RARE WARTIME PHOTOGRAPHIC ALBUM

Nearly missed in the hectic build up to Christmas  was the above  fascinating collection  compiled by a  member of the 3rd Australian Division Concert Party between 1942- 1945, offered by Douglas Stewart Fine Books, Melbourne , $2750. It  contains  a signed  copy  for  the   show  performed by the famous   British  wartime  singer ,  Gracie Fields , at  Wewak, on August 21, 1945. 

Containing some  300 snapshots  and   mounted postcards ,it was  compiled by a Melbourne member of the concert party .

The early part of the album covers touring about Victoria, NSW, Far North Queensland and  the Northern Territory.

Northern Territory content  includes  views of Alice Springs ,the  Gorrie  RAAF base , north of Larrimah ,which maintained Australian and American Army planes , and the devastation caused by  the Japanese bombing of  Darwin.  

Information  supplied   states  the  second half of the album records the experience of the Concert Party in New Guinea and New Britain during 1945. It contains a large number of photographs illustrating  behind the scenes work involved in erecting a temporary theatre and mounting a production in the tropical heat, as well as many marvellous shots of the shows in progress – taken  both from the audience and the stage.

 There are also many portraits of the performers in and out of costume, plus shots of Japanese prisoners, local people and scenery.

The captions  appear to identify virtually all members of the Party. Most men appear multiple times in different contexts, and they include: Frank Lamprell, Eddie Mutch, Teddie Muller, Freddie Bean, Douglas Zanders, Dave Fox, Jack “Marconi” Sands, Jack “Butch” Romeril, Reg Swann, Bill “Tex” Mullin, Bert Nevitt, Jack Ryan, Leo Ryan, Max Hardy, Vic Saynor, Ronnie “Sinatra” Thurgood, Jim Whitbourne, Bunny Westney, Lt. Irving, Tommy Noonan, Ken “Cookie” Mawson, Angie Candela, Cliff Walker, Tom Rothfield, Jimmy Fletcher, Terry Blake, Bob Plymin, and George  Ratten.