Contact Information:
Special Collections
Academy Library
UNSW@ADFA
CRICOS Provider Code: 00100G
Australian Defence Force Academy
Canberra ACT 2600
Phone: +61 2 6268 6270
Fax: +61 2 6247 2324
Email: specialcollections@adfa.edu.au
URL: http://www.lib.adfa.edu.au/speccoll/speccoll.htm
| Prepared by: | Special Collections |
| Date completed: | November 2001 |
| Encoded by: | Special Collections |
| Last updated: | August 2006 |
©2004 Australian Defence Force Academy. All rights reserved.
| Collector: | Fleming, Michael Derek, 1919- |
| Title: | Australian Paratroopers Association (N.S.W.) |
| Date Range: | 1943-1985 |
| Reference Number: | MS 200 |
| Extent: | 7 cm (2 boxes) |
| Repository: | Academy Library, UNSW@ADFA |
| Abstract: | Correspondence, Nominal Roll, 4 Platoon, B. Coy Roll Book, diary extracts, newsletters, newspaper cuttings, poster, cloth colour patches and photographs relating to the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion collected by Michael Derek Fleming. |
This collection comprises correspondence, Nominal Roll, 4 Platoon, B. Coy Roll Book, diary extracts, newsletters, newspaper cuttings, poster, cloth colour patches and photographs relating to the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion collected by Michael Derek Fleming.
Michael Derek Fleming was born in England in April 1919. He was associated with parachuting in the Australian Army during World War II from the initial formation for training purposes at RAAF Station, Tocumwal, NSW in November-December 1942, when the formation was known as Group 244 (RAAF) Army Z. He was a member of the first Company formed in respect of the Battalion. He was discharged from the Australian Army in June 1946.
In 1958/1959, Fleming arranged for the Australian War Memorial to supply him with the war diaries of the Battalion. From them he extracted, in chronological order, certain entries which appeared to him to be of some importance, and which provided a reasonably clear outline of the whole process of the formation and operation of the Battalion, which was the first of its kind in the history of the Australian armed forces.
When World War II ended, and the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion was disbanded, one of the unit members retained the original Nominal Roll, which was in use by the Pay Sergeant of the Battalion. It records the name and regimental number of every person who, from the formation of the Battalion, was on its strength and, where appropriate, shows the date that any person marched out of the Battalion. It also shows all members who embarked for Singapore either in the first or second drafts. On the back page are separate matters of interest relating to members of the Battalion.
References:
Correspondence from Michael Derek Fleming to the Academy Library, 1985.
Papers of Australian Paratroopers Association (N.S.W.), Academy Library, UNSW@ADFA, Australian Defence Force Academy, MS 200, Box [Number], Folder [Number].
This collection originally included the following publication, listed below. The work has been catalogued separately, and added to the Library's main collection.
Bragg, J.J. and Roy Turner.
Parachute badges and insignia of the world : in colour. Poole: Blandford Press, 1979.
Australian Paratroopers Association (N.S.W.) -- Archives
Australia. Army -- Parachute troops -- Archives
Australia. Army -- Parachute Battalion, 1st -- Archives
Folio 1
Folder 1
Comprises:
Two unit cloth colour patches
Black and white illustration of the wings patch
Correspondence to the Academy Librarian providing information on the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion, 1984-1985
Correspondence relating to the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion with M.D. Fleming, 1967, 1979, 1980
4 Platoon, B. Coy Platoon or Section Roll Book and Attendance Record, Singapore, September-October 1945
Photocopy typescript extracts from the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion's war diaries, compiled by M.D. Fleming, 19/4/1943-29/1/1946
Photocopy typescript extracts relating to parachuting in the Australian Army published in Despatch (monthly newsletter of the New South Wales Military Historical Society), p. 81-91
Photocopy typescript notes on 503rd U.S. Parachute Infantry Regiment from New Guinea 1942-44 by Timothy Hall, published by Methuen Australia, Sydney, 1981
Roneoed copy and photocopy of Winged wingers, serial 1, vol. 1, 26 October, 1945
Roneoed copy and photocopy of Para news, vol 1, no. 2, Saturday 26 May 45, issued weekly
Roneoed copy of the poem 'The red beret' by J.T. Hamilton, ex-paratrooper
Paratroop Christmas invitation entitled 'Something different', Coronet Restaurant, 21 December 1949
Richmond Football dinner menu, 18/8/1943
Newspaper cuttings relating to the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion, 1945-1979
Folder 4
Comprises:
Photograph of the banner of the A.I.F. Australian Paratroopers Assn, 1943-1946
One b/w and two colour paper copies of Australian Paratroop Assn badges
Invitations from members of 1 Aust Para Bn A.I.F. W.O.'s and Sgts' Mess
Christmas card with Christmas greetings from the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion Singapore, 1945 to Chappie from Bill Murphy
Album 1
Box-folder 1
Black and white photographs relating to the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion including:
Inspection of the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion by Lord Louis Mountbatten in Singapore outside Government House late in 1945
Three postwar group photographs of unidentified men
Inspection of the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion by the Governor-General the Duke of Gloucester, Mareeba airstrip, Queensland, 1945
Armistice Day March - personnel of the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion march to the Cenotaph in Singapore, issued 11 November 1945 by the Army Film and Photo Section
RAAF publicity photographs - Series of jumping photographs, 1943
Clips from Fox Movietone Film made at Richmond Aerodrome, 1943, and released in cinemas in 1945 after VJ Day