In this lesson we will use my family history to explore the below topics.
I am the evidence. You must consider how my narratives can be deconstructed.
I know much more than I can say so you should be prepared to investigate and ask questions.
| Why men enlisted and where Australians fought. Essential workers and their occupations The scope and nature of warfare The significant events and the experiences of Australians at war (POWs, New Guinea campaign, women) The significance of the war to Australia (impact on civilians and returned soldiers and changing relationship of Australia with other countries) The commemoration and the evolving nature of the ANZAC legend |
We will look at two books and record their bibliographic details.
The women whose men went to war.
Elizabeth Margaret Their
1875 – 1965
She taught me songs and how to crochet.
Men in Uniform
Thomas Graeme Hendry
Died 27 April 1941 age 23
The Dutch troop ship Slamat was part of a convoy evacuating about 3,000 British, Australian and New Zealand troops from Nafplio in the Peloponnese. As the convoy headed south in the Argolic Gulf on the morning of 27 April 1941, it was attacked by a Staffel of nine Junkers Ju 87s of Sturzkampfgeschwader 77, damaging Slamat and setting her on fire. The destroyer HMS Diamond rescued about 600 survivors and HMS Wryneck came to her aid, but as the two destroyers headed for Souda Bay in Crete another Ju 87 attack sank them both. The total number of deaths from the three sinkings was almost 1,000. Only 27 crew from Wryneck, 20 crew from Diamond, 11 crew and eight evacuated soldiers from Slamat survived.
The aftermath and the trauma
Ted Brown and my grandmother and mother at Manly 1948
My father’s WW2 story
The fragmented family; my grandmother’s sister Hazel and her husband.
My cousin’s WW2 story
My husband Bill’s Dad Harry couldn’t go to War as he was a Boilermaker, considered essential and had to work at Cockatoo Island repairing ships.
Also his Uncle Johnny worked at the Taxation Dept and was also essential.
Uncle Billy was airforce and shot down over the English Channel and Uncle Lew was a prisoner of War in Changi.
https://oliver-17.library.det.nsw.edu.au/5/home/resources/details/9703a0640a071a804b1716cc003a3b97