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David Dexter interviewed by Mel Pratt for the Mel Pratt collection [sound recording]
Bib ID 719109
Format AudioAudio, OnlineOnline [sound recording]
Author
Dexter, David, 1917-1992, Interviewee
 
Online Versions
Access Conditions Access open for research, personal copies and public use. 
Description 1976 Aug. 25 - Sept. 21 
3 tape reels (ca. 274 min.) : 1 7/8 ips., mono. ; 5 in. 
Series

Mel Pratt collection.

Summary

Mr Dexter talks of his parents and early life in country Victoria; his education; enlistment during World War II; training at Albury; Freddie Spencer Chapman; Commandos; travelling to Katherine; Timor; conditions in Dili; equipment; language; Australian relations with the natives; Portuguese relations with the natives; Japanese attack on Dili; occupation of Kupang; weakneses of infantry training; Dutch troops; Van Straaten; assistance of the natives; Joe Loveless; guerilla campaign; Veale; relations between Australians and Portuguese; David Ross; Japanese demand to surrender; morale; "D Platoon"; raids; capture of the stud book; being bombed and pursued by Japanese; the "Voyager"; getting out of Timor; publicity; terrain study of Portuguese Timor; New Guinea, June 1943; Bogajim road; patrolling in New Guinea; equipment and and uniform changes in New Guinea; Services Reconnaissance Dept (Z force); New Britain, 1944; morale towards the end of the war; Dept. of External Affairs; United Nations delegation, 1947; Evatt; writing the history of the war; Spats Waller; Casey; Colombo Plan Conference; Crocker; leaving the Dept of External Affairs; John Burton; Arthur Tange; writing a history of the War; Universities Commission; Australian National University.

Biography/History

Dexter, before he undertook the post of Registrar at the Australian National University, had a career as a diplomat, war historian, and soldier.

Notes

Recorded at the Chancellery, Australian National University, and at his home in Canberra.

Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-221579220

Index/Finding Aid Note Timed summary and transcript (93 p.). 
Subjects Dexter, David, 1917- -- Interviews.  |  Australian National University -- Employees.  |  Historians -- Australia -- Interviews.  |  Diplomats -- Australia -- Interviews.  |  World War, 1939-1945 -- Timor-Leste.
Other authors/contributors Pratt, Mel, -1986, Interviewer

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Details Collect From
ORAL TRC 121/80
Copy: Recording
Special Collections Reading Room
ORAL TRC 121/80 (transcript)
Copy: Transcript
Special Collections Reading Room
ORAL TRC 121/80 (summary)
Copy: Summary
Special Collections Reading Room

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