Dyring, Alfred Edgar (Warrant Officer, b.1921 - d.2011)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 15577 Warrant Officer Alfred Edgar ‘Eddie’ Dyring, 2 Squadron and 1 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, 2003.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one memoir of Warrant Officer Alfred Edgar ‘Eddie’ Dyring, titled “One Such Blue Orchid”. This memoir, written by Warrant Officer Dyring in 2003, records his experiences of enlistment, training, service as a wireless operator with 2 Squadron and 1 Squadron, and time as a prisoner of war of the Japanese. In his memoir, Warrant Officer Dyring writes about going through the Royal Australian Air Force recruitment process, enlistment, basic general training, wireless operator training, living conditions during training, recreational activities, his first flights in training, being posted to 2 Squadron, doing convoy work over the Bass Strait, the dangers of flying in fog, maintenance of the wireless equipment, undertaking gunnery training, getting married, and receiving an overseas posting to 1 Squadron in Malaya. He then writes about his journey to Malaya, hearing of the entry of Japan into the war, evacuating from Khota Baru to Singapore, doing regular patrols, attempts to defend Singapore from the air, Japanese air raids, moving to Sumatra and Java as the fighting came closer, the high rate of aircraft losses, attempts to return to Australia, and becoming a Japanese prisoner of war. Warrant Officer Dyring continues, writing about living conditions as a prisoner, being on work parties, small acts of sabotage, inadequate food, the cruelty of the Japanese guards, being interrogated, working as an electrical mechanic and builder in the camp, receiving mail from home, building a clandestine radio, inventing machines to use in his workshop, his liberation, and returning to Australia.
Also in the collection is a RAAF Air Transport instructions to passengers leaflet and Djakarta Calling daily program.

Warrant Officer Alfred Edgar ‘Eddie’ Dyring enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 10 June 1940. He trained as a wireless operator, and served with 2 Squadron in Australia. He then went on to serve with 1 Squadron in Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. With this unit, Warrant Officer Dyring participated in the Allied attempts to halt the Japanese advance on Singapore. In early 1942, he was taken as a prisoner of war when the Japanese captured Java. Warrant Officer Dyring was held in various camps in the Dutch East Indies. After the war, he returned to Australia and was discharged on 13 February 1946.