Klein, Kare Oskar (Corporal, b.1914 - d.1997)

Diary/memoir in large notebook of NX31225 Corporal Kare Oskar Klein relating to his war service in the Middle East and New Guinea between 1940 and 1945, probably written after the event. It describes his experiences in Palestine from early 1941 with 201 Australian General Transport Company (Australian Service Corps) (9th Divisional Engineers) providing transport support to offensive operations in Syria and the Western Desert, including driving trucks transporting supplies, ammunition and captured prisoners of war. There are detailed descriptions of the offensive around El Alamein from late October 1942, including air attacks and the fighting at 'Thompson's Ridge' (Thompson's Post) and the drive across the desert to Buq-Buq. Klein later served in New Guinea with 1st Air Maintenance Unit as a member of a 'dropping team', dropping supplies to ground troops in 'biscuit bombings'. The diary includes a large number of original poems describing Klein's impressions and encounters, as well as sketches and maps.