Rix, Gordon Robert (Chief Petty Officer Writer, b.1922 - d.2002)

Places	Africa: Egypt, Suez Canal, Suez Africa: Somaliland, Berbera Asia: Ceylon, Colombo Asia: Ceylon, Trincomalee Asia: Netherlands East Indies, Dutch New Guinea, Biak Island Asia: Netherlands East Indies, Dutch New Guinea, Humboldt Bay, Hollandia Asia: Netherlands East Indies, Dutch New Guinea, Mios Woendi Asia: Netherlands East Indies, Halmahera Island, Morotai Island Asia: Netherlands East Indies, Sumatra Asia: Netherlands East Indies, Sunda Strait Asia: Singapore Middle East: Yemen, Aden Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney Oceania: Australia, Northern Territory, Darwin Oceania: Australia, Queensland, North Queensland, Townsville Oceania: Australia, Victoria, Melbourne Oceania: German New Guinea, New Guinea, Madang Oceania: New Guinea1, Papua New Guinea, Papua, Milne Bay
Accession Number	PR03709
Collection type	Private Record
Record type	Collection
Measurement	Extent: 6 cm; Wallet/s: 1; Oversize: 2
Object type	Diary
Maker	Rix, Gordon Robert
Place made	Australia, Indian Ocean, Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Netherlands East Indies, New Guinea
Date made	1939-1945
Access	Open
Conflict	Second World War, 1939-1945
Copying Provisions	Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required.

Description

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 23128 Chief Petty Officer Writer Gordon Robert Rix, HMAS Hobart and HMAS Platypus, Royal Australian Navy, Australia, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, New Guinea and Netherlands East Indies, 1939-1945.

Oversize Custom Box 1 of 2 – Consists of one diary of Chief Petty Officer Writer Gordon Robert Rix, titled “The Voyage of HMAS ‘Hobart’ which Sailed from Sydney on Saturday, 14th October, 1939”. This diary contains entries dated between 14 October 1939 and 3 January 1941, and covers the period of Chief Petty Officer Writer Rix’s service on HMAS Hobart. In this diary, Chief Petty Officer Writer Rix writes about travelling from Sydney to Singapore via Darwin, his impressions of the local environments, cases of mumps on board the ship, naval patrols, an incident in which the ship’s amphibian aircraft crashed, escorting convoys in the Indian Ocean, training exercises, ship routines, being promoted, weather conditions, writing duties, visiting different ports, leave on shore, a parade for the Prince of Yemen, hearing of Italy’s entrance to the war, air raids, evacuating troops from Berbera, a boxing match, a hunt for an enemy ship, and returning to Australia.

Oversize Custom Box 2 of 2 – Consists of one scrapbook of Chief Petty Officer Writer Gordon Robert Rix, containing notes, documents, photographs, maps and drawings dated between October 1939 and January 1941. This scrapbook illustrates the events mentioned in Chief Petty Officer Writer Rix’s diary of his experiences of serving on HMAS Hobart.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one diary of Chief Petty Officer Writer Gordon Robert Rix, titled “The Cruise of HMAS Platypus”. This diary covers Chief Petty Officer Writer Rix’s service on HMAS Platypus between December 1944 and 15 August 1945. In this diary, Chief Petty Officer Writer Rix writes about completing the refit of HMAS Platypus, the journey to New Guinea, his impressions of the landscape, repair and maintenance work, travelling in convoy to Netherlands East Indies, air raids by Japanese aircraft, the movements of nearby Allied ships, the changing of commanding officers, witnessing preparations for landings in Borneo, and the end of the war. This diary also includes pencil sketches of several harbours in New Guinea and Netherlands East Indies, including Mios Woendi, Hollandia and Madang.

History / Summary

Chief Petty Officer Writer Gordon Robert Rix enlisted to the Royal Australian Navy on 2 May 1939. After a short period of training, he joined the crew of HMAS Hobart, and served with this vessel in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. He later served on a variety of ships and bases, including HMAS Rushcutter, Platypus, Penguin, and Albatross. Chief Petty Officer Writer Rix was discharged on 12 January 1952.