This page contains photos and/or other items that need some help in identifying.
Results will be posted to this page.
ITEM 1 - Posted October 2008
Do you know anyone in this photo, or where it was taken? It is a photo taken of released PoWs, and showing at least one 2/15th Bn member (Private Roy Currington QX11367). Location was somewhere in Europe - southern Germany?
Click here to see a much larger copy. Pow Photo - Europe (1.35 MB)
Results - None as yet
ITEM 2 - posted October 2008
Various members are shown on AWM photos. Some are identified in the unit history, but others are not.
Have a look at this page .
Results - SOLVED (first two photos) - see Doug Smales album on Photo Albums page
ITEM 3 - posted November 2008
Do you know where the Battalion Colours are laid up? Or any thing about how they ended up there, etc, etc.
Results - Some information from St John's Cathedral in Brisbane - see Colours page.
ITEM 4 - posted 9 December 2008
This photo came from Ray Clitheroe on 9 Dec 2008, who says, inter alia:
I have found another pic of interest which I have attached. My Dad told me about this photo when I was younger, less interested and I didn't heed the details as much as I should, but I am sure he said it was taken in Borneo which means it is a 2/15th photo. I think Dad said the digger at centre-back, who can be seen clearly head, shoulders and chest, directly over the head of the centre Japanese in the front row of 3 POW's, is my Dad. The kids to the left seem to support the Borneo location. I thought it would make an interesting pic for the website and I thought I might even see if I can get it "blown-up" professionally for more detail. Someone / decendant may recognise the digger with his arms folded front-right and the other with his hands on his hips at the rear-right. I am fairly certain Dad said they were NCO's. There is not a mark on the back of the pic to assist in identifying the subject of the photo.
Can you confirm where this was taken? Do you now others in the photo?
Here are enlarged portions of the above photo from Ray on 31 Dec 2008 ie same dates, same location:
Results - None as yet
This is an AWM photo of 8Platoon of A Company that was taken in Borneo on 24 November 1945. The only person that has been tentatively identified is Pte Les O'Shannessy VX138094. He is the fifth person from the left in the rear row. Anyone recognise any others?
ITEM 5 (Posted 9 November 2011 and updated 18 December 2011)
This is an extract from an email received by Secretary Steve on 7 Nov 2011. If you can help, then please contact Steve direct.
To the kind attention of Mr. Gordon Wallace,
I am a Northern Italian researcher, looking for information and, if possible, for a contact with the families of two former prisoners of war from the 2/15th Battalion, 9th Australian Division.
Pte Edgar Nathaniel Triffett, QX5753,
Pte Robert Wylie, QX5740.
I am currently trying to find more about the life and the war experience of a small group of Allied prisoners who spent some time on the Italian Western Alps, while "on the run" and trying to reach the Swiss borders. Triffett and Wylie are two of them. Concerning Mr. Triffett, I already found some interesting data thanks to the historian Bill Rudd; I would kindly ask you to help me in finding more and, if possible, to provide me a possible contact with the still existing members of their families.
I remain at your disposal, wishing you a nice weekend,
Here is Steve's reply followed by Marco's response:
G'day Marco --- Thankyou for your email and I am delighted to talk with you.
Sadly in the passage of time we only have a few veterans left however I still have 2 POW's one being Alex Connor now at the age of 92 and who is extremely clear in his thinking and has a tremendous recall of events etc and in fact has written many articles on his and others experiences in both Italy and Germany --- the other is a man by the name of Norman Harrett who at 94 is not doing too well.
Coming back to your question re Ted Triffett as he was known in the battalion, he passed away on 3 August 1989 in Toowoomba Queensland and it is believed that his wife did write a letter to us about that time and so my task in the next few days is to go through all of our previous journals and newsletters to see what I can dig up for you.
I do not have anything on Robert Wylie, however as I dig into our records I may find something and can come back to you.
We would be very grateful for any research that you have made and can also provide to us so that we can add that too to our records which is to be kept in a museum.
I would be most grateful for you also to provide your contact phone numbers.
Wishing you well.
To which he replied
Good morning from Milan. Thanks for this very nice reply.
I will wait with great interest the results of your search.. I know that even Mme Triffett already died, unfortunately.
Maybe, if you will find her letter, I can write to her children. Do you think that Mr. Connor may remember something about my former POWs? Or did he wrote something about them, about the Italian stay or the moment of their capture?
Thanks indeed. My mobile phone number is 338 9815092. The international prefix number for Italy is 39.
Anyway, today and tomorrow I will be away for work.
Best regards,
Marco
ITEM 6 (Posted 18 December 2011)
And another email along the same lines, this time from Katrina Kittel [
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]
I am pleased that Anita Shooks, daughter of Tony Giddins (veteran deceased), has informed me of your website and remembrance club.
My name is Katrina Kittel and I am busy researching the activities of my father NX60337 Col Booth (2/3rd anti tank) and his fellow POWs in Italy 1942-44 and in particular those who made it to Switzerland. The last 10 months or so have seen a lot of material gathered, plus contact with about 8 veterans still living, plus about 60 families of veteran POWs.
The Swiss list of 421 AIF POW who made it to Switzerland from Italy following escape from camp includes nearly 40 (at a quick glance) 2/15 men who were POW in Italy and who made it to Switzerland. Out of those 2/15th men, I have made contact with families of Fred Brockel, Ted Triffett, Robert Wylie and Don 'Duncan' Robertson. So far!
Would you have any means that I could contact families or veterans of the remaining 35 or so 2/15th POWs Italy/Switzerland? Perhaps by inclusion in a newsletter or on your website?
My goal originally was to chronicle Dad;s story, but now that I am hearing the stories and the themes and commonality of many men who were alongside Dad, it is my goal to put it together in book form. I have the fortune to receive encouragement and advice from men such as veteran POW Bill Rudd, who you no doubt know as the author of wwwaifpow.com. Amongst other 2/15th men, Bill includes info on Alfred Cotterell and Robert Donnan on his excellent and detailed web publication.
I would be happy to join/subscribe as you see fit, so that I can keep an eye on stories and images that may be included in your site's publications. What would you suggest as appropriate membership for myself?
I will be very happy to provide you with any information gathered by myself through this current research as it relates to history of 2/15th men as POW Italy WW2, as I have advised other regiment/battalion organisations along the way.
You are all to be congratulated for maintaining such a fine club and web presence. Not all battalions/regiments are as well networked, maintained, continued as the 2/15th history has been done via your web pages.
With my kind regards, and I look forward to hearing from you,
Katrina Kittel
PS
I am listing below the other 2/15th men known to have been POW Italy to Switz, not already mentioned above,: (fingers hold out!!) - in the event that you can offer any info or contacts (via yourself is of course fine!):
Bill Arrold,
Gordon Beach,
Ernest Berg,
Lewis Brookes,
Bill Bushnell,
Fred Carey,
Alfred Collins,
Fred Curtis,
Alex Dawson,
Eric Double,
Len Holman,
Ray/Rae Johnston (both?),
Leo Kerr,
Nev Lavering,
Wal McMahon,
Cecil Mitchell,
Ron Zwoerner,
Noel Smith,
Ron Scott,
Bill Morris,
Cec Nott,
Stan Peterson,
Bill Pritchard,
Noel Reese,
Clarry Reid,
Tom Thomas,
David Todd,
James Wilson,
Harry Watts,
Bill Solway,
and as on Bill Rudd’s website - Alfred Cotterell and Robert Donnan.
So folks if you have anything on any one of the above said members of the 2/15 please let me know. Steve.
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