John Mervyn Morgan Oral History

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DescriptionThis interview consists of four audio recordings and transcripts. John Mervyn Morgan was interviewed on 25 October 2003 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Shirley Kingsford McLeod.Interview SummaryJohn Mervyn Morgan, or Merv as he was called, was born in Wales in 1924 and migrated to Australia with his parents. In 1942, when Australia was at war with Japan, he joined the Royal Australian Navy. Merv’s initial training was held in various parts of Sydney including Bradfield Park and Ultimo before he was posted to Melbourne. The training consisted of many facets of navy life and included shooting. He was to join a shooting club many years later in Sydney.

He was posted to Townsville and then to New Guinea where he was stationed near Port Moresby. Here he became a member of a survey party whose task it was to plan and build air strips. The job needed much skill as the terrain and weather were not conducive to building the strips. Merv tells us in detail how he lived and worked there; he describes the flora and fauna; the food they ate; the joy of parcels received from home; the heat and wet weather; the threat of malaria and other illnesses such as hook-worm infection.

In 1946 Merv was discharged from the Navy and married a girl he had met in Melbourne. After their marriage they lived for a time with his parents until they built their own home in Fairfield. He tells us of the problems encountered in building a home in the post war years due to shortages of building materials.

Merv returned to his pre-war job in a wire factory at Marrickville before becoming a postman closer to home.

Details

IntervieweeJohn Mervyn MorganFull/other names, TitlesMerv MorganInterviewerShirley Kingsford McLeodDate of interview25/10/2003Duration01:44:48Transcripts availableYesRightsFairfield City Council Access ConditionsAccess open for research, written permission required for personal copies and public use

Connections

Oral History ProjectThe Way We Were - People of FairfieldLocal War VeteransCollectionMilitary CollectionAll Oral Histories

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