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David McNicoll interviewed by John Farquharson [sound recording]
Bib ID 3011172
Format AudioAudio, OnlineOnline [sound recording]
Author
McNicoll, David, 1914-2000, interviewee
 
Online Versions
Access Conditions Access open for research, personal copies and public use. 
Description 1997 
3 digital audio tapes (ca. 129 min.) 
Summary

McNicoll, journalist & former editor-in-chief, Australian Consolidated Press 1953-1972, recalls his family background; his father's military (Brigadier Sir Walter McNicol) & political background (Federal Member for Werriwa 1931); gaining a cadetship with the Sydney Morning Herald after leaving Scotch College, Melbourne; joining the militia & then transfering to the Australian Infantry Forces (AIF); sailing the Queen Mary (ship) for overseas military service in WWII, to serve in the Middle East & Cyprus; transfering to the newly formed Military History Information section & commissioned as an officer; upon his return to Australia being appointed to General Edmund Herring's staff as Staff Captain; his first meeting with Frank Packer, newspaper proprietor, in Jan. 1944 & that he accepted Packer's offer of a job as war correspondent covering the Allied invasion of Europe.

McNicoll recalls travelling to Britain via America on the same ship as Prime Minister John Curtin & Australian Army Commander-in-Chief General Sir Thomas Blamey; being attached to U.S. General George S. Patton's staff, commander of the U.S. 3rd Army; entering Paris with France's General Le Clerc; rejoining General Patton's staff at Metz, Germany; postwar joining Australian Consolidated Press office in New York; his assignment to interview President Peron in Argentina; returning to Australia after a year in New York to launch Town Talk, the first front page column in an Australian newspaper; after a year on the sub-editor's desk, being appointed Editor-in-Chief of Australian Consolidated Press; his personal & professional relationships with the Packers (newspaper proprietors); his interview with Nelson Mandela, while still being held as a political prisoner in South Africa.

Notes

Recorded on May 22, 1997; June 12, 1997 at Sydney, N.S.W.

Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-206234288

Index/Finding Aid Note Timed summary and completed transcript (typescript, 46 leaves) available. 
Subjects McNicoll, David, 1914-2000 -- Interviews.  |  Australian Consolidated Press.  |  Journalists -- Australia -- Interviews.  |  Newspaper editors -- Australia -- Interviews.  |  Newspaper publishing -- Australia -- 1945-  |  World War, 1939-1945 -- Journalism, Military.
Occupation Journalists.  |  Editors.
Other authors/contributors Farquharson, John M., 1929-2016, interviewer

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Details Collect From
ORAL TRC 3591
Copy: Recording
Special Collections Reading Room
ORAL TRC 3591 (transcript)
Copy: Transcript
Special Collections Reading Room
ORAL TRC 3591 (summary)
Copy: Summary
Special Collections Reading Room

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