Patterson, John Dudley (Private, b.1923 - d.2010)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX154838 (N228796) Private John Dudley Patterson, 129 Australian General Transport Company and 60 Australian Transport Platoon, Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia and New Guinea, 1942-1946.

This collection consists of four wallets of material relating to Private John Dudley Patterson’s service as a driver in the Citizen Military Forces, 129 General Transport Company and 60 Australian Transport Platoon in Australia and New Guinea.

Wallet 1 of 5, Folder 1 of 2 consists of 13 letters [including envelopes] and one card from Private Patterson to members of his family, dated between 11 February and 23 December 1942. These letters were written while Private Patterson was serving with 129 Australian General Transport Company in Queensland. In these letters, Private Patterson writes about feeling homesick, recovering from illness in hospital, his impressions of Queensland, settling in to camp, seeing pictures at the local cinema, truck-driving training, participating in army drills, transporting troops, receiving letters and parcels from home, moving camps, digging a lavatory, and the short life of a pet parrot. He also makes enquires regarding life at home.

Wallet 1 of 5, Folder 2 of 2 consists of 28 letters [including envelopes] and one book of souvenir postcards from Private Patterson to members of his family, dated between 7 January and 17 December 1943. It also includes one letter from Private Patterson’s friend, NX154839 Driver Leslie George Smith to Private Patterson’s family, written in December 1943. These letters were written while Private Patterson was serving with 129 Australian General Transport Company in Queensland and New Guinea. In these letters, Private Patterson writes about settling in to a new camp, passing through Brisbane while working, receiving mail from home, building and repairing roads, swimming, encounters with local wildlife, seeing films, attending a local race, participating in jungle training, transporting petrol, going into town while on leave, working hard, doing an infantry training course, and travelling by boat to New Guinea.

Wallet 2 of 5, Folder 1 of 1 consists of 21 letters [including envelopes] and one telegram from Private Patterson to members of his family, dated between 1 January and c late December 1944. It also includes one letter from Private Patterson’s sister, Miss Betty Patterson, to her parents, dated 13 February 1944. These letters were written while Private Patterson was serving with 129 Australian General Transport Company in New Guinea. In these letters, Private Patterson writes about his Christmas and New Year celebrations, receiving letters and parcels from family members, the hot and humid weather, having a heat rash, moving camps, exchanging food with local people, seeing films, doing laundry, a flood in the campsite, and swimming at the beach.

Wallet 3 of 5, Folder 1 of 1 consists of 20 letters [including envelopes] from Private Patterson to members of his family, dated between c January 1945 and 29 June 1945. These letters were written while Private Patterson was serving with 129 Australian General Transport Company and 60 Australian Transport Platoon in New Guinea. In these letters, Private Patterson writes about seeing films, missing home cooking, the beauty of the local landscape, driving trucks, encounters with Japanese prisoners of war, receiving a hair cut from a friend, riding in aeroplanes, receiving mail from home, swimming at the beach, rainy weather, hearing of the victory in Europe, and playing basketball.

Wallet 4 of 5, Folder 1 of 1 consists of 27 letters [including envelopes] from Private Patterson to members of his family, dated between 10 July and 29 December 1945. It also includes one letter from S6463 Able Seaman Henry Joseph Tatham to Private Patterson’s mother, Mrs Patterson. These letters were written while Private Patterson was serving with 60 Australian Transport Platoon in New Guinea. In these letters, Private Patterson writes about swimming at the beach, seeing films, participating recreational activities such as ball games and card games, a small volcanic eruption, seeing a Gracie Fields show, doing maintenance on his truck, celebrating Victory in the Pacific Day, working as a driver, having improved food, seeing large parties of Japanese prisoners of war, being part of the interim forces, fishing, having long workdays, transporting large numbers of troops, loading ships bound for Australia, seeing films, receiving mail from home, seeing a bicycle race, and celebrating Christmas.

Wallet 5 of 5, Folder 1 of 2 consists of seven letters [including envelopes] from Private Patterson to members of his family, dated between c January and 11 March 1946. These letters were written while Private Patterson was serving with 60 Australian Transport Platoon in Torokina and Rabaul, New Guinea. In his letters, Private Patterson writes about being confused about having little information regarding his next posting, seeing a bicycle race, playing softball, admiring the local scenery, going fishing, sightseeing, transporting medical supplies and rations, an incident in which an ammunition dump caught fire, and returning to Australia by boat.

Wallet 5 of 5, Folder 2 of 2 consists of documents relating to the service of Private Patterson. It contains:
1x Card from Private Patterson’s family to Private Patterson, [date unknown]
1x Clipping of Bible page, [date unknown]
1x Permit to board ships, Sydney, New South Wales, November 1941
1x Army Driving Licence, issued 1943
1x Copy of publication titled 'Legal Assistance to Members of the Forces and their Dependants'
1x Copy of publication titled 'Standing orders for Drivers of Mechanical Vehicles, 1945'
1x Rabaul Army Race Club souvenir programme, Rabaul, New Guinea, 26 January 1946
1x Card titled 'Medical treatment of Malaria'
2x Soldier’s Pay Book, containing entries dated between January 1942 and October 1946
1x Record of Service Book, containing entries dated between 31 July 1945 and 8 October 1946
1x Demobilisation Procedure Book, October 1946. Contains one Final Statement of Account.
1x Certificate of Discharge, issued 14 October 1946