Woodhead, Roy Edward (Steward, b.1925 - d.2017)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of S7153 Steward Roy Edward Woodhead, HMAS Warrego, Royal Australian Navy, Australia, New Guinea, Philippines and Netherlands East Indies, 1944-1945.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one diary of Steward Woodhead, with entries dated between 7 December 1944 and 31 July 1945. In his diary, Steward Woodhead records the experiences of his service in HMAS Warrego. Some of these experiences include embarking from Sydney, arriving in the Philippines to assist in the United States landing at Lingayen Gulf, air raids, aiding in medical operations on board the ship, surveying in advance of a convoy of troopships, defending the convoy against enemy destroyers, being targeted by Kamikaze aircraft attack, witnessing the bombardment and landing at Lingayen Gulf, seeing the damage done to HMAS Australia by Kamikaze attack, gaining the nickname “the dirty work boys”, doing further surveying work in the Philippines, witnessing the landing at Subic Bay, being short on provisions, transporting American troops, sailing through a minefield, seeing the destruction of towns and villages, meeting a war correspondent, travelling to New Guinea, bombarding Japanese-occupied islands, assisting in the landing at Balikpapan, and travelling to Sydney via Morotai. He then writes of travelling from Sydney to Morotai via Darwin, transporting troops to and from Balikpapan, having leave in Macassar, arriving in Sandakan Harbour and interviewing the Japanese Officers responsible for the Prisoner of War camps in the area, transporting troops to Darwin, injuring his back in a fall, and arriving back in Sydney. This diary also includes newspaper clippings and photographs relating to the HMAS Warrego.

Steward Roy Edward Woodhead enlisted to the Royal Australian Navy on 5 Ocotber 1942. He served on a variety of ships, including HMAS Cerberus, Lanka, Toowoomba, Penguin, Warrego, and Rushcutter. Steward Woodhead was discharged on 19 July 1946.