Diaries of Thomas Currie Derrick, 1942-1945 - Part 1

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2022.6.145
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

sfect until 6200 fo again Militeo & incrured o 0200 leff at 8630 ar i long tnen purney It wight us to geeende fre mile from Oa 1sanE r the 3rd Kod arm 0100 his and prompll fired in teake and t to a eautiful wo cat JGrante pot from oo bn anl 2300 pr to m or with fen good not a ression fo of dny one git a lel nam from i f hat returned et 210 15 Dosay Alad wth Gmnan tn L Secasured fou fours late with snds and cmny nie hes tt are nile nale & lyans remained ih mae hoe and thal gr wah and sleep ther tld talen u to te t t war Drul p t g into Herm a You n ned the most lanng al menty your Msteralin th tnt teing ore honn ing at hoas about 1 t and ten n e I brst an poane t Alane
farry Blad 9 Had the mo off to eish cloths & of was spent exeiting 41 and thaking pat Formen carle to see ope, he is in the bread a yjou delivering to our oon, hill Franged in al his camp for Houstow night sprsaory rad 10 Out to a mas t 3700 and guar back to If by seitips with mer soisings as th object beon of Cratelled wilt yreti aad e reai is tuf hoe or mne of dear to times, one ours an lating to fours and lore will for 4444 Prock wts tried to sui de stream will full equc ment ples rifle. Relur edto combst lite all as act as syys lat letter of for the extenio Went wilt Tup in them ensobad 27 gollowsed leed pulene lattle t gen a sterdies, a nic btle evenirg and spent th night will Tupeuts Lror one tore in the moner Sixery Aal 1 yet slight ham lt the san fe and a little nuk was fax
Mowony A8f andles phase in our Initial stages of yhe le warar Weatler, ideal although fa made on the mye of side eemy pean 13 Sall quiet and unfentful received teo porels from frome. C0 Mary 14 A spol of wor today clessing segut & mutht ingt out phe Battalyn por de grond MAS HCA1 Same King Courty quet, no news from me pet Mounting 1400 £ Ta Aenl 16 of suell sot with lettle to do o le opportur ity to write two letter Strasty Ad 17 by work during to noming encluding layonel training Te as bey sports semmin ele realler still edeal and losing plents of weight Bsrwry Nad 186 On church par ale at 0930 with the and free Tup Foremen came over and we lal unt surmmingot small gain of ws into eeny Mom S1a1l 19 The asent to
fnding diretion in and of liffe it get. tut 5 wny. org but Aas 17 Ala 2 Ber did of t aung to 20 and am afor 1 Iam salyleg me little from te poi weledg ngle uls presnt craining Bersof Ant 20 ng edestial wll but a L1 at 07004 Mel setter be in al and and had ansue it wir a rl 50 por 6 mce t snlls. seppet I tam tfe lagers, in at uptes r to te on gesng the nght r net tane ablew from Ber Janed Do ont forlly swet sitt place 1310 L bya i mp 421 a boy firl bat 2galllin pesanp a y te ting sacer ick evening FMsn 23 Edumot G.D Inde with t Fa has 22
ew Bor beginnng to br es sre 14186 £g amdu andot righ Sar pns 24 dt aint into ca orth ti sof 1 A lagi eoa fe ts tef o o eveso M Afrza de 1a 1 he frid it 1230 43 found ne letter for By lermed lat dle2 nsent wth la alony whor t ree for hega h The oldest night for sore months Yomr Arl 26th tat cngos will eno rath Cephin thing werery Geal 17 Move aut will Don bx po a tuday over use the going in mg kills step, had several to ins during the our
C w it quiet day of te faiance. Reo hed finet wth little to de wile ojecterd at 1715 hs if had a lett & le Bergl and been opening steyply since dat was the timet is morning s li and i improve clngs days wosk ponsulch I munogdt Cawny Hla Andlexe day will stain filbet lows recep nough to do and I amipt te night and and suring up with ali Teatler day at 0 a t up a sag ncersre Wal E again mre Enenued the e 2 Tale again ws ererassn ambih being with nth worked w salyple resull oe gant Hore, butefrn Sarted for Camp at 100hs io still any preally 126 and apec CH at 1100 Had a yerr withe hup peri erow fid the lash of dpes oth te satll pas good and lyt hnt paithfull ed it end sdn mnd it spling at iis
s re Ma I muel day on I dmnd this letter faly traps and defeneer which fere most 18 ned fors, nottngis here as Cnt th Do B on mer fony a hale it or shet c and spers fura asn 114 but o defne Mil gou S Stope PaBay Nay 4 To the range again last Wght frrmt fm for th Onn gun practice being the month fand glade the se hin, subject wn otanaged some good the d sile horting and dlained se mnge ptl oofey tis a e Ils but is not i glost grouk of the day lst form lengh an SAtorory M2y balled out at letter suh a o0 a pracica for Arle Par na Imp action tews from Sorth Africs most to doh Henle te 1d Brgade with erten Pegre and f follng to meens g Woeo Ilish respectively sen sigus rn hope ame ons dan
te offeron, I auglet him ntopmes od prable anin Breg or30 to go Co 28 pant Smth Elde mpying be amus 0 42 2230 175 Menee the Hy duty by mryh f do 24 Setur or D Sipt soer 22 1 Moring out with O bog under lapt Mort hee or a this day Exercise and as upil it as mining. Ah this poes not make it copertible as me wruld in aines Witnessed thi be fanking attack dimonstrations and glined some interdting knwledge and pints about the reenesory RyI that oe sleep it all during the nught which was acloning mned Amwvidace ier sight execute t san gs d et oroohs by ae a woen atteck an enery from and afferre to be good and effectine to Returned to bamp at 10001 ent to the 0 atenn on tthCS th arayt 155 suned at 0030 after a pad nights in a nece iff bad
Sa May 6 nder wt to the 119 at and he hs devired to Nating loing tidy other then a litle washing and me to the eye beelest the par hes ac of Lale esas land on let but is still t it ea stt Ilard I my will o from 10 l e N 10 g h ese Dodyat Swrk per ide to a little thereoisnn rce hap enplured 10000 prs Well Smith you eyed to n to Gra MEY 172 t it fant of se ed in simete loyed mext y of Iselil krain t c 1045 wer f g ramwitis ra o pe prved to Ky to be gu N 12 12 utn on a Fe s i
BCM stand at 1010 will ce pest of 4 per no s am ev four dayr distenp at 1800 18 ample p TE 1 Te Brighle roc ast ay ind f Sealter A206 123 N n an int to the L p p a3 12319 EA ter at nect an eveing atl a fwe will ie monry lack to D 2 Mow2Oy TonE 14 i flare neglat in this little bis firm some temet onee caste Fenty th training ha lie confined to 2097 comeg in for wiek and and avay agan on th Mondey Irdy hs went to tate Can our pitial itterft bux rlings, and lis orsti

sleep until 0300 hrs again
to Mitcham & entrained
at 0600. left at 0630 hrs.
A long train journey
brought us to YEERONGPILLY
five mile from BRISBANE
on the 3RD APRIL arriving
at 0100 hrs and promptly
turned in. [[Awoke?]] and
got to a beautiful cold
shower at 0700.  Granted
leave to BRISBANE from
2000 hrs until 2300 hrs, for    
BRISBANE overun with Yanks
and not a very good impression 

felt by any one,
sent a telegram from cty
to Beryl and returned to
camp at 2130 hrs 
SUNDAY APRIL 4TH 

Left YEERONGPILLY
by train at 0530 being
four hours late, another
dirty and tiring ride to
RED LYNCH one mile north
of CAIRNS, remained the
night here and had a good
wash and sleep.  This had
taken us to the 6th of April
THURSDAY APRIL 8TH
Have 68 miles
to go into the mountains
seen the most beautiful
country in Australia, the
trip taking 7½ hours arriving
at KURI about 1730 hrs
the camp being well into
the bush and a short
distance to the BARREN RIVER 

 

FRIDAY APRIL 9TH
Had the morning
off to wash clothes &
the PM was spent erecting
tents and making paths -
Tup Foreman came to see
me, he is on the bread
waggon delivering to our
division, have arranged an
evening at his camp for
tomorrow night.
SATURDAY APRIL 10TH
Out to a march
at 0900 and way back to
bn by section's with river
crossings as the object lesson.
I travelled with 7 section
and had some real strife
on this trip back; crossed
the River 4 times, one crossing
taking 2¼ hours, and a 

close call for L/Cpl. Pocock
who tried to swim the
stream will full equipment
plus rifle. Returned
to camp 2 hours late
all as wet as shags, but
better off for the experience
Went with Tup in the evening
had 27 gallons of beer
with one bottle of gin as
a steadier, a nice little
evening and spent the
night with Tup who drove
me home in the morning
SUNDAY APRIL 11TH
A slight hangover,
but the day is free
and a little nap was favorite
 

 

MONDAY APRIL 12TH
Another phase
in our initial stages of jungle
warfare - Weather ideal
although a shade on the muggy
side.
TUESDAY APRIL 13TH
Still quiet
and uneventful. - recieved
two parcels from home.
WED APRIL 14TH
A spot of work
today clearing scrub & marking
out the Battalion parade
ground.
THURS APRIL 15TH
Same thing &

fairly quiet no news from
home yet. Mounting guard
at 1800hrs.
FRIDAY APRIL 16TH
A swell job with
little to do.  Took the opportunity
to write two letters.
SATURDAY APRIL 17TH
Coy work during
morning including bayonet
training.  The PM was Coy
sports, swimming etc.
Weather still ideal and
losing plenty of weight
SUNDAY APRIL 18TH
Bn church parade
at 0930 with the arvo
free.  Tup Foreman came
over and we both went
swimming.  A small game
of cards in the evening.
MONDAY APRIL 19TH
The usual training

 

but not very difficult yet.
A concert in the evening but
did not attend. Wrote to Beryl.
Was informed at 2330 hrs that
I am to go to the 27th Bn
to gain knowledge of jungle
and Japanese warfare.
TUESDAY APRIL 20TH
Left at 0900 hrs
per truck journey about 50
miles to Ravenshoe stopped
about four hours in ATHERTON 
and fairly decent little place
[[Arrived?]] 2/27th at 1530 hrs
WEDNESDAY APRIL 21ST
Little doing
during morning I went to [[?]]
[[three lines illegible, maybe 

[[? in and returned?]]
[[1900 hrs in darkness this?]]

[[??]]
finding direction in scrub

country
THURSDAY APRIL 22ND
Nothing to do
in the AM and am afraid
I shall learn little from the
Units present training, it
being identical with our own
- Met Mark Lee in the
arvo and had a nice little
yarn. - A few lagers in
the night, met Lance Plew
from Berri. - Joined Don
Coy on a Coy evening around
a log fire and 27 gallons
later in the evening.
FRIDAY 23RD
Good Friday with
nought to do, wrote two
letters. - Have had no

 

news from Beryl and am
beginning to worry lest something
has happened. -
Weather is ideal warm days
and cool nights.
SAT APRIL 24TH
A complete sports
day here, went into RAVENSHOE
for the day seeing an Australian
rules game of Fistball, a Rugby

league game, and Baseball and

returned to camp, a few 

beers, then to a boxing

tournament in the evening.
SATURDAY APRIL 25TH
Anzac day &
I am going over to my
Unit. I have still had no 

mail and may find some
there for me. - Arrived at
12.30 hrs found one letter from
Beryl & learned that others
had been sent on.  Returned
with Blue Maloney whom I
hadn't seen for over 2 years
and arrived camp 2130 hrs.
The coldest night for some
months
MONDAY APRIL 26TH
Unit on [[?]]
on [[?]] so will exchange
notes with Captain Thing
Tuesday APRIL 27TH
Moved out with
Don Coy for a two day exercise,

the going is rough and 

hills steep, had several streams

to cross during the course

 

 

of the advance.  Reached final
objective at 1715 hrs. it had
been raining steadily since
morning. - Fires were lit
and this improved things
considerably,  I managed to
obtain three hours sleep
during the night and woke
at 0600 as wet as a shag
WEDNESDAY APRIL 28TH
Continued the
exercise an ambush being
worked with splendid results.
Started for Camp at 1100 hrs
and arrived there at 1500.
Now had the task of drying
clothes, & The show on the
whole was good and I enjoyed
it, and didn't mind
it soaking at all
THURS APRIL 29TH
A quiet day
with little to do, wrote
a letter to Beryl and
that was the limit to my
days work.
FRIDAY APRIL 30TH
Another day with
nought to do and I am fed
up with it - Weather okay
again now.
SATURDAY MAY 1ST
Idle again, went
with Ron Smith to A S C to
see Grant Thorpe, but found he
is still away, probably AWL.
Had a yarn with Tup Foreman
SUNDAY MAY 2ND
A clinking hangover,

but think I will pull 

through. 

 

MONDAY MAY 3RD
Recieved two letters
which were most welcomed.
Out with Don Coy on river
crossings and snipers posns.
TUESDAY MAY 4TH
Met Grant Thorpe
last night first time for 16
months and glad to see him.
Spent the day at the 25th rifle
range with Don Coy. - Had
a few shots but was not up
to my best form.  A lengthy
letter to Beryl in the evening
WEDNESDAY MAY 5TH
A day of nought
to do other than my washing.
Visited the 18th Brigade with
Grant Thorpe and enjoyed
a few lagers.
THURSDAY MAY 6TH
A quiet day on
booby traps and defensive
posns, nothing new here, and
fancy we have it over the 7th
Div on defence. 
FRIDAY MAY 7TH
To the range again
Owen gun practice being the
subject.  Managed some good
shooting and obtained the
last group of the day.
SATURDAY MAY 8TH
Called out at
0430, a practice for Anti Para
Troop action.
News from North Africa most 

heartening. Bizerta and Tunis 

both falling to Americans &

British respectively

Grant Thorpe came over during
 

 

the afternoon. I smuggled him

into the mess and had a

most enjoyable evening. 

SUNDAY MAY 9TH

Left at 0830 to go

to 48 Bn. Grant, Ron Smith, Eddie

Day accompanying me arrived

there at 1340. - Returned at

2230

Monday May 10TH

This Coy duty Coy

so have nought to do.

Capt Thing lectured on Desert storm

Tuesday May 11th

Morning out with 

B Coy under Capt Mark Lee

on a two day exercise and

as usual it is raining, although

that does not make it so

uncomfortable as one would imagine. 
Witnessed three Coy

flanking attack demonstrations

and gained some interesting

knowledge and points about them.

WEDNESDAY MAY 12th

Had no sleep at

all during the night which

was a rainy one.

Recieved an injury to my

right eye when I ran into a

jagged stick at 0200 hrs.
Coy done a dawn attack on

an enemy from and appeared

to be good and effective to me.

Returned to Camp at 1000 hrs

Went to the M.O. who sent me

on to the C.C.S.

THURSDAY MAY 13TH

Awakened at 0630

after a splendid nights sleep

in a nice soft bed.

A 

Another visit to the M.O. at

C.C.S and he has decided to 

send me to the eye specialist

at 2nd A G H - The pain has eased

a lot but is still not the

best.

Good news from NTH AFRICA all

fighting has ceased and our

forces have captured 150,000 prisoners. 

FRIDAY MAY 14TH

Up at 6300 and 

moving by hospital train to

C.A.G.H. arrived there 1045.

Examination by Major [[?]]

proved to my great satisfaction

to be quite okay.

Had to make my own way

back to my unit and

there after considerable [[?]] 

2040hrs. 

SAT MAY 15

Nothing doing today

other than a little washing of clothes

News - Americans land on 

Situ Island and going well

SUNDAY MAY 16TH

Dodged church parade 

for a little spine exercise.

With Ron Smith journeyed to

7th DIV A.A.S.C. to see Grant

Thorpe, returned for evening

dinner. Played bridge in the

evening.

News - all fronts fairly quiet

Russians still improving posns

MON MAY 17th

Put on a Bn exercise

all day, back at [[?]].

[[?Italy ?? will pease feelers, 

psons?]] nearly completed. 

 

 

TUES MAY 18TH

Moved out 1030

with the rest if 9th Div personel

to act as umpires on 21st BRIGS

four day exercise. Arrived

destination at 1500 hrs &

camped for the night

WED MAY 19th

The Brigade moved 

out today and commenced

the exercise. 

Weather ideal.

THURS MAY 20TH

Exercises continuing

and going right. A

visit to the area by A.S.C.

FRID MAY 21ST

[[?]]
[[?]]
[[?]]
[[?]]

there at 1200hrs. A very

pleasant evening at the

mess. Was informed we

would be moving back tomorrow.

SAT MAY 22ND - - - - - 

MONDAY JUNE 14TH

Have neglected

this little book for 

some time. Since last

entry the training has 

been confined to LOAT.

coming in for week ends

and away again on the

Monday.
Today we went to Lake 

Euramoo and had our

initial attempt at barge

landings and this dosnt

 

 

 

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