PDF Weidenhofer.pdf | Download (188kB) Available under University of Tasmania Standard License.

Abstract

Letters from J.L. Weidenhofer to his wife 1941-1945
Sergeant John (Jack) Weidenhofer's letters to his wife Nancy, mainly while serving in New Guinea from March 1944 until December 1945. At first he served in the catering services but in March 1944 he was transferred to ANGAU, the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit formed in 1942 to take over the administration of districts as the enemy were repulsed. He then looked after stores and supplies in various parts of New Guinea.
Letters were written several times a week often several pages long, some on paper supplied by forces clubs or organisations such as the Salvation Army and were usually posted through ANGAU, Port Moresby, or Lae, or, in the Admiralty Islands, through the British Fleet Mail Office, Sydney (with Australian or British stamps) or through the U.S. Base (U.S.stamp). For security there is little reference to war activities or the names of the various villages or islands, but Sgt. Weidenhofer seems to have served first in the Port Moresby district, in villages near the Laloki River and Kokoda Trail and in coastal villages, then in the north, near Lae, and finally in the Admiralty Islands (Manus) where he joined his brother Reay.
Jack Weidenhofer's letters reflect some conditions of the life of the Pacific forces in the closing stages of the war. He describes the various forces clubs visited when travelling or waiting for transport, the food, bananas, fish etc., chocolate and other supplies available, the heat and humidity, leisure activities such as cricket matches with native teams, the regular cinema shows under the palm trees, his own hobby of photography and 9.5. mm movie film making, and educational courses (he was studying bookkeeping and sign writing to help his civilian career). The most important things of all, however, were the letters and newspapers from home and the parcels of cakes, sweets etc. sent by his wife. He compares the conditions of the U.S. forces, especially their better food and he praises their ice-cream and their superior medical services during a short period in the U.S. Navy Hospital at Seadler Harbour, Admiralty Islands, but he concludes that the men are much the same and just as homesick for their families. As storekeeper Jack Weidenhofer made friends with many natives. A note dictated and signed by his boy, Kausis, was enclosed in a letter of 15 June 1944, and he asked his wife to buy a Bible for another boy, Kila. He describes native villages, especially the coastal ones but noted the number of bomb craters and the destruction of coconut palms by war in some places. He describes the canoes, fishing, craftwork, children's games, clothing (when worn) and the native drums, sometimes used when permitted to announce the approach of the lugger bringing stores. He purchased or was given many souvenirs to send home, such as string bags, mats, grass skirts, shells and skipping rope handles and a miniature outrigger canoe especially made for his little daughter. He mentions the mission churches of the Rev. Ure and Rev. D. Rankin and their families with whom he sometimes stayed for weekends. He liked the joyful singing of familiar hymns translated into Motu and missed it when he moved to another area where 'pidgin' was the only common language. Years later one of his friends, Rachel, sent him a copy of the Motu hymn book published by the London Missionary Society (1959 see no. 26). He made drawings of native villages, huts, the church, the store, canoes, vegetation, etc for his daughter (see also 13).
Above all these letters show the effect of war and separation on an average family. He mentions rationing censorship and advises his wife about insurance and where to go for advice when needed as there were reports of people trying to take advantage of soldiers' wives and widows receiving pensions. Mainly he writes about plans for the future and alterations to their house: a new bathroom, furniture for the child's room (the best possible, he did not want any second hand stuff). Little Heather's progress, her dancing lessons (but she was not to be forced), he was glad she had a playmate but recommended that children should not be forced to share toys, children should accompany their parents on holidays. He enclosed little letters and drawings for Heather (see also 13). He chose a tombstone for the grave of the baby Peter (died 1943). When a new baby was expected in 1945 he hoped it would be a girl, to be called Isobel (she was born in December 1945) and advised his wife to be careful and to walk the long way home rather than the steeper route. He sent flowers for his wife's birthday through his sister Lin, admitting that he would rather face the jungle himself than carry flowers through the streets or on a tram. His letter of 5 May 1944 refers to the controversy over the Theatre Royal. There
are also references to other members of the family, relatives from South Australia met in the forces and to friends, including a fellow sergeant, Joe Zagami, from Brisbane.

Item Type:	Other
Authors/Creators:	Weidenhofer, John Lyndon
Keywords:	Tasmania, van diemens land, social history, history, colony, colonial, Australia, indexes, University of Tasmania, Library, private deposits, archives, Collections, catalogue, Special, index,
Publisher:	University of Tasmania Library Special and Rare Materials Collection
Collections:	Other Special Collections
Additional Information:	University of Tasmania Library, Special and Rare Materials Collection - Private Deposit DX. 9
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

Actions (login required)

Item Control Page