Japanese:
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The next photo of "Bull" Allen, illustrates "Mateship" from an Australian perspective. One's "mates" or as
an American would say, "comrades" was important
to the Diggers. Bonding between Mates, i.e, friends, would last a lifetime.
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The photo of Bull Allen was chosen for the cover of a book that detailed the horror of war:
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Taking care of one's Mates has a long history in the
Australian Army. Here, a World War 1 soldier carries a wounded soldier off the battlefield:
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Other photos from WW2, WW1, Vietnam:
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BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA: REMEMBERING 100 YEARS
OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA.
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PRIME MINISTER JOHN CURTIN ANNOUNCES THAT AUSTRALIA IS AT WAR.
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Before Kokoda and New Guinea, Australian involvement in World War 2 began the Middle East, Greece, and
Crete; then in the Far East, with the loss of thousands of troops taken prisoner by the Japanese, after the fall of Singapore. Hong Kong fell to the Japanese resulting in British and Canadian troops' execution, murder, and some sent to POW camps. British leadership was a shambles.
This is history that Japanese students are not taught. Most Japanese veterans continue to
deny the atrocity and outright murder
of prisoners and POWs.
It is but one of many examples of the brutality committed by Japanese soldiers in the Far East. The film "The Valour and the Horror," should be viewed. Made by the Canadian government, it is one of
the best documentary's ever made
about Japanese soldier brutality. (It can be found in youtube format online). (There is an excerpt from it below).
Hong Kong is a battle that is often overlooked by American history teachers and is worthy of inclusion in any discussion about the war in the Far East.
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Prior to WW1, the British occupation of Hong Kong was supported by their troops. In the picture below, is the Field Artillery Battery of the Hong Kong Volunteers, circa 1890:
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THE JAPANESE HELL CREATED IN HONG KONG
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Padre (Chaplain) Laite (pictured below) wrote a war diary of his time in Hong Kong under Japanese control (see below):
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Chaplain Deloughery (pictured below) also kept a diary of events in Japanese occupied Hong Kong.
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"Christmas at the Royal Hotel" tells the story of the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. It is PG and has no sexual scenes nor nudity.
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In 1941, Hong Kong was the Casablanca of the East, a city full of war refugees, profiteers and spies. With the sudden attack by Japanese troops, a Canadian soldier's Christmas promise is broken during the Battle of Hong Kong. It can also be found online for free and well worth watching.
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Some Canadian soldiers of the Royal Rifles regiment aboard transport en route to Hong Kong, Nov 1941:
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Soldiers (and students) should consider how they would deal with the stress of seeing a fellow soldier bayoneted to death in front of them. Students could be assigned to read from a different diary, and give an oral report on what they found.
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Here is a World War 1 Diary that coveys the trauma faced by soldiers in that war:
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The movie, "Escape from Hong Kong" is available free online:https://archive.org/details/escape-from-hong-kong-1942
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Canadian forces defending Hong Kong:
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Prior to the arrival of the two Canadian regiments, the Loyal Battalion of Britain had already been in Hong Kong earlier in 1941, training:
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Hong Kong surrenders to the Japanese (notice the lit candles due to lack of electricity):
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Japs massacred British/Canadian soldiers:
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The British authorities who had requested the Canadian troops be sent to Hong Kong, knew that there was "not the slightest chance" of it being held after the Japanese attacked.
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As the British/Australian troops moved toward Singapore, we now know that an early massacre and murder of Australian and Indian troops occurred. Here is that story:
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Australian soldiers sent to reinforce Singapore,
arrived just days before being captured after the British surrender, which made them POWs of the Japanese:
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A THREE PART SERIES EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED IN SINGAPORE:
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Diggers and their trucks of the 2/3 Motor Ambulance Company, the last to escape the advancing Japanese, and cross into Singapore:
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PRIVATE FRANK HOLE, 2/20th Battalion, was among the first Australians sent to defend Singapore. Born in 1925, he enlisted June 1941, was captured by the Japanese in the surrender of Singapore.
He describes the fighting in his own words:
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Frank was in a weapons pit facing a rubber plantation in Malaya when he suddenly noticed a company of Japanese moving through the trees. On being fired at, they formed a line and charged his 2/20th Battalion position. He said that "The Japs were moving very quickly from tree to tree, making the most of the cover provided, and it was very difficult to gert a sight on any target. Although I fired several bursts form the Bren in the general direction of the Japs I doubt very much if I hit anyone...the charge finished at the edge of the rubber plantation on the opposite side of the road and the Japs went to ground along a shallow drainage trench. They were very adept at making the most effective use of any cover available and even though they were no more than 25 feet away I could not see any sign of a Jap."
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Frank appears in this shipboard photo, on the way to defend Singapore:
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Singapore was the location of the famous Raffles Hotel home of the 'Singapore Sling' and host to the rich and famous British 'upper crust':
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Japs march into Raffles Square by the hotel:
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HIGH STREET, SINGAPORE, BEFORE WW2:
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Prior to the Japanese invasion, British soldiers, including the Padre, participated in sports, seen in the next picture:
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Fall of Singapore - 80th Anniversary Film Series:
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Fall of Singapore - Rare Color Film:
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Two British ships had been sent to Singapore to protect it from Japanese attack.
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Two British warships (Repulse and Prince of Wales) were thought to have been sufficient to protect Singapore. Here is an interview with the survivors of HMS Repulse, sunk by the Japanese:
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At the end of the war, when the Japanese were forced to surrender at Singapore, an unusual thing occurred. General Itagaki, commander of Singapore's garrison of 70,000 men, ordered his generals and senior staff that they would have to obey the Allies and keep the peace until they arrived. That was on August 22nd. That night, 300 Japanese officers committed suicide at the end of a 'well-lubricated' Sake farewell party at the Raffles Hotel.
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Japanese troops are marched into captivity after
their surrender in Singapore:
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A British spy had, some years before, correctly predicted where the Japanese would land in order to eventually take Singapore. This is detailed in the film series, "The Fall of Singapore" which is on this
website. Here is a picture of that landing site:
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British soldiers also captured by the Japanese:
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British soldiers placed in prison at Singapore, where they would be starved, mistreated, medically ignored, and some later moved to other camps and used as slave labor:
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Rare captured Japanese war films of their invasion of Malaya and Singapore:
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One general fled Singapore when the Japanese moved in and was forever 'shamed' for that action:
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Jap Spies were everywhere.....................
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"Thanks" to two British aviation experts who gave military secrets to Japan, the fall of Singapore and attack on Pearl Harbor was inevitable.
The following film series, now in public domain, explains what happened starting as early as 1920:
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Japanese atrocities first recorded as
committed against Australian soldiers, began with the fall of Singapore. Jap soldiers attacked the local hospital and
murdered many doctors and patients. Here
is the story:
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Two BBC radio programs in public domain, describe what happened during the fall of Singapore, with eyewitness accounts:
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From "Frontline" a Defense Service Journal:
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"A BITTER FATE" TEACHING MATERIALS FOR HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTORS. (Australia in Malaya and Singapore December 1942-February 1942)
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JAPANESE INVADED DUTCH EAST INDIES
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The Japanese were, in 1941-42, also invading The Lesser Sunda Islands (which included Flores, Soemba, and Alor). Many Dutch navy sailors were captured on Lombok Island, 1942:
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Dutch women and children in Jap POW camp, Dutch East Indies:
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A SPECIAL RADIO PRODUCTION, COURTESY OF AUSTRALIA BROADCASTING CORP.
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Changi Prison, which housed all Australians when Singapore fell, before they were 'farmed out' to outlying camps such as Sandakan:
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After Singapore and Hong Kong fell, the British decided to enlist Chinese from Canada to help behind the lines in a special undercover operation. It was called Force 136.
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With the Japanese military invading and occupying much territory in the Far East, the Battle for Australia was on.
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Many do not realize that Germany occupied
New Guinea prior to World War One. After war was declared, Australian troops were dispatched to wrest control away from Germany, as Australia and New Zealand were now officially at war with Germany.
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Germany also occupied Samoa before World War One.
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Royal Australian Air Force over New Guinea
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Remembering Victoria Cross winner Lt. Thomas Currie "Diver" Derrick, VC, DCM
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Diggers unload fuel drums onto a beach at New Guinea, 1942:
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Peter Pinney (1922-1992) always craved adventure. He had some
early schooling in Port Moresby, New Guinea, but he grew up in Sydney. As a teenager he had been known for dangerous escapades, including hanging upside down on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. He
liked hiking in the Blue Mountains. He hitched rides in trains and trucks, to Grafton and Albury and north to Cairns. He enlisted in the Australian army in July, 1941, for WW2. He served
in the Middle East for a few months. Then he was a signaller in New Guinea. He took part in the Wau-Salamaua Campaign in 1943. In Australia, in September 1944, he was court-martialled for striking an officer. From November, 1944, he served on Bougainville as a commando.
He had always kept diaries, and did so during the war, in secret.
These were used for his three-volume series of books featuring his autobiographical character, Signaller Johnston: The Barbarians (1988), The Glass Cannon (1990), and The Devils’ Garden (1992). -Simon Sandall
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Peter Patrick Pinney was invited to speak at a writer's conference in Australia. Here is his address:
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Japanese captured in New Guinea campaign:
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Digger carries out an injured Mate:
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How the Diggers used a rope to cross a river:
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PTE Allan of 2/14 Australian pauses for a drink:
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RABAUL - FALLS INTO JAPANESE HANDS
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Japanese pilots and natives with float plane at Rabaul, from a captured photo:
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News from home - Soldiers of the 1st Btn, Royal Australian Regiment listen to a shortwave radio set at Bien Hoa Airbase, Vietnam June 1965:
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Sorting Mail for the Diggers
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Christmas celebrated by Reconnaissance unit, Binh Ba, 1966:
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New Zealand sent soldiers to support the effort in Vietnam. Some photos and films of 161 Battery RNZA and 4 Troop NZSAS:
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Russell Gathercole-Smith, New Zealand:
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Padre conducts field service:
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Wounded NVA enemy soldier:
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U.S. soldiers removing their dead. In what way was this different in how the Diggers removed their dead?
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The book, "Vietnam Vanguard" is now online for free
at the National Australian Press website: https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n6124/html/cover.xhtml?referer=&page=0#
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A Coy, 2 RAR Films of Diggers in Vietnam, 1967-68
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2 Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR/NZ) ANZAC
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3RAR - 1971 TOUR SECTION:
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As previously mentioned in the introduction
to this page, there are very few U.S. unit associations still active and online with their own websites. But with the Diggers, it's different. Here is information from one website which gives you an idea of what life was like in Vietnam, the 3RAR. Pictures from their 1971 tour:
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Another form of PT: Diggers in the Royal Australian Air Force lifting bombs:
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American soldiers, who would take time for a swim while on patrol.....
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....did not usually take off their uniforms for a swim, as did the Diggers:
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Films from the 3RAR, 1971 tour:
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END OF 3RAR 1971 TOUR SECTION
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5 RAR TOUR IN VIETNAM - FILMS
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Information on 5 RAR Padre from their association website:
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Australian Soldiers in Jungle Warfare
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In Australia, Diggers loved to swim and play in the surf. From national surf "carnivals" and cultural events to family holidays by the sea, Australians love
spending time at the beach. With its unique history, rituals, language and customs, Australia's beach culture has been well documented across film, literature, sound, and art since the late nineteenth century.
Because of this, those who served in WW1, 2, and Vietnam did not hesitate to take advantage of any available beach, bomb crater, or swimming pool. Even during WW2, they found time for"Swimming Carnivals"
in war zones that had been cleared of enemy Japanese. "Swimming Carnivals" is their term for what we call a "Swim Meet".
We found the Diggers less self-conscious with no inhibition or hesitation in stripping off and diving into the water. Professor Mark Johnston said in his book "At the Front Line," that those Diggers who were not self-conscious and adapted to outdoor army life easily, made the best soldiers and had few incidents of shell shock/PTSD. In the following photos and Photo Studies, every effort has been made to obscure any frontal nudity. As already noted, the Diggers we are studying, were not self-conscious, and did not mind stripping off naked and swimming as a group or in pairs. They also worked naked in the tropical heat of the Far East during WW2 and Vietnam.
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Prior to WW1, boys who served on ships as sailors were taught to swim:
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Bondi Beach, Surf Carnival, 1938:
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50 Yards Backstroke Race:
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And the winner is: Pte Hanson
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AFTER WW2, DIGGERS ORGANIZED SWIM COMPETITION IN DUTCH EAST TIMOR AND JAPAN:
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Diggers would take every opportunity, no matter the circumstances, to swim. In the next photo we see them at Brooketon, Borneo, June 13, 1945. MEMBERS OF HQ 20 INFANTRY BRIGADE
SWIMMING AT YELLOW BEACH. THEY ARE DIVING FROM A JAPANESE PILE DRIVER
BUILT ON THREE RAFTS.
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Next 2 photos: Diggers at Torakina Beach, Bougainville:
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Next 6 photos: Diggers at Milne Bay:
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IN THE NEXT PHOTO, BELOW:BROOKETON, BRUNEI. 1945-08-21. WHEN THE FORMER HOBART PLEASURE CRAFT
ARCADIA TIED UP AT BROOKETON ON BORNEO'S WEST COAST, CARRYING A PARTY OF
RAAF MEN ON A PICNIC AFTER HOSTILITIES CEASED, THEY TOOK THE
OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING A SWIM FROM THE WHARF. THE DIVERS ARE: 138355
LEADING AIRCRAFTMAN (LAC) DOUG PERRY, AUBURN, NSW; 88287 LAC LES ALLEN,
ELECTRONA, TAS; 146421 LAC ATHOL TAIG (?TAIT), BENDIGO, VIC.
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Diggers jump in for "Dog Paddle" swimming event:
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BRUNEI, NORTH WEST BORNEO 1945-11-24. TWO MEN OF THE 2/15TH BATTALION
SUNNING THEMSELVES BESIDE A DEEP POOL WHICH WAS A POPULAR SWIMMING SPOT
FOR AUSTRALIAN TROOPS IN THE AREA. (PHOTOGRAPHER SGT F. A. C. BURKE) Seen in the next photo:
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BUT, NEW GUINEA. 1945-04-02. TROOPS JUST OUT OF ACTION BATHE IN THE SEA
NEAR THE AIRSTRIP.
THESE PLEASANT SURROUNDINGS CONTRAST
SHARPLY WITH THE
RAZOR BACKED TORRICELLI MOUNTAINS IN THE BACKGROUND WHERE NERVE RACKING
"HIDE AND SEEK" FIGHTING IS TAKING PLACE. Seen in the next photo:
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CAIRNS, QLD. 1943-08-27. TROOPS OF THE 16TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE
COOLING OFF AT TRINITY BEACH AFTER THEIR AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING EXERCISES, IN THE NEXT THREE PHOTOS:
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British sailors, WW1, Corfu, next 3 photos:
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IN THE NEXT PHOTO, BELOW:Baqubah (Baquba), Mesopotamia. 1918. Drivers of No. 2 Station, 1st
Wireless Signal Squadron, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, swimming in
the Diala (Diyala) River. The wagon acted as a general communications
control station for the Force during 1918 and January 1919 connected to
Squadron Headquarters (SHQ) by an old Turkish landline.
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British soldiers swim in the Roman Baths, Gafsa, 1943(from group of 15 photos that appeared in Life Magazine, now in public domain):
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IN THE NEXT PHOTO, BELOW: BEIRUT, SYRIA. 1942-06. AUSTRALIAN LINESMEN OF THE SURF LIFE SAVING TEAM
FROM THE "HAPPY VALLEY" A.I.F. LEAVE CAMP AT BEIRUT, DURING THE RESCUE
OF A SWIMMER.
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British soldiers also took advantage of swimming while deployed in WW1:
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Even a younger Prince Charles came to Australia's internationally known Bondi Beach:
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Prince Charles with two lifeguards on either side:
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Surfing is also good on the western coast of Australia:
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When the Diggers had to work in a Jungle environment which was hot, dirty, disease-ridden, and dangerous, they went shirtless, and were not self-conscious about being naked like many of their contemporary American counterparts. Many, if not most, could swim, having grown up on a continent that was surrounded by water. Many brought their speedos with them on deployment. They would frequently cool off and take a bath in a nearby stream or river. (We have taken precautions of obscuring any frontal nudity in the accompanying photos).
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Padre (Chaplain) Dexter taking a bath in Egypt, 1920:
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Tropical heat in the Pacific jungle was so intense, that even senior leaders went shirtless:
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Hot environment in Nui Dat, Vietnam, 1969, finds 547 Sig Troop at work. All are shirtless and notice the electric fans in operation:
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Diggers bathe in Malaya, New Guinea, by crocodile infested waters, albeit not in the water, but just out of it! (Australian War Memorial):
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Shirtless Australian soldiers? Wearing floppy hats and shorts? Naked in a stream or lake, to swim or take a bath? It's really no big deal for Australian Diggers. But it seems so for some in the U.S. Army; and that's what I found doing research for this webpage, and is reported on the "CH Hughes products" page, which is exclusively about U.S. Soldiers. From first-hand research, there were always some AIT (Advanced Individual Training) U.S. Soldiers sent to the Chaplain about this and related issues, such as 'open-bay barracks.' Most recruits adapted and didn't whine about wanting a private room. But many, however, wouldn't make it in Australian RAR units,much less the SAS units:
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Why are some of today's Army trainees so self-conscious? The following video may help explain, including reference to the 1930's, 40's, and 50's experience when young men swam in the YMCA pool naked at designated hours for health reasons; and used communal showers in high school.
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One former U.S. Sergeant put this advice online to Basic trainees concerned about taking a shower:
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Consider the psychological testing involved in a recruit being accepted into the Australian army pre-Vietnam. Notice the questions that deal with his ability to 'come on board' with
the other Diggers as a team player:
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A Marine takes a Bubble Bath
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The next photo shows a Pontoon supporting of foot bridge near Da Nang Republic of Vietnam on April 29, 1966, serves as a bathtub for Sgt. Richard Mccloud (Aiea, Hawall of the 2nd BN., 9 Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. While other Marines are washing with soap, Richard has a Bubble bath. The Bubble bath was sent by a girl friend. The Bridge links the company’s positions.
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U.S. soldiers had creative ways to shower (next 2 photos):
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British "Tommy" takes his first bath after a 10-day patrol:
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British soldier jumps into a man-made bathtub in Afghanistan:
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Diggers can be seen swimming in the river below the bridge in the next photos:
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Bomb craters made good swimming holes, but not all bomb craters were sanitary:
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New book, "Charlie Don't Surf, But Aussies Do" tells the story of the Peter Badcoe Club, 1ALSG, Vung Tau, especially the surfing beach lifesaving recreation side of things, and even strays off-target as far as the bars of Vungers and the Victoria Cross awarded to Major Badcoe. It brings together veterans' stories and records from the Australian War Memorial archives,
most never before opened. It is packed with photos, most in colour.
Available online from: https://www.radschool.org.au/Books/books.htm
(Here is a low resolution scan pdf of the book; higher resolution is on the above mentioned website):
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Diggers also had their own swimming pool to relax in:
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U.S. Soldiers, more discrete, also headed to their own designated beaches; next 3 photos:
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British soldiers on assignment also took to the beach:
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But, did U.S. Marines and Soldiers take an opportunity to bathe during WW2/Pacific Theater? Yes, as indicated in the next pictures:
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Diggers associated with locals; some who worked on their base:
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Motion Picture Films made in Australia are excellent resources to understand each theater of conflict where the Diggers served.
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The Australian film, "The Odd Angry Shot" presents a good view of how Aussie soldiers dealt with this and other issues, including death of a mate, the environment, and interaction with their Padre (Chaplain). It's not as tense or graphic as "The Battle of Long Tan," but still covers many issues of how the Diggers got along with each other from the start of their tour to their return home and can be found in YouTube online.
Here are two film reviews of "The Odd Angry Shot":
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There are several other excellent films produced by Australian film companies that deserve a look; some can be found in public domain online:
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"The Digger" is one film that is a must-see. It explains the culture behind the name given to the Australian soldier and is outstanding in taking the viewer on a tour of every major battlefield where their influence was felt. It is worth the investment and is an excellent resource for both military and secondary school instructors. My highest recommendation.
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Kokoda is another good film concerning Australian soldier involvement in the Kokoda Track campaign which kept the Japanese from invading their country. It is discussed more fully in the section below dealing with Kokoda.
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For an Australian produced TV drama series set before and during WW2, I suggest "The Sullivans" which follows a family with sons who go off to war:
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"Spy Force" was a great Australian TV series set during WW2 dealing with Australian intelligence operatives in the Southwest Pacific. Very realistic.
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For a not-so-intense TV series about U.S Soldiers, "Tour Of Duty" was realistic:
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Several good films are now available free online for download.
One of these is "Blood Oath" (also called "Prisoners of the Sun")
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The Plot: On an obscure Pacific Island just north of Australia, the Japanese Empire has operated a prisoner of war camp for Australian soldiers. At the close of World War II, the liberated POWs tell a gruesome tale of mass executions of over eight hundred persons as well as torture style killings of downed Australian airmen. In an attempt to bring those responsible to justice, the Australian Army establishes a War Crimes Tribunal to pass judgement on the Japanese men and officers who ran the Ambon camp. In an added twist, a high-ranking Japanese admiral is implicated, and politics become involved with justice as American authorities in Japan lobby for the Admiral’s release. Ambon Island, Indonesia, 1946: dejected Japanese POWs lead members of the Australian Army Legal Corps to a hidden clearing where scores of Australian POWs were executed by prison camp guards. What follows is run-of-the-mill courtroom drama as Captain Robert Cooper (Brown, predictably curt), the hard-line prosecutor assigned to the war crimes case, questions suspects: Vice-Admiral Baron Takahashi (Takei, impressive), his sadistic underling Captain Ikeuchi (Watanabe), and a young Japanese signals officer (Shioya). The result may be of historical interest to those unfamiliar with some of the lesser-known details of WWII, and goes some way towards highlighting cultural differences and opposing views of war. It is realistic and based on facts.
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"The Camp on Blood Island" was one of the earliest British films based on a true story and lifted the lid
on the actual Japanese atrocities that were committed in the POW camps. It was well received in Britain and Australia, but, as expected, not so much in Japan.
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"The Secret of Blood Island" was the sequel to "The Camp on Blood Island." Stars Barbara Shelley.The 1980s videotape release was retitled "P.O.W. - Prisoners of War".
The Plot: Malaya, September 1944: Many British soldiers have been captured by the Japanese, when they were cut off from their troops. On her way to Kuala Lumpur, the British secret agent Elaine's plane is shot down near such a prison camp. The men hide her among them, but when the Japanese threaten them with torture, their morale weakens. Again, based on true information about the murder and torture of POWs by the Japanese guards.
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The truth about the POW Camp on Ambon:
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RUTHLESS TREATMENT OF DIGGERS WHO MADE UP "GULL FORCE" ON AMBON:
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Incompetent Leadership surrounded the Gull Force debacle that led to Australian soldiers imprisoned in the
Ambon POW Camp:
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Diggers also served in SAS units where they were given dangerous assignments:
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Australian Diggers didn't operate like U.S. Special Forces, seen here in live footage:
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DIGGERS DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH OF A BATTLE: ENEMY DEAD
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KOKODA: THE BATTLE THAT SAVED AUSTRALIA FROM JAPANESE INVASION
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The Kokoda campaign definitely saved Australia from Japanese invasion, in spite of what two 'revisionist' writers may say (aka Karl James and Peter Stanley). The Japanese had plans on file to use for an invasion. It is akin to the plans they had to invade the Hawaiian Islands had they not had significant losses at the Battle of Midway. An Australian POW of the Japanese discovered a letter from Tojo that stated that if the Diggers had lost the battle of Kokoda, an invasion of Australia would start.
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Men of the 39th Battalion, Australian, preparing to move out to the Kokoda Track:
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Surviving a Japanese sniper bullet:
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There are 14 men camouflaged on the Kokoda Track in this picture. Can you spot them all?
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KOKODA - A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY:
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"Kokoda" is a play was written to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the battle that is credited with saving Australia from invasion by the Japanese. One version is here: https://vimeo.com/326249964
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A second version of the play appears below and can be located here:https://vimeo.com/244497755
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The mule (pictured above) was a WW2 Hero Animal, here described by Mark Felton:
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Diggers clearing brush and obstacles from the Kokoda airstrip:
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Scenes from the Kokoda Track and the Fuzzy Wuzzy's carrying the wounded Australian soldiers and supplies:
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Australian soldiers walk on the Kokoda track....
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....while their Mates watch and take a bath in the stream:
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Photo of "The Golden Stairs"; part of the Kokoda Track, made up of 2,000 timber steps:
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An interesting article found in public domain about the Kokoda campaign:
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Diggers captured by Japs, in next two photos. Many of these were executed and cannibalized. There are several oral history recordings of Diggers telling about finding their Mates after a battle, beside a trail, having been cannibalized.
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3 Mates rest along the Track. The terrain was rough; notice the torn pants worn by Digger on the right:
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SOLDIER IN ABOVE PHOTO, SECOND FROM LEFT, WAS ARNOLD FORRESTER, WHO LIVED TO 100. Arnold Forrester:
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Prior to the Kokoda Campaign, Lt. F.W. Winkle, Corporal Theo Wyatt, and Private Geoff Rowlands, spied out the area:
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Diggers strip off uniforms to transport a jeep and supplies across a jungle river in New Britain:
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Other photos of Diggers in the Shaggy Ridge battle:
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Battle for Lae, New Guinea
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AUSTRALIA'S 'PEARL HARBOR'
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6 Months after Pearl Harbor, Newcastle, Australia was attacked by a Japanese submarine, June 8, 1942:
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Just before 10am, on 19 February 1942, World War II forced itself onto Australia’s mainland for the first time, when formations of 188 Japanese aircraft mounted a deadly
air raid on Darwin, dropping more bombs than were used in the attack on Pearl Harbour. On that fateful day at least 235 people were killed, more than 400 were wounded, 30 aircraft were destroyed, 11 ships were sunk and many civilian and military facilities were damaged. This attack marked the first of at least 64 air raids on Northern Australia and attacks continued until 12 November 1943. The devastation suffered
was profound.
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AUSTRALIA WAS A TARGET FOR JAPANESE INVASION. THE SAME JAPANESE TASK FORCE THAT BOMBED PEARL HARBOR, BOMBED DARWIN.MARK FELTON EXPLAINS:
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May 1942: Jap subs invade Sydney Harbour, Australia, and bomb the area.
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One Midget Sub is raised:
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2022 MARKS THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOMBING OF DARWIN
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REENACTMENT OF THE BOMBING ON DARWIN
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OLDEST SURVIVING VETERAN OF THE BOMBING OF DARWIN, BRIAN WINSPEAR, AGE 101:
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BRIAN, ON THE LEFT, AGE 23, SERVING IN NEW GUINEA IN 1943:
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RARE CAPTURED JAPANESE FILM, WITH SUBTITLES, OF THE ACTUAL BOMBING OF DARWIN, AUSTRALIA, FEBRUARY 19, 1942:
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MEN MANNING THE GUNS DURING THE FIRST AIR RAID:
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Customs House, Darwin, bombed by Japs:
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Other damage.by Japanese attack:
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DIGGERS USE DAMAGED TELEPHONE AFTER AIR RAID:
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World War 2 Arrived on the Australian Mainland: Thursday 19th February 1942 By Dennis J Weatherall JP TM AFAITT(L) LSM – Volunteer Researcher, Naval Historical Society of Australia.
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Coastal defense of Australia became critical. A home-grown group, nicknamed "The Nackeroos" was formed for defense. Here is a photo study which tells their story:
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Defense of Australia becomes critical in 1942
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Australia had to deal with German U-Boats in the Pacific, as described by Professor Mark Felton:
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Australians also served in the dangerous job of Coastwatcher:
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Australian wounded soldiers are transported by log rafts in New Guinea:
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Stories of Service, courtesy of the Australian Government, Veterans Affairs:
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A hidden observer in the tree:
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Digger kneels next to dead Jap soldier:
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Other photos of Diggers with dead Jap soldiers near Borneo, courtesy of WWII website:
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Searching dead Japanese soldiers for any documents and information that could be used for intelligence:
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It happened as the Japanese were retreating across Ramree Island during the Burma campaign, that they ran into serious trouble:
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EVEN A HORROR WAR MOVIE HAS BEEN MADE BASED ON THE TRUE EVENT:
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Japan had a spectacular failure at Imphal, India. They not only failed to take the city, but due to lack of supplies, soldiers were reduced to killing their own men to eat their flesh.
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Japanese survivor tells of cannibalism of their own men:
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Men of the Devonshire Regiment sign Jap flag they captured at Nippon Ridge during battle of Imphal:
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PRIOR TO THE BATTLE OF LONG TAN IN VIETNAM.....
Private Errol Noack becomes the first national
serviceman and member of 1ATF to die from enemy action. Private Noack was
conscripted into the army for service in Vietnam. He was killed by enemy fire
during Operation Hardihood on 24 May 1966 after only ten days service in
Vietnam. Photo: The funeral of Private Errol Noack in Adelaide in 1965:
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The Battle of Long Tan Vietnam
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The Cross at Long Tan battlefield
honoring Australian soldiers
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4th Anniversary service at Long Tan:
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Museum replica of Cross and inscription:
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The brass
plaque on the cross bore the simple inscription:
In memory of those
members of D
Coy and
3 Tp 1 APC
Sqn who gave
their lives
near this
spot during
the battle
of Long Tan
on 18TH August 1966
Erected by
6RAR/NZ
(ANZAC) Bn 18
Aug 69.
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Late afternoon
August 18, 1966 South Vietnam — for three and a half hours, in the pouring
rain, amid the mud and shattered trees of a rubber plantation called Long Tan,
Major Harry Smith and his dispersed company of 108 young and mostly
inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers are fighting for their lives,
holding off an overwhelming enemy force of 2,500 battle hardened Viet Cong and
North Vietnamese soldiers. With their ammunition running out, their casualties
mounting and the enemy massing for a final assault each man begins to search
for his own answer — and the strength to triumph over an uncertain future with
honor, decency and courage. (from the Battle of Long Tan official website)
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IN THE NEXT PHOTO: VIETNAM. 19 AUGUST 1966. A WOUNDED VIET CONG PRISONER FOUND ON THE BATTLEFIELD AFTER DELTA COMPANY, 6TH BATTALION, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT (6RAR), RETURNED TO THE SCENE OF ITS LONE STAND AGAINST A VIET CONG REGIMENT AT LONG TAN RUBBER PLANTATION. HE IS BEING QUESTIONED BY 6RAR INTELLIGENCE OFFICER CAPTAIN BRYAN WICKENS, WITH THE HELP OF A VIETNAMESE INTERPRETER. PICTURED, LEFT TO RIGHT: CAPTAIN BRYAN WICKENS; PRIVATE (PTE) STAN HODDER; UNKNOWN VIETNAMESE INTERPRETER, AND PTE DAVID J. COLLINS.
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HUNDREDS OF DEAD VC LEFT WHERE THEY FELL. SOME WERE STRIPPED NAKED FOR CLOTHES AND OTHER SUPPLIES BY THE RETREATING ENEMY.
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Weapons found that were used by VC:
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IN THE NEXT TWO PHOTOS:Vietnam. 19 August 1966. Lance Corporal Georgie Richardson, (left), D Company medic, and Sergeant Bob Buick, Platoon Sergeant, 11 Platoon, D Company, apply first aid to Private Jim Richmond, 11 Platoon, one of two Australian wounded found by Delta Company the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) on its return, twelve hours after the Long Tan battle. He was shot twice through the chest and lay all night, face down, at his section post.
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Searching for more VC, day after Long Tan, next 7 photos:
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GORDON SHARP, ONE OF THE DIGGERS KILLED AT LONG TAN, FOUND THE FOLLOWING MORNING:
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Information about Gordon Sharp's map of Long Tan:
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Private Paul
Large bitten by Scorpion
During a break in a patrol, Private
Paul Large from 12 Platoon, D Coy, 6RAR had been bitten by a scorpion – not the
small translucent brown ones but one of the bigger, highly venomous solid black
ones. In minutes Paul was in a bad way. He was sweating profusely and his eyes
were losing focus. The medic gave him some pills but within 15 minutes his
temperature was well up and so Platoon commander 2Lt Sabben determined he had
to be sent out. Sabben radioed that he had a medical casualty and requested a
Dustoff flight (medivac chopper). It took another 10-15 minutes to clear it in
as there was artillery being fired in the area. The Dustoff landed in a swirl
of dust and leaves in a nearby clearing and Paul was on his way to hospital. As
he was being carried to the chopper Large said, ‘Hurrah for the Flying Doctor!’
Private Paul Large was the last Australian killed in the Battle of Long Tan.
Private Paul Large:
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"DANGER CLOSE" IS A RECOMMENDED FILM DESCRIBING THE ACTION AT LONG TAN:
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Francis Adrian Roberts talks about his experience in the battle of Long Tan:
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THE DOLLS AND CIGARETTE CASES PRESENTATION:
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A short few years later, other Diggers found skulls of killed VC in the battle of Long Tan, still in the area:
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Terry Burstall was an Australian soldier at Long Tan battle. He was invited to speak at a writer's conference in Australia. Here is his address:
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Diggers were often exhausted after a grueling battle like Long Tan, and would collapse or sleep:
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All armies have long recognized the problems that come from lack of soldiers' sleep. How does that contribute to Combat Stress? The pictures that follow include those from the American Civil War, WW1, WW2, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
When developing a block of instruction on a single subject (such as "sleep deprivation") or in conjunction with a particular battle, the instructor should consider the circumstances involved: terrain, weather, climate, and enemy location. Alcohol abuse can also impact a soldier's sleep, as noted below in one study.
Class discussion should include how soldiers have slept in past wars/conflicts, what did they do to keep warm at night or in freezing weather, and what is the proper way for a soldier to sleep in the field? Ask soldiers to give examples from their own experiences.
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Alcohol abuse can also interfere with sleep and lead to tragic consequencs, as seen in the next Sleep Case Study:
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Alcohol has always been present among US Soldiers since the days of the Civil War. With a plethora of colorful nicknames, booze was widely abused in both Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. "Forty-rod," "Blue Ruin," and "Oh, Be Joyful," were among some of the names given.
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Then, there was this out of Ft. Bliss............
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We were issued a Shelter Half in basic training (seen below). When you put two of them together, you got a small tent just big enough for 2 people. Like other troops we would get together and set these up to sleep in.
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New Zealand soldiers burying one of their own in Melaka, at the same cemetery the Aussie soldiers were buried in:
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Diggers bury one of their own casualties:
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From an excellent website, teachers can find resources that emphasize the New Zealand perspective on Vietnam:
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DIGGERS IN THE DESERT - DIFFERENT TERRAIN AND ENVIRONMENT
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Desert environment made for hot, dusty working conditions for RAF and RAAF:
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Airplane mechanics working in the desert found a unique way to stay in shape with physical training:
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This portable latrine in Tobruk was called "Seat of the Army":
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Just how hot was it in the desert? Two German soldiers show you how hot it was, as they fry eggs on one side of their vehicle:
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British soldier looks at grave of German soldier killed in the tank pictured:
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Digger captures German in desert:
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Diggers with German POWs:
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Another example of Mateship as they help each other with a bath:
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German prisoners (WW1) are marched back wearing gas masks:
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Germans in WW2 captured by Diggers in the Western Desert:
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Diggers have just learned that WW1 has ended:
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THE DIGGERS FACED DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM AND EAST ASIA.
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US Marines often helped their 'Mates'....
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....as did Aussie Diggers:
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An image of an Australian soldier patting a kangaroo in the shadows of the great pyramids of Egypt in 1914 is one of many that show the important roles animals played in WWI and WWII.
Some were used as useful members of the units, while others just as reminders of home, but were nonetheless a vital part of the rich history of Australians at war.
A series of 20 fascinating images archived by the Australian War Memorial show koalas, kangaroos, possums and a small sugar glider are among the iconic Australian animals featured.
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In the shadows of the great pyramids amid kitbags and rifles, an infantryman is seen patting a pet kangaroo named 'skippy' in Egypt 1914:
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A pet koala in Cairo, Egypt, in 1915 is held by a Corporal (pictured below) who was believed to be on the staff of the 2nd Australian General Hospital. These animals were often smuggled over as pets and reminders of home.
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A baby possum named 'Septimus' was found and reared by Trooper V. Groves (pictured), and became the mascot of Squadron 2/9 Armoured Regiment. He is seen sitting on Groves shoulder in Queensland in 1945:
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A Royal Australian Air Force soldier stands in front of a Bristol Beaufighter aircraft holding two of the squadron mascots, a joey and a dog, in Coomalie Creek in the Northern Territory 1943:
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Lieutenant G.A. Greenwood and Sergeant B. Agnew, two members of the Royal Australian Air Force hold the squadron mascots, a joey and a dog, in Coomalie Creek, Northern Territory in 1943:
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Private H.P. Barton, a guard at the Prisoner Of War Camp in Yanco, New South Wales, holds the camp's pet kookaburra:
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A kangaroo mascot of the Siege Brigade is seen wearing a service dress jacket with a badge from the brigade on its collar. The kangaroo was taken to England and then France during WWII:
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A wallaby named 'Josie' is held by Sister Beryl Chandler (left) of Longreach, Queensland, at the Medical Receiving Station of the Royal Australian Air Force with a patient from the Royal Australian Navy (right):
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A small sugar glider named 'Ceceila' sits on the hand of an infantryman in 1944 in Wondecla, Far North Queensland:
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Iconic Australian animals were not the only pets taken to war Walter Henry Farrell (pictured) is seen a rooster named 'Jack' or 'Jackie'. They are in France in 1917. Jack was taken to Egypt in 1916 when he was still a chick. They found him a better guard than a dog, as he attacked any stranger who entered the unit lines:
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A Turtle named 'Tim' is pictured here with Captain D. Michelson (pictured) with his name painted onto his shell:
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A group of young wartime engineers are seen cuddling a border collie puppy in Clifton Garens in 1942 in Sydney, New South Wales:
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A picture from 1945 shows troops in Papua New Guinea travelling with a pet dog and crates of carrier pigeons:
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'Cinders' the resident cat aboard the HMS Ladybird is seen being fed by L.W. Greysmark in 1940:
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A cat named 'Aircrew' in 1943 is seen with a badge and was adopted by members of the Royal Australian Air Force Flying Training School in Cressy, Victoria:
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The young feline mascot of the light cruiser HMAS Encounter is seen peering from a six-inch gun barrel:
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An Alsatian dog is seen travelling overseas in 1940 with soldiers from Sydney in WWII:
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A pig named 'Hughie' was only a few days old when he was brought in by Australian soldiers. A picture taken in 1942 (pictured) shows the 10 month old pig after he survived a Japanese air raid:
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Shrapnel, the puppy, and Salvo, the cat, didn't get on but were stuck together aboard a ship during WWII in 1940:
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An unidentified naval man is seen with three pets on a ship in Melbourne in 1916 during WWI:
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Soldiers often adopted animals as pets found in their area of operation.
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Two working dogs, not just pets:
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THE SNAKE HANDLERS/COLLECTORS:
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DIGGERS AT WORK, REST, AND PLAY
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Diggers decorate a tree for Christmas:
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Note the Digger wearing a 'drive on rag' in photo below. Most Diggers did not wear these.
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104 Sig Sqn members shell shocked after attack:
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Next 2 photos: Defusing Vietcong Bombs:
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SAS team member on way to patrol, gives a "G'day Mate" sign to the photographer:
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DIGGERS HAD CREATIVE NAMES FOR THEIR HOOCH. Logan's (Hogan's) Heroes:
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This Digger named the mortar pit outside his tent,
"The Duck Inn":
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One Digger turned his flooded mortar pit into a swimming pool:
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547th Signals hosts a dress up mock wedding:
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Shaving Cream fight (which was also nothing new to guys
rooming in college in the 1960s in the U.S.):
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Digger horseplay: giving a mate a bath with his clothes on:
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Soldiers showing off for the camera can be traced back to the American Civil War:
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Diggers enjoyed beer with their Mates:
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U.S. Soldiers hit the booze in next 2 pictures:
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One had a little too much and passed out on the beach:
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Some Diggers got a little too friendly with the Bar Maids. Prostitution was available to both Diggers and U.S. servicemen.
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Unlike U.S. regulations (after the WW2 incident when the Sullivan brothers drowned on the same ship), Australian brothers were allowed to serve in the same unit and war zone:
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Interview with
Phillip "Pop" Rubie as a Private, 17th Battalion, AIF,
1915-1918:
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World War 1 Was it necessary? Author Paul Ham, Australian Historian discusses the question:
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A SHORT INTRODUCTION TO AUSTRALIAN INVOLVEMENT TO WW1:
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Some notes made from a lecture delivered by Dr. Gary Armstrong:
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British Highlander soldiers killed in WW1 were stripped of their boots and uniforms:
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Souvenir hunters were notorious in WW1. Here is a German soldier they called "Wild Eye":
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When the US entered the war, then Signal Corps introduced female telephone operators, called "Hello Girls."
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AUSTRALIA AT WAR: 5 Part Series
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The fuse is lit to start World War One
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The Archduke and his wife prepare to enter the car for a trip into downtown Sarajevo:
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Who Was Gavrilo PrincipGavrilo
Princip was one of many members of The Black Hand, but has become the
most well-known around the world for this role in initiating World War
I. Princip was born into a peasant family in Obljaj, a remote village in
Bosnia, in 1894. He grew up among long-held family farming and
religious traditions, but ideologically, he was inspired by the
nationalism of resistance fighters throughout Serbia. He believed rule
by Austria-Hungary was bad for his people and measures should be taken
against their tyrannical government to secure independence for Serbians.
The Radicalization of Gavrilo PrincipAs
a teenager, Gavrilo Princip joined Young Bosnia, a student movement
that was also dedicated to Serbian unification. Where ethnic groups in
the region (Serbs, Croats, and Muslims) were often at odds and forced to
segregate, the Young Bosnians believed in unifying all of the groups,
much like The Black Hand believed. Princip actively encouraged others to
join him at rallies, and also practiced shooting and bomb throwing.
Yet, the more entrenched Princip became in the resistance, the more dire
the situation became in Serbia. Certain rights and access to education
and cultural traditions were increasingly taken away. By the age of 19,
these actions had radicalized Princip's thinking to such a degree that
he believed assassinating the Habsburg imperial family
was an essential
step to securing Serbian freedom.
It was during his own plotting
with friends to assassinate the royal family that Princip was introduced
to a member of The Black Hand and invited to join the organization. His
passion for the cause of unification and dedication to the difficult
tasks necessary to achieve freedom were appealing to leadership seeking
to take the next step toward their goals.
The Assassination of Franz FerdinandWhen
Black Hand leadership learned that Austria-Hungary's Archduke, and heir
to the throne, Franz Ferdinand would be making an official visit to
attend military exercises in Sarajevo, Serbia in 1914. The official
plotting began.
On June 28, 1914, revolutionaries waited along
the route of the Archduke's procession through the city. The first wave
of Black Hand fighters attempted the assassination by throwing bombs,
but the devices instead bounced off of the Archduke's car and exploded
under another, injuring others in the royal procession. Another member
of the group couldn't pull the trigger as the cars passed by the group.
It was later, when the Archduke's car stalled on his way to visit the
injured victims of the attack at the Sarajevo Hospital, that Princip
took aim and killed both Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie. He had not meant to kill Sophie.
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There is now a museum in Sarajevo at the assassination site with pictures of the assassin and the Archduke on the outside:
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The BBC presents an audio drama that examines the assassination of the Archduke:
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CBS News looks at the start of WW1 a century later:
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Recent and recommended for high school history and political science/government students:
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This program, "37 Days," produced by the BBC, is excellent in every respect. It is historically accurate, superbly dramatized,and is produced within a spellbinding drama of the first order. The production follows the accurate story of what happened after the assassination of the Archduke thru to the day World War 1 started. My highest recommendation.
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It was unfortunate that Archduke Franz Ferdinand chose a high holy day to visit Sarajevo. June 28th happened to be St. Vitus Day. It was on that day in 1389, that Serbia fell to the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Kosovo. The holiday has ever since been marked by the Serbian people as a remembrance of sacrifice and resistance.
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WORLD WAR 1 Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, and the beginning of the ANZAC legend:
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A French soldier carrying his wounded comrade through a trench at Gallipoli:
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GALLIPOLI - THE BOYS OF THE DARDANELLES
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Boy soldiers During the First World War, the Australian Army's enlistment age was 21 years or 18 years with the permission of a parent or guardian. Although boys aged 14-17 could enlist as buglers, trumpeters and musicians, many gave false ages in order to join as soldiers. Their numbers are impossible to determine. Enlistment of boys was normal practice for the Navy and several died on service during the First World War. Five of those who qualify for the Memorial's Roll of Honour were serving on the Sydney-based training ship HMAS Tingira.
Private James Charles ('Jim') Martin is one of the best known boy soldiers. He was believed to be the youngest soldier on the Roll of Honour. Jim was 14 years 9 months old when he died at Gallipoli.
Jim Martin:
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Reginald Garth, a 12 year old Perth boy who stowed away on the transport RMS Mooltan. His three brothers and father enlisted for the First World War and he wanted be part of what he thought might be an adventure.
Reginald Garth:
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ANZACS SOLDIERS LANDING IN GALLIPOLI:
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WORLD WAR 1 - GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN
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Several battles in the Gallipoli campaign were especially brutal, as seen in this photo of war dead at the Battle of Lone Pine:
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An ANZAC Soldier is interviewed about his time in WW1:
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LANDING AT GALLIPOLI - A TRUE ACCOUNT BY A SOLDIER WHO WAS THERE
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"A German Spy in America" was published in 1917, with an introduction/endorsement by President Theodore Roosevelt.
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An Interview with Les Carlyon
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Suggested reading about Gallipoli:
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Australia had two early submarines that operated during WW1: AE1 and AE2. The AE2 was part of the Gallipoli campaign.
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The father, left, served in WW1 -
his son, right, served in WW2:
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Why did the Diggers swim and walk
along the beach naked?
There was a reason for this,
as one veteran explained:
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A group of Diggers on leave while in Palestine, in a thermal bath:
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"I would rather walk
with a friend in the dark, than walk alone in the light". -a typical Digger saying
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Simpson and his Donkey were honored on a postage stamp issued in 1965:
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ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand) SOLDIERS WERE SENT TO EGYPT AND THE MIDDLE EAST FOR TRAINING. THEN, SENT TO GALLIPOLI TO FIGHT AGAINST THE TURKS. THE LIGHT HORSE WAS INVOLVED IN ALL THEATERS OF WAR.
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Diggers sorting mail and packages in Cairo, Egypt for the Australian soldiers (next 2 photos):
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Diggers in Egypt: Drinking, Smoking and Sex
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Alfred George Hayden as a private 1st Battalion, AIF, 1915-1919, interviewed by Richard White:
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We know from diaries and other research of primary sources that several women during the American Civil War donned men's uniforms and went into battle along with the other soldiers; some who were found out and some not. Here is the story of one woman from Australia who attempted the same thing at the
outbreak of WW1:
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Mena, Zeitoun, and Moascar were training camps in Egypt:
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Primitive conditions on the Western Front, WW1: A British soldier washes in stagnant water in a bomb crater:
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Diggers in WW1 hospital; treatment on and off the field; transport of wounded
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This is a rare picture of a doctor operating on a patient at Gallipoli:
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Australian hospital in the Western Desert:
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Camels were used to transport patients:
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Photo of hospital in Far East during WW2 for Australian soldiers is also primitive:
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Hospital Barges were employed to carry patients from the front back to England:
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Hospital Ships were used for transport, but some were sunk by the enemy:
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London Hospital, from a John Lavery painting:
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An evaluation of Sickness and Disease among WW1 Australian soldiers:
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Keeping clean in a hostile environment
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During WW2, the ANZACs visited Jerusalem and other holy sites while stationed in Palestine and Egypt. Here they visit the birthplace of Jesus:
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They have to bend down to enter and leave the Church of the Nativity:
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They also experienced snow while in the Holy Land:
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Snowball fight on streets of Jerusalem:
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Snowball fight on Mt. Lebanon:
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While during WW1, Soldiers stationed in Egypt, climbed the pyramids:
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One pyramid the Diggers visited was the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Much research has been done to identify the soldier's identities as they sit and stand on that pyramid. Research has been put on a website which has centered around the 11th Battalion, seen in the photos and data below:
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Australia in World War 1 & 2
included men of the
Light Horse
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Commemorative Stamps were issued:
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Australian Light Horse approach the
Dead Sea, World War 1:
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Light Horse camp, Palestine, WW1:
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Watering horses at Elisha's
Fountain, near the walls of ancient Jericho:
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Australian camp on the slopes of the Mount of Olives:
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Australian Light Horse passing through Bethlehem:
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Moving from Bethlehem toward the Jordan River:
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12th Australian Light Horse Regiment crossing the Dog River on the Damascus-Beirut Road in Lebanon, 1914-1918:
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Advance of the Australian 1st Light Horse Brigade towards Jericho, 1914-1918:
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Camp of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade at Belah, 1914-1918:
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Australian soldiers in Jerusalem:
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The Diggers enjoyed a snowball fight when it snowed in Jerusalem:
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Diggers loading camels at a railhead in
Palestine:
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Here two Light Horsemen giving their horse a bath:
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Soldiers of the ANZAC Mounted Division and their horses, swimming in the sea at Marakeb, Palestine:
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Next 2 photos, Australians washing and swimming their horses:
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Members of the 7th Light Horse swimming at El Arish, Egypt:
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Palestine, 1918: Australian camp near Nebl Musa in the Jordan:
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Two Light Horsemen (on left) look from the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem:
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Diggers move through Jericho and Palestine:
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Light Horsemen camped on the Judaean Hills:
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Light Horse camp seen in the distance:
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Drawing of Light Horsemen sitting in the shade at Damascus:
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RARE FILM: Light Horse in Palestine, including scenes of Jerusalem (including Australians walking the Via Dolorosa), Bethlehem, the Jerusalem Road near the Jaffa Gate, camping in the Judaen Hills, Dome of the Rock, machine gunners clearing the heights of the enemy, Light Horsemen on the march, descent into the Jordan Valley, floods in Palestine:
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Diggers playing "Two up" game of chance, a form of gambling popular since WW1, and is legal to play in Australia on ANZAC Day:
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"The Lighthorsemen" film is now available online from Internet Archive.
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Actual photos of the Light Horse:
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Teacher's Resource Guide:
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Archive footage from the battle:
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Light Horse camp and horse lines:
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ANZAC - Beyond Beersheba:
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Archive Films of the Light Horse in World War 1 and 2, Middle East:
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Billy Sing, was an outstanding member of the Australian Light Horse. He was detailed to sniper duty:
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Billy, on left of the next photo, with General Birdwood:
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JACK WILSON, AUSTRALIAN VETERAN OF WORLD WAR 1:
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ANZAC SOLDIERS - REST AND RELAXATION:
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"Diggers" was a film made in 1931 by Pat Hanna about his experiences in WW1.
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WHAT IS MATESHIP?
Introduction
Mateship is an Australian
cultural idiom that embodies equality, loyalty and friendship. There are two
forms of mateship, the inclusive and the exclusive. The inclusive is in
relation to a shared situation such as employment, sports, or hardship, whereas
the exclusive type is toward a third party, like a person that you have just
met. Russel Ward, in The Australian Legend, saw the concept as a central one to
the Australian people. Mateship derives from mate, meaning friend, commonly
used in Australia as a form of 'friendly' address. Mateship can also be
expressed in qualities such as loyalty to one's mates.
Military Context
Mateship is regarded as an
Australian military virtue. For instance, the Australian Army Recruit Training
Centre lists the "soldierly qualities" it seeks to instill as
including "a will to win, dedication to duty, honour, compassion, honesty,
teamwork, loyalty, physical, moral courage and mateship itself. Mateship is
vitally explored through a Military Context in the film 'Gallipoli', where
Archy and Frank, two young Australian sprinters want to join the army to
fulfill their sense of duty. Because they are too young, the pair hop a freight
train to Perth, where they are allowed to join up. They board a troop ship
heading to Cairo and after training in the shadows of the Great Pyramids, the
boys are finally sent to the front line, where their speed makes them
candidates for messengers in one of the war's bloodiest battles. (From the "Meaning of Mateship" website).
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“Mateship is uniquely Australian. We are a country that celebrates individual achievement. But above all, we are a country that knows we must pull together. We are a country of mates. Mateship is born out of a common struggle. Mateship is built in our workplaces, our schools, our homes, our sporting fields, out battlefields. Mateship is built on respect for each other. Mateship is built on respect for each other. Mateship is extending a helping hand when another person is down on their luck. Mateship is trusting people equally, regardless of race, gender, creed or religion. Mateship endures because it is so readily embraced by all who come here. I believe that true national leadership demands that Australian values are reinforced. We should never shy away from reaffirming what makes us proudly and uniquely Australian.”
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Paul Murray, Sky News Australia, recently discussed Mateship:
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AN ENDURING FRIENDSHIP - BERT AND CHARLES:
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The Aussie Soldier who refused to let his Mate die alone:
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Mateship developed early among Diggers, during their training:
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Once in the field, Diggers would stick with each other during a deployment:
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Mateship was also evident in Unit 'Rituals'
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Germany invaded Crete and their Nazi doctors began using Australian soldiers in medical experiments.
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Australian soldier George Savage managed to escape after he, among others, were experimented on. Here is his enlistment photo, and story:
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Two New Zealand soldiers describe the Nazi invasion on Crete:
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On Crete prior to capture:
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Many of the Australian POWs, including the 5 who were experimented on, were eventually transferred to
a POW camp in Germany. Typical POW camp barracks:
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"HIDDEN HORRORS," is a detailed study of the Japanese brutal treatment of POWs, and the cannibalism they practiced; eating dead Australian soldiers. This book is highly recommended for the coverage given to every aspect of Japanese cruelty, including the philosophy behind why they behaved as they did. It covers cannibalism, which very few authors have researched. A Digger did not leave his Mates behind; cannibalism by the Japanese was just as much a threat as flying bullets in the jungles of New Guinea.
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JAPANESE MEDICAL ATROCITIES: 1932-1945
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THE AMERICAN COVER-UP OF IMPERIAL JAPANESE UNIT 731:
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Australian eye witness accounts of Japanese cannibalism of their Mates:
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As of 2022, the Cannibalism committed by Japanese soldiers in WW2 is not taught in their schools.
Atrocity committed by Japanese soldiers in WW2 has been covered up in their official history.
Students should explore why this is and what part
General MacArthur and other U.S. leaders played
in not exposing the reality of what occurred during
the war.
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Official Reports from Australian soldiers concerning Cannibalism:
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Newspaper reports from eyewitness Diggers who escaped the clutches of the Japanese, or who witnessed the mutilation of their mates:
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Eyewitness account of cannibalism of Australian soldiers by Japanese:
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Cannibalism practiced by Japanese soldiers in the Philippines outlined in 'white paper' and map:
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History teachers and military instructors should ask students to examine the many examples of Japanese cannibalization of wounded and dead Australian soldiers, and discuss if this influenced the Australians, who found the mutilated bodies of their mates, to stop taking Jap prisoners.
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An example of the Cannibalization of U.S. servicemen:
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Glenn Frazier and Floyd Hall were also victims of Jap cannibalism at the same time as Marve Mershon; they were buried together:
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After the Allied forces surrendered East Java to the Japanese, 200 Allied soldiers fled to the hills around Malang and formed resistance groups. Eventually, the soldiers, mostly Australians, were captured by the Kenpeitai, and squeezed into 3-foot long bamboo baskets used for transporting pigs.
The men were then thrown into the back of open transport trucks that drove them through the countryside in 38 °C weather. The trucks took them to a railway where they were unloaded and then transported again, this time in open rail wagons to the coast. By the time they reached their destination, the Allied Soldiers were half dead with dehydration and heat stroke and likely in great pain from their tightly confined state.
They were loaded onto fishing boats and sailed out to shark-infested waters off Surabaya where the men were dumped, still in the baskets, into the ocean.
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A Canadian soldier was crucified in World War 1, by the Germans:
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The Real "St. Valentines Day Massacre"
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BANGKA ISLAND MASSACRE (St. Valentine's Day, February 14, 1942) On board the liner SS Vyner Brooke (Captain R. E. Borton, OBE) named after its onetime owner Sir Charles Vyner Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak, and in peacetime had sailed between Singapore and Kuching, were 65 Australian Army nurses of the 2/10 and the 2/13th Australian General Hospitals in Singapore who, together with other civilian women and children, made up the 330 persons being evacuated from the city. In the Banka Strait, a narrow strip of water between the islands of Bangka and Sumatra, the Vyner Brooke was bombed and sunk by Japanese planes. A few lifeboats managed to reach the mangrove lined shore of Bangka Island. On advice from some islanders they were advised to give themselves up to the Japanese as there was no hope of escaping. That night another lifeboat arrived on the shore containing between 30 and 40 British servicemen from another ship sunk earlier. The civilian women, some nurses and children, then set out to walk to the nearest Japanese compound to give themselves up.
When the Japanese arrived at the beach the men and women were separated, the men were marched into the jungle, never to be heard of again. The soldiers returned and forced the remaining 22 nurses to wade out into the sea. There, in waist deep water, they were machined-gunned to death, leaving only one survivor, Sister Vivian Bullwinkle, who later managed to reach the island's Japanese Naval Headquarters where she was put to work in the hospital. For over three years she kept the secret of the massacre to herself and a few friends. To speak openly about it would have been a certain recipe for execution. Of the 65 nurses from the Vyner Brooke, 12 had drowned, 21 shot in the water at Radji Beach and 32 had gone into prison in Muntok before being shipped to Palembang in southern Sumatra to serve three-and-a-half years of privation and punishment as prisoners of war. Sadly, only 24 survived the war. (Sister Bullwinkle died in Perth, Western Australia, in 2000, aged 84).
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Interview with CPT Matthews' son:
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Third child of Edgar Roy and Ann Elizabeth (née Jeffery) Matthews.
Husband of Myrtle (Lorna) Lane, of Marryatville, South Australia, (married 1935).
Lionel was educated at East Adelaide Public and Norwood High schools, and then worked as a salesman in a department store. Assistant-scoutmaster (from 1931), 1st Kensington Sea Scouts, he was a powerful swimmer, a lifesaver, and a good amateur boxer. At St Matthew's Anglican Church, Kensington, on 26 December 1935 he married (Lorna) Myrtle Lane, a 21-year-old packer. Under the auspices of the Boy Scouts' Association, he was involved in social work at Pentridge gaol, Melbourne, in 1937-38.
After training as a signalman in the Citizen Naval Forces, Matthews enlisted in the Militia in April 1939. Posted to the 3rd Division Signals, he was commissioned Lieutenant in January 1940. On 10th June he transferred to the Australian Imperial Force and in February 1941 sailed for Singapore with the 8th Division Signals.
Sporting a clipped moustache, he was nicknamed 'The Duke' because of his resemblance to the Duke of Gloucester. Matthews was athletically built, stood 6 ft. 1 in. (185 cm) tall, had a ready smile, and liked to dress well. As signals officer, 27th Brigade, he maintained cable communications while under fire at Gemas, Malaya, and on Singapore (January-February 1942), and won the Military Cross. In January 1942 he was promoted captain. After Singapore fell on 15th February, he was interned in Changi prison.
In July 1942 the Japanese shipped 'B' Force, which comprised 1496 Australians (including Matthews), to Sandakan in British North Borneo. Soon after his arrival he was largely responsible for setting up an elaborate intelligence organization. Contact was made with Dr J. P. Taylor, an Australian in charge of the nearby government hospital, and with European internees on Berhala Island. Matthews and his second-in-command Lieutenant R. G. Wells contacted a number of Asians—some of them were Chinese and others belonged to the British North Borneo Constabulary—who gave them a revolver, maps, information, medical supplies and parts for a wireless receiver.
By September 1942 the intelligence network had been consolidated and extended. All information was reported to Matthews and collated for future use. He got in touch with Filipino guerrillas operating in the Sulu Archipelago and enabled parties of Australian prisoners to escape. In January 1943, when the Japanese transferred the civilian internees to Kuching, unofficial control of the armed constabulary passed to Matthews. He developed a contingency plan to overthrow the Japanese in the event of an allied landing in Borneo. At his direction, work began on the construction of a wireless transmitter.
In July 1943 four Chinese members of the organization were betrayed to the Japanese. Under torture, they admitted supplying radio parts. The Japanese arrested Matthews, Wells, Taylor and those who had helped them. The
suspects were interrogated, beaten, tortured and deprived of food before being taken to Kuching. Matthews was sentenced to death, as were two members of the constabulary and six other Asians. Declining a blindfold, he was executed by a firing-squad on 2nd March 1944 at Kuching and buried there. In 1946 his body was exhumed and interred in the Labuan War Cemetery, Borneo.
Matthews had encouraged his fellow accused throughout their ordeal. Although he knew the consequences, he refused to implicate or endanger the lives of his associates. Described as a 'prince among men', he was posthumously awarded the George Cross (1947). His wife and son survived him. Robert Anderson's portrait of Matthews is held by the School of Signals, Simpson Barracks, Melbourne. Matthews' brother Geoffrey served in the army in World War II and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Lionel's medals were donated to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra by his son, also called Lionel in 2015.
The following particulars are given in the London Gazette of 25th November, 1947:
"The King has been graciously pleased, on the advice of His Majesty's Australian Ministers, to approve the posthumous award of the George Cross, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services whilst a prisoner of war in Japanese hands."
Captain Matthews was taken as a prisoner of the Japanese at Changi and subsequently sent to Borneo with a work party. Soon after arrival he began to organise and equip the so-called "British North Borneo Armed Constabulary" to be held ready for uprising in the event of an Allied landing. He concerned himself with many "underground" activities and arranged supplies of medicines into prisoner-of-war camps and ran a radio news service. He was in contact with the Philippines' guerrilla forces and organised escape parties, with which he himself could well have escaped. He was arrested and subjected to starvation and torture in an attempt to make him betray his contacts but made no implications. He was eventually executed by the Japanese for his brave actions.
Award of the Military Cross:
As Signals Officer, 27th Brigade, he maintained cable communications while under fire at Gemas, Malaya and on Singapore (January-February 1942).
(Details reproduced with kind permission of Mark Green from his VC Online website.)
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Another example of the brutal execution of Australian soldiers by the Japanese:
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Japanese war crimes included prisoners bound and lined up for target practice:
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ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF JAPANESE BRUTALITY:
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Some prisoners were buried alive:
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Some Diggers were placed in trenches and burned alive:
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The photograph on the right, below, was discovered in the pocket of a Japanese soldier, and with it, the Australian war crimes commission was able to determine who the Digger was being executed and by whom. It was Leonard Siffleet. See the video below:
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POWs interviewed, tell of Japanese brutality and torture:
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American Airmen shot down over Japan were "guests" of Japanese torture and medical experimentation. Mark Felton explains:
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WHY WERE THE AUSTRALIAN POW'S NOT RESCUED JUST AFTER THE JAPANESE SURRENDER?
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Lynette Ramsay Silver, AM, has done extensive research on the Sandakan death marches and the loss of thousands of Australian lives at the hands of the Japanese.
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Lynette Sliver is interviewed on The Living History Podcast, giving a detailed review of what happened to the Australian POWs, why nothing was done to rescue them, and the cover-up. This is well worth your time listening to:
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Map of the Death Marches, from sandakandeathmarches.com.
This is an all-encompassing website that tells the story
of the horror of the treatment of the Australian soldiers:
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Here is a typical POW affidavit about the war crimes by the Japanese:
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Affidavit from A J Hambley WX10745 – Fukuoka sub-Camp 17 Hambley was originally selected with ‘A’ Force, Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on Burma end of Railway. Green Force first arrived at Victoria Point, Burma where the men were split into 2 work parties, one at the wharf and the other at the aerodrome to repair and prepare for Japanese Forces.
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Private Eric Everard Hutchins - another example of a Digger who was murdered. Here is his story. He was 1 of 7 brothers who served in the Australian army. Here is a picture of their family and information about each of them:
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6 OUT OF 2,500 PRISONERS ESCAPED JAPANESE CAPTIVITY AND LIVED TO TELL THE STORY OF THE BRUTALITY AND HORROR THEY ENDURED:
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The Sandakan Death March is not well known to the American public. It was one of the grimmest chapters of the Second World War. Here is one photo taken of one of the Death Marches from Sandakan:
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Instructors should explore the youtube website authored by Dr. Mark Felton, from which the following videos come. There is a wealth of information he has gathered on that site about all aspects of World War 2.
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Billy Young, joined the Australian army at age 15, and, until recently, was the last surviving member of the Sandakan Japanese prisoner of war camp:
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LAST SURVIVOR OF SANDAKAN POW DEATH CAMP DIES OF COVID COMPLICATIONS
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How the sadistic Japanese Army committed the worst atrocity in Australia's wartime history:
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Another murder of an Australian POW has just recently been verified by eyewitness accounts, that of Private Herman Reither.....but not by a Japanese guard, but by another POW!
Here is his story, uncovered by Lynette Silver, author and historian:
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Author Tom Gilling, in his book "The Witness," indicates that Sticpewich was not only involved in collaboration with the enemy Japanese, but also murdered a fellow POW, and was also involved in the blackmail of other former Japanese guards:
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99.75 % OF ALL SANDAKAN POW'S WERE EITHER MURDERED, BEHEADED, SHOT, OR DIED OF ILLNESS. MANY ENDURED 'BASHINGS' BY JAP GUARDS WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERE INJURY, AND IN SOME CASES, DEATH.
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THE CHAPLAIN WHO DIED AT SANDAKAN POW CAMP Studio portrait of VX38675 Captain Harold
Wardale-Greenwood
BA BD, padre (chaplain) of 2/19th Battalion. He died as a prisoner of war at
Sandakan, British North Borneo 1944-08-08, having chosen not to go to Kuching
with the other officers, in order to look after the sick.
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An example of a Digger who died at Sandakan:
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Stories of Cannibalism by Jap soldiers starts to surface in 1990s:
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Japan hears of World War II cannibalism a half-century later -Tampa Times Newspaper Published Aug. 12, 1992
For six months, historian Toshiyuki Tanaka dug through Australian archives to tell his country that some Japanese soldiers were cannibals during the last desperate days of World War II.
Allied forces have known this for years. But Tanaka's account, published in the Tokyo media Tuesday, represents the first Japanese investigation into the reports and the most extensive study of the subject to date.
Tanaka, an associate professor of political science at the University of Melbourne, said he uncovered more than 100 cases of Japanese Imperial Army soldiers eating the flesh of Australian troops, Asian laborers and indigenous people in Papua New Guinea.
"These documents clearly show that this cannibalism was done by a whole group of Japanese soldiers, and in some cases they were not even starving," Tanaka said Tuesday.
Some, their supply lines cut off, were genuinely hungry. But in other cases, officers ordered troops to eat human flesh to give them a "feeling of victory," Tanaka said.
Born after his country's defeat, the 43-year-old Tanaka wants to educate young Japanese "who are not told anything" about the war at a time when their leaders are considering erasing sections of its postwar constitution that prohibits sending troops overseas.
Tanaka said he tried several times to publish his work in Japan but it was deemed "too sensitive."
His account didn't receive much attention Tuesday in Japanese TV and newspapers _ the Mainichi newspaper placed it inside, on page six. Tanaka's findings are based on Japanese army documents seized by Australian troops, plus the testimony of witnesses and the confessions of Japanese soldiers at war-crime trials.
An English translation of a secret Imperial Army order _ issued Nov. 18, 1944 _ warned troops that cannibalizing anyone not an enemy was punishable by death.
The order described cannibalism as the "worst human crime" and blamed increases in murders and the possession of human flesh by soldiers on a "lack of thoroughness in moral training."
Another archive contained testimony by Australian troops to war-crimes tribunals.
An Australian army corporal recounted how he found the mutilated bodies of his comrades. One had only the hands and feet untouched. An Australian lieutenant described finding the dismembered remains of several bodies, saying: "In all cases, the condition of the remains were such that there can be no doubt that the bodies had been dismembered and portions of flesh cooked."
Other witnesses reported they saw Japanese soldiers eating prisoners of war as well as Indian and Asian laborers and Papua New Guineans. A Pakistani corporal, captured in Singapore and transported to Papua New Guinea for slave labor, claimed hungry Japanese soldiers killed and ate one prisoner a day, reaching a total of "about 100."
In Canberra, Australian National University war historian Hank Nelson said cannibalism took place in isolated fighting zones such as the Kokoda Trail, Sepik River and Bougainville Island.
Nelson had also uncovered evidence of cannibalism. One young Japanese soldier confessed at a war-crimes trial he ate the flesh of an Australian he had shot in battle.
"He simply said he did it out of intense hatred and intense hunger," Nelson said.
Bruce Ruxton, Victoria state president of the Returned Services League, which represents Australian veterans, said the atrocities had been ignored by Japanese for 50 years.
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Little known until recently is the fact that Russian POWs in Germany also participated in cannibalism:
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Doctors who were also POW's, did their best to help the men who had been beaten and tortured.
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Return to Sandakan is a video story about the POW Camp. Here is the trailer for the movie, which is now available online for free:
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In this confronting episode on Living History Podcast, seen below, historian Lynette Silver reveals the true story of the death marches, the horror of the ordeal for the Australian prisoners, and the legacy they have left us. (Please note that this episode may be distressing for some listeners.) Presenter: Mat McLachlan Guest: Lynette Silver Producer: Jess Stebnicki Editor: Landon Grace.
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Japanese were brutal in battle and ruthless against those they captured; some would commit suicide instead of surrendering.
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The Death Railways (plural)
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Australian and British soldiers were used as slave labor to build the notorious Death Railway and the "Hellfire Pass".
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While Allied POWs were held across Asia, it is those camps along the Burma-Thai Railway during 1943 which remain most resonant for Australians in the Second World War POW experience, largely due to the fact that 9,500 Australians worked on the railway and nearly 7,000 survived to tell the story. The Railway stretched 421 kilometres, from Ban Pong in Thailand to Thanbyuzayat in Burma. The aim being to provide the Japanese with a route from South East Asia to supply their large army in Burma. Throughout the time building the railway people were constantly moving from one site to the next as work progressed on the railway. Japanese engineers estimated that the railway to be built through jungle and mountain which was estimated to take five years to construct and require thousands of engineers. Instead it took under a year, using starved and diseased POW labour.
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Australian soldiers using a 'piss tube' to relieve themselves. These Diggers were used as slave labor by the Japanese in building the railroads. They are near-naked due to their uniforms having rotted off months before.
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Diggers used as slave labor by the Japanese:
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Don McLaren kept a secret diary of his time in a Jap POW camp. Original diary available in Australia archives. His enlistment picture below:
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'Congratulations on defeating us. I'm very sorry about letting many of your fellow prisoners die': Extraordinary letter by Japanese POW camp commander to save his own skin after WW2 is revealed:
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A SAMPLE REPORT FROM POWs INTERNED BY THE JAPANESE
PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS IN JAPAN
& JAPANESE CONTROLLED AREAS
AS TAKEN FROM REPORTS OF INTERNED AMERICAN PRISONERS
LIAISON & RESEARCH BRANCH AMERICAN
PRISONER OF WAR INFORMATION BUREAU
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A SAMPLE REPORT OF JAPANESE WAR CRIMES PERPETRATED ON POW's
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Written reports by Diggers who reported the cruelty and murder committed by the Japanese. Be forewarned...these are graphic and tell in detail, how these POWs were treated at the hands of their sadistic captors.
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This is typical of the reports that were not disclosed to the Japanese public and are not taught to Japanese school children, who remain ignorant of their country's role in WW2:
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As the War was coming to an end, the Japanese had orders to eliminate all the POWs they still had in captivity:
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Waller Jones wrote a paper about Japanese attitudes toward POW's:
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Australian POW's marched off to prison in Singapore:
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Australian POWs were sometimes put on Japanese ships for transport to a penal colony. (These were the so-called 'Hell Ships'). Often, unprotected, Allied submarines would target and sink these ships which did not display a Red Cross symbol, indicating sick or POW soldiers aboard. This would result in more loss of life.
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Submarine rescue; film taken from aboard the sub:
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More films of submarine rescue of British and Australian POWs:
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Several Australian POWs were aboard the Japanese ship Rakuyo Maru when it was torpedoed and sunk. Those that survived told the story of the conditions of the Japanese POW camps:
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Official Japanese records tell a
grim
story: of 55,279 Allied POWs transported by sea, 10,853
drowned, including 3,632 Americans. At least 500
perished
at sea from disease and thirst....The destination of 90 percent of
those vessels was Japan.
Three-quarters of all POW shipments came through the northern Kyushu
port
of Moji. A very moving documentary to watch is Sleep
My Sons: The
Story of the Arisan Maru. The greatest
transport ship disaster
in history is the sinking of the Junyo Maru -- only
15 survived
out of 5,655 American, Australian, British, Dutch,
Indonesian POWs
and Javanese laborers. By comparison, 1107 sailors and marines died
when
the USS Arizona was sunk at Pearl Harbor.
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Even the most knowledgeable reader will be shocked by the extent of the crimes committed against servicemen and civilians revealed in this chilling new study. From the regular execution of POWs to the abandonment of survivors, Mark Felton takes a detailed look at this dark chapter in the history of the Japanese navy in World War II. Prior to this account, Japanese war crimes at sea have received relatively little attention compared to coverage of the Japanese army's barbaric conduct. Written by a longtime resident of the Far East, this new work takes into account the culture that led to such appalling atrocities. Upon publication in the UK, the book drew major news coverage.
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Royal Australian Navy patrols the Southern Pacific in 1942:
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The Execution of Nurses on Bangha Island
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White Coolies was an Australian radio drama complete with sound effects,
in 52 episodes of weekly broadcasts,
30 minutes each, concerning the Australian nurses who were under Japanese occupation during WW2. It is now in public domain and offered here
in MP3 audio format.
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Dr. Mark Felton exposes the truth of how America sabotaged justice in the Far East during the Japanese war crimes trials:
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It is now known that the Japanese imperial family had first-hand information about the war crimes:
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WHO WAS PRINCE CHICHIBU ?
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"The Final Betrayal," examines the period between the unconditional surrender of Japan on 14 August 1945,
and the arrival of Allied liberation forces in
Japanese-occupied territories after 2 September 1945.
The delay handed the Japanese a golden opportunity to
set their house in order before Allied war crimes investigators arrived. After 14 August groups of Allied POWs were brutally murdered. Vast amounts of documentation concerning crimes were burned ahead of the arrival of Allied forces. POW facilities and medical experimentation installations were either abandoned or destroyed.
Perhaps the greatest crimes were continuing deaths of Allied POWs from starvation, disease and ill-treatment after the Japanese surrender. The blame rests with the American authorities, and particularly General MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander in the Pacific. MacArthur expressly forbade any Allied forces from liberating Japanese occupied territories before he had personally taken the formal Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. Vice Admiral Lord Mountbatten, Commanding Allied forces
in Southeast Asia, protested against this policy, believing that pandering to MacArthur’s vanity and ego would mean condemning many starving and sick prisoners to death.
Deaths among British and Commonwealth POWs were significant as opposed to American POWs who were already largely liberated in the Philippines and elsewhere.
LETTER FROM ONE DIGGER:
As an Australian and a ex serviceman, there is still a great deal of resentment of how Australians were treated by the Japanese during WW2, those who parents served in the Asia region cannot forget the brutal inhumane treatment received, our ANZAC reminds us of this, most young Japanese I have met, refuse to believe their forefathers committed war crimes and got away scot free, for me and many others it’s a personal stain on Japan that time cannot wash off, the only way for it to be ameliated is by open acknowledgment by the now Japanese govt that serious war crimes were committed and to be genuine remorse, somehow I do not envisage that happening, ever…..
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While Douglas MacArthur cannot be completely exonerated from his part in the failure to rescue the Australian POWs from Sandakan, Dr. Mark Felton has gotten to the bottom of why this happened; why Operation Kingfisher was flawed from the start, and is told in the following excerpt from one of his 3 part investigations into the Sandakan Death March:
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Mark Felton describes the reasons why the Japanese soldiers were the most brutal during ww2. It is well worth listening to, in it's entirety:
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"The Reporter" is an article that explores censorship in Japan prior to war with Australia and America, and is key to understanding how information was controlled.
This study "The Reporter" of the inner workings of Japanese culture during wartime, includes exploration of the term "Carnival War;" when new literary, technological, military, and social forces swept into the Japanese home front. Violence of total war was manufactured for mass consumption. State-managed spiritual mobilization was undermined as irreverent celebrations of violence also undermined government efforts to construct deep emotional connections to the war among the populace through economic frugality, public service and participation in a variety of patriotic rituals. It was to become a media-driven war.
State censorship became intrusive, government decrees were formulated to manage both how the home front understood the significance of the fighting and to present a positive image of Japan overseas. A policy of total secrecy was imposed on all things military. Elaborate control was placed on all press coverage.
Just as Japan had subscribed to the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere," the "Spiritual Mobilization Campaign" called on all civilians to devote themselves to loyally serve the Emperor and give back to the nation and prepare for long-term sacrifice.
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Diggers describe brutal life in Jap POW camps:
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Stolen years: Australian prisoners of warThis commemorative publication looks at what captivity was like during wartime. This book draws on documents, photographs and artefacts. It covers Australian prisoners of war in the hands of six enemies across three conflicts. The Second South African (Boer) War, World War I and World War II.
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Jap brutality on Wake Island:
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Rock with plaque that commemorates the 98 POWs murdered by the Japs on Wake Island:
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What happened to the POWs who were taken off Wake Island after it fell is described by Mark Felton. Some were tortured and then beheaded before the ship they were on, arrived in China for internment.
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"The Prisoner List" - a special film program about a POW who detailed the brutality of fellow POWs:
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Meanwhile, back in Australia, the Diggers had to deal with a breakout of Jap POWs from a camp at Cowra.
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This film is now available online for free.
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The following film is from the Cowra POW Camp Museum Visitors Center, and was placed in public domain online:
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Whistleblowers expose Japanese war crimes involving heinous medical experimentation More than 50 years after participating in the massive cover-up, Toyo Ishii, a former Japanese military nurse during World War II, has come forward saying that she helped bury evidence of Japan's involvement in wartime biological experimentation programs on humans. The program involved deliberately poisoning and drugging prisoners, operating on them, and harvesting their bones and organs in order to develop biological weapons of mass destruction. The Tokyo medical school where Ishii says she and others helped bury human remains is said to be connected with Unit 731, a branch of the imperial Japanese army that is known to have conduct such experiments on prisoners for "research" purposes. And if remains are found at the site, the Japanese government could be forced to confess, in detail, its activities during the war.
HERE IS THE REPORT:
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JAPANESE WAR CRIMES OF UNIT 731 IS EXPOSED:
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(Listen carefully as Dr. Felton describes the use of women in Japanese culture in the 21st Century).
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Japs, after the surrender, seen as POWs:
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Six Patrol Torpedo boats left Morotai for the Halmaheras for a rendezvous with the Japanese Commander of the Moluccas Lieutentant General Ischii who commanded 40,000 troops on the Halmaheras and Morotai. The Japanese party consisted of seven officers and two other ranks. General Ischii led the party who and was accompanied by his Operations Officer Colonel Koshigi and his adjutant Captain Wamachi. American interpreter 1st Lieutenant Irwin Kline of New York City took down the names and appointments of the officers as they arrived and they were presented to Brigadier General Warren H McNaught Assistant Divisional Commander 93 Division who refused to return salutes offered to him by the officers. The Japanese Naval Party was led by Captain Fujita accompanied by his adjutant and the fleet Surgeon. They all carried their Samurai swords and were escorted to Morotai where negotiations were still in progress. RAAF Catalinas covered the operation. HERE IS THE FILM ABOUT THAT SURRENDER DESCRIBED ABOVE:
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Australian soldiers on Black and White films made during WW2, Courtesy of Australian War Memorial:
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7 Australian Division at Lae. Film description: Wreckage of single engine float plane, under twisted frame of bombed hangar at Lae Airstrip. Wreckage of single engine Japanese fighter plane at Lae airdrome. Soldiers climb through wreckage of bombed buildings at Lae. Group of soldiers load supplies into punt on Markham River, start outboard motor and move swiftly down river:
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CHINESE COMMUNIST USE OF POW'S AS PROPAGANDA TOOL DURING KOREAN WAR:
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PTSD was the result of service in Afghanistan for many of the Diggers.
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During WW1, there was, in England, the "Would-to-God Brigade":
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In Australia, there was a Peace Alliance that formed:
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New research reveals how the British "Tommie" (Soldier) dealt with sex on the Western Front of WW1:
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Social and Psychological Aspects of VD in New Guinea during WW2:
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Australian Soldiers in WW2: Sexuality and Soldiery - Combat & Condoms, Continence & Cornflakes
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The Nazi's not only allowed German soldiers use of brothels in France, but also wiretapped some to ferret out spies:
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Morbidity of Australian Vietnam Veterans:
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Factors influencing VD in a war environment (Vietnam):
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Combat Stress in the American Civil War:
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FROM SHELL SHOCK TO PTSD: WW1, WW2, VIETNAM, MIDDLE EAST
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From the above photo, note the soldier in the lower left (seen below) suffering from Shell Shock:
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SHELL SHOCK: FROM PANIC ATTACKS TO MENTAL PARALYSIS Shell shock was a term used during the First World War to describe the psychological trauma suffered by men serving on the war's key battlefronts. The term was coined, in 1917, by a medical officer called Charles Myers - it was also known as 'war neurosis', 'combat stress' and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. At first shell shock was thought to be caused by soldiers being exposed to exploding shells. But doctors couldn't find any physical damage to explain the symptoms. Medical staff started to realise that there were deeper causes. Doctors soon found that many men suffering the symptoms of shell shock without having even been in the front lines. Symptoms: Hysteria and anxiety
Paralysis
Limping and muscle contractions
Blindness and deafness
Nightmares and insomnia
Heart palpitations
Depression
Dizziness and disorientation
Loss of appetite In several medical establishments instead of receiving proper care, many victims endured more trauma with treatments such as solitary confinement or electric shock therapy.
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Comforting the grief-stricken:
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"Thousand-yard" stare (soldier in Korea):
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IN NEXT PHOTO: U.S. Soldier walks by dead VC and glances over at dead U.S. Soldier, a friend. Notice his expression. What do you think is going through his mind? Notice the soldier to his left rear is getting ready to pass by the same scene. The Black soldier on his right is holding the dead soldier's helmet. What do you believe these other two soldiers are thinking?
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Digger mourns over the loss of a Mate:
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A GERMAN SOLDIER COMFORTS HIS
FRIEND AT THE BURIAL SITE OF THEIR COMRADES DURING THE BATTLE OF CRETE, WW2:
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Notice the numbed expression on the soldier who faces the camera:
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Just as Vietnam became the "Television War" with nightly reports with film and photos reported to the American public, there was also the print media that published graphic-telling battle scenes of American involvement in the war, as seen in the next 3 photos:
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An exhausted U.S. infantryman drinks from his canteen in the Fishhook area of Cambodia:
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General Information about
Combat Stress in Current and Previous Literature
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Chaplain's should find the following information
helpful in understanding PTSD and their role in counseling service personnel who may be suffering from it:
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With the January 2023 release of his book "Spare," Prince Harry has come under fire again for his personal attacks on others and his delusional public statements. But his off-the-wall statements also happened earlier, in 2020, as we see in the next article by a member of the British Army:
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Retired Army Colonel states the obvious:
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(Additional teaching and counseling resources for Chaplains can be found on the webpage: "CH Hughes products.")
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In 1919, A.P. Herbert wrote a novel, "The Secret Battle"
which was, in reality, the truth about what the soldiers faced on the Western Front. Herbert took issue with the summary executions of soldiers, for desertion, who were enduring shell shock. He drew on the work that Dr. Rivers was doing at the time, which is noted elsewhere on this webpage.
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Some statistics pertaining to American Soldiers, in next two photos:
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"Shell Shock and it's Lessons"
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Chaplain Philip Clayton, a British Padre, established an early version of what I and other several other chaplains would collaborate in developing...a Spiritual Fitness Center. (See Chaplain Joe Hughes webpage). Clayton's 'center' was called Talbot House, and was located in the small French town of Poperinge.
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By 1915, Britain had a million troops on the Western Front, 250,000 of whom were based around the Belgian town of Ypres. The town of Poperinge was some seven miles behind the lines and inevitably became a major attraction to soldiers with a few francs in their pockets and some time on their hands. Known as “Little Paris” or just “Pops”, the town became a major centre of rest and recreation to servicemen during World War 1. It offered attractions such as bars, brothels, cafes and cinemas to soldiers anxious to forget the war for a brief period.
Many soldiers, however, sought recreation which was rather more wholesome and also which avoided the exploitation which often occurred. Soldiers were frequently charged high prices for cheap, adulterated and poor quality goods.
Two army chaplains, Neville Talbot and Phillip Clayton, shared these concerns and decided to offer an alternative. Having acquired a large merchant’s house, they established an “Every-Man’s” club, where without distinction of rank, servicemen could find rest, peace and entertainment. Eventually named Talbot House, in memory of Neville Talbot’s brother, Gilbert, killed in the summer of 1915 at Hooge, the house opened its doors at the end of that year.
Talbot House offered soldiers and airmen a library, a chapel, a music room, quiet rooms to sit and write a letter or just enjoy the tranquillity. Sitting amongst the flowers and lawns of the garden must have truly felt like a corner of paradise to soldiers returning from the trenches and the Ypres battlefields. A Friends’ Corner allowed men to place enquiries about the wellbeing of a friend or brother or simply to record their own name to let others know that they were still alive. Eventually, the adjacent hop warehouse was also acquired and became a concert hall.
The house was run by Philip “Tubby” Clayton until the end of the war, making him a legend of World War 1. Clayton created the chapel in the attic of the house, but always stated that the house was upside down as the chapel represented its foundations. Much of the furniture in the house was donated and two soldiers protested when Clayton asked them to carry an old carpenter’s work bench up the steep stairs to the chapel to act as altar. In response to their argument that an old carpenter’s bench was unsuitable for an altar, Clayton stated that he could not think of anything more suitable! (Source: Western Front Battlefield Tours)
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Poperinge was one of the few places in Belgium not to be occupied by the German army during the Great War. It was in the middle of the British sector and it was an important rail centre behind the front line, used for the distribution of supplies, billeting troops, clearing casualties, … At the same time, it was the place where soldiers could forget about the strains of war while on leave.
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Usually the troops would only spend around five days at a time in the
trenches fighting; they would also help move wounded soldiers and provide other auxiliary services. When they had some time off, they would pour into the town of Poperinge, which they called ‘Pop’, to sample the nightlife and have fun. The British also called the town ‘Little Paris’, because of its numerous cafes, bars, brothels, cinemas, concert halls, and clubs.
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After 1918, the traditions of the house were continued in the Toch H movement, which became a world-wide Christian movement. The original family moved back into the house in Poperinge following the war, but it was purchased for Toch H in 1930. Though initially reluctant to sell, the family could no longer cope with the sheer numbers of ex soldiers knocking on the door of the house which had provided them with a refuge from the horrors of war.
After the World War 1, Philip Clayton became the vicar of All Hallows by the Tower in Tower Hamlets, a position he held for forty years, in addition to his continuing work for Toch H and a number of charitable causes. He was also chaplain to the BP company and to the tanker fleet during World War 2. He died in 1972 and is commemorated by a memorial in All Hallows by the Tower.
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From an online biography: Philip Thomas Byard Clayton, nicknamed “Little Tubby” after an overweight uncle, was born in Queensland, Australia in
1885. At the age of 2 his parents returned to England. Educated at St Paul’s School in London and then at Exeter College, Oxford, he gained a First Class Degree in Theology. Tubby started working as a curate at St Mary’s Church
in
Portsea in 1910 but after seeing a ship full of soldiers sink before his eyes, he felt the desire to become more involved in the war and moved to France in early 1915, where he became an army chaplain in Le Tréport.
At the request of Rev. Neville Talbot, Tubby was soon transferred to the peaceful, unoccupied town of Poperinge, in Flanders, where, on 11th December 1915, the two chaplains inaugurated Talbot House (also known as Toc H), a Christian rest and recreation centre for all of the war’s soldiers, regardless of their rank. Members of Talbot House would gather there for dinner, religious ceremonies, conversation, reading, music, etc. - in fact, anything that would take their minds off the war. Despite the tumultuous times, Talbot House, Poperinge stayed open until the end of 1918. The Toc H movement still continues today, at various centres in the UK and around the world, as a unique place of fellowship and sanctuary.
After the war ended, Tubby returned to England, where he published “Tales
of Talbot House” and opened several other Toc H houses. Using his experiences in Flanders to promote the philosophy of the Toc H movement, Clayton also devised the notion of the four cardinal points of the compass to represent the aims of the organisation as Friendship (“To Love Widely” – To welcome all in friendship); Service (“To Build Bravely”– To give personal service); Fair-mindedness (“To Think Fairly” – To always listen to the views of others) and, finally, The Kingdom of God (“To Witness Humbly” – To acknowledge the spiritual nature of all people).
In 1922, Tubby became vicar of All Saints by the Tower, an Anglican church in London and in 1965 he was named as an honorary citizen of Poperinge. Tubby Clayton died in 1972, at the age of 87. The original Talbot House, in Poperinge, is used both as a residential and conference house and as a museum. Several rooms were recently renovated, including the chapel, the kitchen and the hall, as well as the garden. Brand new story tablets lead the way, shedding light on some of the events that took place there. Keen visitors can even spend the night.
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Chapel in the attic as it was in WW1:
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Restored chapel in attic of Talbot House:
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WW1 soldiers in the Talbot House:
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The Second World War: Shellshock to Psychiatry - Dr Roderick Bailey
A History of the Armed Forces use of psychiatry to prevent and treat psychologial casualties: http://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and... Psychiatric casualties are acknowledged today as inevitable and important consequences of modern warfare. This lecture will discuss the extent to which advances were made during the Second World War in our understanding of war-related psychological stress. These are made free of charge for download from their website.
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The History of Forgetting
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Two US Army Chaplains wrote of their experience in "Ethics, Combat, and a Soldier's Decision to Kill" which appeared in the 2015 issue of Military Review:
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My thanks to CH Mark Benz for encouraging me to look into the early PTSD research in Britain, while studying at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
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While at Walter Reed, I discovered the early research of Dr. Rivers into how best to treat the WW1 soldier suffering from what was then called "Shell Shock." Here is some of what I discovered in public domain, and other websites which allow for educational use.
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RIVERS IN WW1 – MAGHULL Preface: Shellshock and its Treatment at the start of the First World War
When the Great War broke out in August 1914, William Rivers was in Australia, attending a conference in his capacity as anthropologist/ ethnologist and could not return to England until March the next year. By that time, several cases of what was to become known as ‘Shellshock’ had already manifested amongst the regular army and territorials who had borne the bulk of the fighting.
Despite the fact that the effect of battle trauma upon soldiers had
been documented during the American Civil War, referred to by Shakespeare in his historic plays and mentioned in Ancient Greek battle accounts many claimed it was an entirely new phenomenon.
The British Government and military authorities had made no contingency plans and were apparently taken aback when their troops began to suffer. Unable to deal with the ‘outbreak’ by traditional means and somewhat mystified as to what measures to take, responsibility was handed over to almost any medical professional that could offer a solution.
‘Shellshock’ is actually a misnomer for a condition that derives from a person being repeatedly placed under some kind of stress during a (combat) situation (Rivers, ‘The Repression of War Experience’, 1917) or suffering a sudden massive shock that their mind cannot deal with.
It was not caused by exposure to shell detonation nor was it, as often purported at the time, an illness that only weak or predisposed people are susceptible to. In fact, because one of the major factors in its development can be the ‘bottling up’ of emotion, it
is often the stronger minded that eventually succumb. In these cases, the mind is continually being battered by inner conflict or distress until it cannot endure anymore and the person suffers some kind of ‘breakdown’. Symptoms can vary greatly – mild affectations could be shaking hands or stomach upset, more advanced signs are almost infinite; involuntary paralysis of a limb or limbs, incontinence, flashbacks, nightmares, and depression are only a few of the possibilities.
When historian Lyn MacDonald was researching troops’ stories for
her books on various aspects of the war in 1980, she found that there
were still a thousand men receiving compensation for trauma caused by their service, and that over a hundred were in mental hospitals having never regained their memories. They, to put it simply had not recalled any identification details since whatever event had taken the last shred of their mind’s ability to endure all those years ago.
It is a moving and sickening thought – made more so when one considers how they and many of their comrades were treated.
Medical authorities of all combatant nations of 1914 seem to have been surprised by the scale on which cases of shell shock multiplied. Some coped better than others but it appears that the British often fared worse than their fellows. There are two possible reasons for this, both of which seem at first unrelated to the issue: class structure and Victorian strictures on behaviour. Class structure is the simplest to explain: the ordinary man was used to hard work and having to carry on whether he felt ill or not, merely to support his family. He would not normally be excused by an employer or society unless his symptoms were physical and very severe. If he could not earn money for food, clothing, and accommodation, it was seen as shameful, neglect of his duty and, worst of all, likely to lead to spending time in the Workhouse.
There was no unemployment or sickness benefit from the government and any help the person’s parish might afford was strictly limited. He was very much expected not to complain about his lot so he was used to bottling up his fears and resentments whilst the higher classes were allowed more say, and, unfortunately, in the Great War, this made the working man susceptible to stress-related trauma. His symptoms were likely to be more severe for the same reasons; he would become mute than to stammer – and similarly, where-as the condition might cause an officer’s hands to shake, they would be paralysed in his lower-ranked compatriot. His symptoms needed to show.
The officer classes did not escape the condition. In Britain, a version
of the old medieval feudal system was still in play and it was deeply ingrained into many sons from the traditional families that they were responsible for the people they employed; in war, this naturally translated to the troops that served under their command. Doctors treating traumatised officers saw that the majority became ill due to
the pressure of trying to keep their men safe and guilt when large numbers of them were killed or badly wounded.
Victorian notions of correct behaviour are much more complex to explain and often contradictory. The main issue that affected men of all ranks was the notion that British males should not show any kind of negative emotion and must be completely in control of his reactions at all times. Difficult as it may be these days to imagine that a person presented with possible death or painful injury on a daily level or seeing a friend or brother’s body lying out, rotting in No Man’s Land for days – or even months (a battalion of a Scots regiment was forced to leave several or its dead on the field around Beaumont Hamel on the first day of the Somme in July 1916, and found the skeletons still
in place, lived in by the rats who had eaten the flesh, when they returned in November), should not respond outwardly in fear or
sorrow, that was what England Expected **
This was reinforced by the concept of Empire and all it entailed.
Britain at the end of the 19th century ‘owned’ a third of the world and was continually having its ‘rights’ to territory threatened by either the original inhabitants or other countries who wished to take over. The government felt it could not afford for its citizens to look weak in any way and thus promoted the behavioural ideals set by society. The mere thought that men in its army could breakdown was, in their view, both a disgrace and more significantly, a point that might be exploited by enemies. It was reluctant to treat anyone who dared break this unwritten rule as anything short of criminal.
Just as with men who were unable to carry out their duty of work due to non-physical illness, the suggestion began to emerge that shell-shocked soldiers were lazy, shirkers or, because their symptoms prevented their taking part in battle even cowards. Treatment was not always a made available and an unlucky number were executed by firing squad, others, with mild symptoms were ‘rested’ close to the battle-lines whilst the ‘lucky’ were sent back to England. There they could encounter anything from electric shock to analysis of their dreams in an effort to cure them so that they might return to duty.
Most treatments were somewhat brutal or lacking in empathy such as the measures taken by a doctor at the famous Craiglockhart Hospital for Officers; the man would find out what was most likely to trigger an attack of anxiety or distress in each man then subject him to it. If he was disturbed by noise at night, he would be placed with a person
who snored or was very active at night; if his eyes were made uncomfortable by light, his room curtain would be removed and he would be ‘encouraged’ to face the window whenever possible. Ordinary men, in general, were met worse treatment that their officers but all too often, neither received the care he needed. . Thus was the situation in 1915 when Rivers arrived home. He was determined to do something for the war effort and considered his options; since he was medically qualified, the logical answer was to become a member of the RAMC. To his dismay, he was designated unfit for duty at the Front but discovered the government appeal for doctors to work with soldiers psychologically damaged by their war service. Trained in neurology, physiology, and psychology, Rivers was just the man for the job and he immediately began helping L E Shore with patients at the First Eastern General Hospital in Cambridge whilst waiting for a formal post.
His first appointment was at Maghull hospital in Liverpool, a ‘centre of excellence’ (Henry Head, Lancet, 1918) whose patients were all men of ordinary rank. To all intents and purposes, Rivers found it very suitable as there was already something of a humane approach to the men’s’ illness in place. Doctors, for instance, analysed the men’s dreams in a bid to understand any underlying causes to their condition and tried to discuss their problems with them, rather than telling them how they should behave or demanding obedience. It was here that Rivers’ Talking Cure, a method still used in treatment of trauma illness, began to emerge. His own experiences taught him that he needed to get to know each of his patients as individuals, and treat them as such, because since each man’s experience would be unique, so his ‘cure’ should be. Patients were often put outside for treatment.
Sadly, the doctors at Maghull found their approach had only limited success largely because their patients’ backgrounds tended to make them wary of anyone in authority, doctors in particular. Many men, unused to such sympathetic responses to their plight and to non-physical illness, suspected all the questions were actually tests to decide if they were insane and to be put in an asylum, or sane and therefore to be sent straight back to their unit or falsely accused of being cowards. They were not used to having their thoughts or
feelings genuinely taken into consideration – and that equally, made it more difficult for the medical men to do anything more than attend to their symptoms rather than the cause.
Rivers was frustrated at not being able to help them as much as they needed, because he knew that, left untreated, the cause would fester and their illness would probably return as soon as they were exposed to the war again. The medics were still trying to work out a solution to this problem when the news came that Rivers was to be transferred to a hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland.
* Rivers to L E Shore, 1919, in reference to his work with traumatised soldiers
** ‘England Expects Everyman to do His Duty’ was a signal sent out to all British ships by Admiral Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805.
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Miscellaneous Medical literature that emerged in Australia after WW2, all in public domain:
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Selected Medical and Social Topics
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COMBAT STRESS: MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES
IN THE VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS CONDUCTED
BY THE AUSTRALIANS IN THE FAR EAST
VOL 3 The Medical situation the Islands Campaigns This third volume of the medical series of the official history of
Australia in the war of 1939-1945 completes the story of the operational experiences of the Australian Army Medical Corps in that war. It opens in Papua in 1942 and tells of the long struggle to subdue tropical disease during nearly four years of fighting along the wet coasts and in the inhospitable mountains of New Guinea, the Solomons and, finally, Borneo. One chapter discusses some of the more important medical problems that arose in Australia in the second half of the war.
Until 1942, the experiences of the army medical service were largely
in lands distant from Australia. From 1942 onwards came the struggle to overcome and to prevent the dangers of injury and infection in tropical areas nearer home. In those areas, the author points out, Australia must henceforth bear an increasing share in the study and practice of tropical medicine and, to that extent, this volume tells the beginning of a continuing story.
Here are the volumes which detail the fighting with medical and combat stress implications:
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Penicillin was considered a 'wonder drug' that became available late in the war:
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To reiterate what has already been stated about Mateship: a bond of mateship between Diggers is what provides the glue that holds the soldiers together on and off the battlefield. Period. All my research validates this.
Read "Larrikins in Khaki" and look at the verbatim reports of Diggers in New Guinea combat. Mateship comes through loud and clear. It is an undeniable part of the Digger's combat experience and has given rise to many, many vet associations for them and for their families back home. They have a memory that unites them. They have an unbroken bond that reaches out to support one another. I have not found this to any great extent with former U.S. Army vets.
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From surveys of U.S. Soldiers, WW2:
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For me, this last slide explains why Mateship among Diggers remained high after returning, but not for U.S. Soldiers:
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Stress and Well-being in Military Organizations
from a research paper in public domain:
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"The Firing Squad" - A Film featuring Australian soldiers, about moral choices that must be made.
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The Rugged and Courageous
Australian Diggers had a widespread reputation:
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They may have been Larrikins, but when the going got tough, the Diggers knuckled down and got on with the business at hand, not unlike these U.S. soldiers of the 9th Infantry, caught off-guard, attacking the VC half-dressed:
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The Diggers always knuckled down in combat, and a good example was the battle at Long Tan, Vietnam. EVERY Australian should be proud of the Diggers' achievement in this battle, who were surrounded by overwhelming odds.
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While I'm on the subject of aggressiveness in combat, and as an introduction to the next section on the Chaplain's role on the battlefield, I will quote a WW2 American Chaplain who said what he looked for in a Chaplain Assistant: "I don't care if he can type, I want a man who knows how to use his fists and rifle and can fight."
And I have found in my own experience, that when going to the field with the troops, the soldiers always respect the chaplain who did what the troops did, i.e., sleep and eat as they did, and not complain about any hardship.
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Burial service on the Western Front, 1916:
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IN THE PHOTO BELOW: Gallipoli, Turkey, 1915. Chaplain Ernest Northcote Merrington (right) conducts a communion service for members of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade at the “Apex”. For an altar Padre Merrington is using two biscuit boxes draped in a cloth.
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Dr. Hugh Gough conducts service:
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Chaplain Gault from New Zealand, conducts Bible study class on board ship RMS Orontes, for ANZAC troops going to WW1 Jan 1, 1914:
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Jewish Chaplain field service in WW1:
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Jewish soldiers celebrate Holy Days:
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Chaplain conducts service for war dead:
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Next 2 photos are of the ANZAC Chapel in Vietnam:
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When Diggers assisted in occupation of post-war Japan, their Padre's offered services, including prayer services, seen below. Some Japanese also attended them.
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Chaplain's work at the front was dangerous, as seen in this news article from WW2:
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The Canadian military also has excellent Chaplains:
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The Salvation Army sent Chaplains to serve the soldiers overseas. Here is an interview with
Chaplain Albert Moore:
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Australian Chaplains celebrate 100 years of service
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Jewish Chaplain cap badge:
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Jewish Chaplain's badge, later issue, front side:
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Jewish Chaplain's cap badge, reverse side, later issue:
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Australian Chaplain's cap badge:
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Australian Chaplain, note the Chaplain's cap badge:
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British WW1 Chaplain's kit:
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Canadian Chaplain's cap badge:
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Group portrait of
officers from the RAN light cruiser HMAS Sydney. Chaplain Little is second from right, middle row:
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Vivian
Agincourt Spence Little was born to parents Edward Agincourt and Alice Little
(Horley) on 5 April 1878. He received his education at Cleveland Street School
and Sydney High School, before earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1903 and Masters
of Arts in 1907 from Sydney University. He also earned a Bachelor of Letters
from Oxford. In 1903, Reverend Little entered the Methodist Ministry..
In 1912, he joined the Royal Australian Navy and was appointed to HMAS
Encounter and HMAS Cerberus. Reverend Little was the first non-Anglican
Protestant chaplain to be appointed in the RAN. In July 1913, Little was
appointed as chaplain for HMAS Sydney. He was serving on HMAS Sydney during the
Battle of Rabaul and the battle with the SMS Emden on 9 November 1914. Reverend
Little served on HMAS Sydney throughout the war and was discharged at his own
request in June 1917.
In 1921, he married Ethel Maud Lock and they had two children, Beatrice Ethel
Spence Little and Wardlow Agincourt Spence Little. In 1934, Reverend Vivian
Little published the book The Christology of the apologists: doctrinal with an
introduction by W. B. Selbie.
Vivian Agincourt Spence Little died on 25 March 1956 in Sydney, New South
Wales.
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Australian Chaplain's field notes from the war zone. These diaries give detailed notes about many chaplains of various denominations, both in the field with the troops, and in the hospitals:
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Here is an example of what's available:
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A summary of Australian Chaplains in WW2:
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The Australian War Memorial website has information about Chaplains in WW2 and later conflicts.
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Australian Padres (Chaplains) in Vietnam
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U.S. SOLDIERS ATTEND A CHAPEL SERVICE CONDUCTED IN A CHAPEL THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED
IN THE BUSH:
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U.S. Chaplains in Vietnam
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Australian Chaplains in Afghanistan
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CHAPLAIN DEXTER served in the Boer War and World War 1:
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REMEMBERING SOME OF THE OLDEST ANZAC SOLDIERS
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James Gordon "Pop" Williams:
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Memories of another ANZAC veteran, WW1:
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Australian and British veterans describe their time on the Western Front, WW1 in their own voices (some are courtesy of BBC):
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"NORMAL WASTAGE" was a British term used during the First World War to describe the losses experienced during the war that occurred during Allied attacks resulting in attritition. "Wastage" was the term applied by General Haig to Allied deaths as a result of enemy fire on soldiers who were manning their own trenches, either not actively attacking the enemy's trenches, or advancing in wave after wave,
to be mowed down by the Germans. On the "quietest days" of the war, the British were losing 7,000 men killed and wounded per day to wastage. Even during major battles, wastage could often exceed casualties suffered during an infantry attack. Such was the case at 3rd Ypres and other major battles, especially later in the war.
Listen carefully as Paul describes what "Wastage" was and the numerical metrics that the British generals used to determine their success/failure on the Western Front. British General Haig, in overall command, was the most responsible for this irresponsible strategy which sent thousands of men to their deaths. Paul Ham lays out the grim statistics which are backed up from primary sources.
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Next 2 photos show Diggers during Battle of Passchendaele:
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British and Australian soldiers killed in Battle of Fromelles:
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Teenage soldiers and a boat full of blood Seventeen-year-old Daniel Patrick (Pat) Lloyd of Christchurch was among the New Zealanders who landed at Gallipoli on April 25 1915. He witnessed the carnage when the boatloads of men came under heavy machine-gun fire as they came ashore. Pat survived and went on to serve in France where he won a Distinguished Conduct Medal for ‘gallantry in the field’. Fifty years later he took part in an anniversary ‘pilgrimage’ by New Zealand veterans, who returned to Gallipoli to retrace their footsteps and visit graves and memorials to fallen comrades. Year:1915 (Recorded 1966):
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Interview with Harry Patch, last surviving British soldier of WW1, who died at age 111.
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ANZAC Light Horse soldier descendants return to Beersheba for a visit:
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Alexander William Campbell
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Two Irish soldiers describe their WW1 experiences:
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Gary McKay describes his combat experience in Vietnam
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James Charles Martin was born at Tocumwal, New South Wales, on
3 January 1901. Keen for all things military, Jim joined the cadets at school and the year after leaving school he took up work as a farm hand. In 1915, Martin was eager to enlist with the Australian Imperial Force. His father had previously been rejected from service and Jim, the only male child of his family, was keen to serve in place of his father. Anyone under the age of 21 required written parental permission to enlist, and although Martin looked old for his age and
his voice had broken he could not pass for a 21-year-old.
When Jim threatened to run away, join under another name and not to write to her if he succeeded in being deployed, his mother reluctantly gave her written permission for him
to enlist. Martin succeeded in enlisting at the age of 14 years and 3 months, almost 4 years under the minimum age. After training for several months at Broadmeadows Camp, he departed with the 21st Infantry Battalion from Melbourne aboard HMAT Berrima on 28 June 1915.
From Egypt Martin and the other reinforcements of the 21st Battalion were deployed to Gallipoli. Their transport ship was torpedoed en route by a German submarine and Martin and several others spent hours in the water before being rescued. Martin eventually landed on Gallipoli
in the early hours of 7 September and took up position near Wire Gully. In the following few months casualties from enemy action were slight, but the front-line work, short rations, sickness, flies, lice, and mosquitoes took their toll on the unit. Martin sent several letters to his parents from Gallipoli. In late October he contracted typhoid fever and was evacuated to hospital ship HMHS Glenart Castle on 25 October 1915. By this time he had lost half his weight and was in a bad state. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff aboard, in particular that
of Matron Frances Hope Logie Reddoch, Martin died of heart failure just under two hours later. He was three months short of his 15th birthday. Martin was buried at sea and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial on Gallipoli. The day after his death, Matron Reddoch wrote a heartfelt letter to Martin's mother back in Australia about her young son.
While he may not have been the youngest Australian to serve during the First World War, James Martin is considered the youngest to have died on active service. (Source: The Australian War Memorial)
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Reginald
Garth, a 12 year old Perth boy who stowed away on the transport RMS Mooltan.
His three brothers and father enlisted for the First World War and he wanted be
part of what he thought might be an adventure:
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British Army units for men
under 5 Feet 3 Inches
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250,000 underaged boys from Britain served in WW1. Officers allowed recruitment centers to turn a 'blind eye' to their age.
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Britain's youngest Boy Soldier - 12 Years Old:
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"Britain's Boy Soldiers" documentary
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"Britain's Boy Soldiers" in MP4 format:
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Teenage Tommies (Courtesy of BBC):
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Age did not weary them: the 'teenage tommies' of WWI In this moving tribute to the teenage heroes of the Great War, Fergal Keane unearths the most powerful stories of Britain’s Boy Soldiers. As many as 250,000 boys under the age of 18 served in the British Army during World War One, and every tenth volunteer lied about his age. Fergal looks to find out what made them enlist. Were they motivated by patriotism, or the spirit of adventure?
Fergal follows the children into the trenches to see how they coped with the reality of war. He explores how, as the casualties began to mount, a movement grew in Britain to get them home. Fergal also meets the children and grandchildren of these former boy solders, uncovering heartrending, but often uplifting, stories and taking them on an emotional journey to the places where their ancestors trained and fought.
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Teenage Tommies in MP4 format:
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During WW1, many Boy Soldiers fell victim to Shell Shock. They developed psychiatric illness due to the horrors of trench warfare on the front lines. Often, they reacted with erratic and uncharacteristic behavior and conduct that could be classified as a military crime. Many of these boys ended up before firing squads, to be made examples of for the other men.
Here is a film that illustrates what was going on:
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The Men who were Shot at Dawn
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SHOT AT DAWN: Private Herbert Francis Burden, Service Number: 3832,
1st Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers,
executed for desertion 21st July 1915, aged 17. Enlisted giving an age of 18,
when he was in fact 16.
Lewisham-born, he enlisted
with the Northumberland Fusiliers in or about May 1914, aged 16 years & 2 months,
but gave his age as 18. Burden deserted
from the regiment & returned to London where in Nov 1914 he enlisted into
the 3rd East Surreys, his attestation papers giving his age as 19 years &
240 days. 3 weeks later he deserted
from
his new regiment & returned to the Northumberland Fusiliers. Burden then went to France with this
regiment as soon as he reached — according to this regiment’s records — the age
of 19. He deserted when his unit was
suffering enormous losses on Bellwarde Ridge, & was found at some stage
later in the lines of the Royal West Kents.
At trial on 2 July 1915 —
where he was unrepresented —he explained that he had gone to visit a friend
serving in that regiment. After
conviction, there was no dissent from the sentence of death, which was carried out almost 3 weeks later.
(Corns, pp 294-298; Putkowski, p 48).
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Pte Billy Nelson - Shot at Dawn:
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Cardiff Remembered: The World War One soldier shot at dawn for 'not going to the front line'. Edwin Dyett:
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Shot at dawn... by his best friend: He fought with awesome courage at Gallipoli and the Somme - then could take no more. But the final haunting tragedy came when 'deserter' Jimmy Smith faced the firing squad. Here is the story of what happened:
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VICTOR SPENCER - NEW ZEALAND
ANZAC BOY SOLDIER - SHELL SHOCKED AND SHOT AT DAWN:
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Victor Spencer's story has also been the subject of a Podcast:
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING OTHER SOLDIERS
SHOT AT DAWN
and the British general who was responsible for signing off on these executions (as well as his flawed military strategy in WW1), can be found on
"CH Hughes - Part 3"; the next webpage.
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DIGGERS RETURN HOME AFTER WW2:
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Diggers returning from Vietnam war:
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British soldier returns home after WW2:
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American Soldiers were stationed in Australia during WW2. Here is information about the Black Soldiers who were there:
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Negro American troops rioted in the Townsville, Australia area during WW2.
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Australia during World War 2 was also dealing with what was later known as "The Threat from Within." American soldiers and sailors who fraternized with the local girls:
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War Brides also provided stress for returning Australian soldiers, especially if they had been jilted for an American GI.
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Symposium 'white papers' give insight into the soldier, his war environment, and lessons learned. Here are a few:
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Diggers returning home from WW2 were faced with re-adjustment issues. "Intermodal Reconciliation - Mates in Arms" is an interesting study on how the Digger dealt with the Japanese soldier.
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How did the Digger back from WW1 deal with the psychological trauma?
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Some Diggers came home with severe disability and disfigurement. Unfortunately, some did not adapt well to their medical condition. In the case study that follows, this man did.
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Some returning vets who were heroes, suffered from PTSD and sadly took their own lives, as seen in the next example.
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Case study of the couple who killed themselves to
avoid the horror of WW1 follows.
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WW1 British Chaplain encounters suicide:
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The Digger coming home from WW2 also had his own set of difficulties.
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How one American Vietnam veteran dealt with coming back and the transition into civilian life.
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The Digger who served in the Pacific during WW2 had frustration to deal with while waiting for return and discharge.
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NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ARCHIVE - THESE ARE SOME OF THE NEWSPAPER STORIES CONCERNING THE AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS, THE BATTLES THEY FOUGHT IN AND THE JAPANESE ATTACKS ON THE AUSTRALIAN COAST:
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(This section is continued on the next webpage: CH Hughes - Part 3)
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