The official history of Australia’s participation in the Pacific War is one of the country’s most prolonged and extensive historical projects. The primary source selected is the 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Force) and CMF (Citizen Military Forces) unit war diaries, 1939-45 War (Australian War Memorial, n.d.). This collection includes the War Diaries kept by troops of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and Citizen Military Forces (CMF) throughout WWII (Australian War Memorial, n.d.). Army headquarters, divisions, and units were expected to keep unit war diaries chronicling their daily operations while on active duty. This series is now being digitized as part of the Memorial’s Digitisation Project 2018-2022. According to the official website, all pieces in this series will be transcribed, and links will be provided as soon as the digital versions are available (Australian War Memorial, n.d.). The order in which links appear only sometimes matches the source entries’ series or item number sequence. Among the classes are “AWM52 Class 1 -Headquarters Units, AWM52 Class 2 – Cavalry, AWM52 Class 3 – Armoured Corps, AWM52 Class 4 – Artillery, AWM52 Class 5 – Engineers, and AWM52 Class 8 – Infantry”(Australian War Memorial, n.d.). These diaries were organized by department and covered one month at a time. War diaries or intelligence summary papers appear at the beginning of each journal and contain the date of each entry, the unit’s position, a summary of events, and any observations or references to supplements (Australian War Memorial, n.d.). Instructions, forced distribution, orders, updates, telegrams, and decisions taken may be included in the appendices, which comprise the majority of each diary; daily status reports, staff tasks; records of operations; alterations in establishment or strength; and a review of information received.
Overall, the critical element regulating the contents and quality of a given journal remains the officer in charge of compiling its expertise, devotion, and enthusiasm. For instance, the official document “AWM52 40/2/12/3 – [Unit War Diaries, 1939-45 War] 7 Division Salvage Unit – January to March, May to November 1942” has extensive information about the 7 Division Salvage Unit (7 division salvage union, 1942). The journal is essential because it offers a complete account of each month’s events, actions, and remarks and shows how Australian forces engaged in the war.
Tripoli was the location for the Division Salvage Unit in January 1942. Major Craig of No 6 Bulk Petrol Coy arrived on the first day. Inspected the tins and went over the procedure for returning POL. On January 2nd, Staff Captain 25 Bde. contacted the unit regarding a significant number of horse-pulled vehicles that needed to be transported to Beirut. The diaries are vital as they describe tactical planning and strategies. For instance, the leadership element of the Army is comprised of headquarters units. It is the highest level of the Army’s organization or structure, commanding all other subsidiaries, divisions, and formations (Australian War Memorial, n.d.). Its responsibilities include high-level leadership and decision-making, strategic and tactical planning, and large-scale military operations; the General Staff is found at this level. Thus, these diaries are valuable official records that aid in the reconstruction of Pacific War events, tactics, and plans through intelligence summary sheets that record the time of each writing, the unit’s position, and any observations or connections to attachments. The biases may relate to the officers adding notes to the summaries; nevertheless, the events are documented and described precisely.
References
7 division salvage union. (1942). Australia War Memorial. Web.
Australian War Memorial. (n.d.). 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Force) and CMF (Citizen Military Forces) unit war diaries, 1939-45 War.Australian War Memorial. Web.