Coonan, Edward Raymond (Ray),
Library & Archives NT,
Collection
Finding Aids,
HistoryNT,
Personal and Community Archives,
Date
2025-04-03,
Abstract
This collection of letters written between 1941-1946 gives a rare look into Darwin life and Northern Territory Post Offices from both civilian and defence force perspectives. At 17 years old, Ray was transferred from Adelaide to Darwin Post Office. He gives a detailed personal account of his life in the Northern Territory over the next few years, including the bombing of Darwin on February 19, 1942. Ray’s lively writing style and vivid pictures of his time ‘up north’ take us on a young man’s journey into adulthood. He was certainly right when, asking his mother to keep the letters, he noted ‘they will make interesting memoirs.’,
Notes
Manuscript reference no. MS 197. 5 archive boxes.,
This collection includes some instances of offensive language; and descriptions of post traumatic stress syndrome.,
Language
English,
Subject
Personal correspondence,
Australian Army - Postal Unit 1942-1946,
Northern Territory history - Darwin 1941-1946,
Northern Territory history - Larrimah,
Postal services - Flying Boats,
Finding aid,
Post Master General office - Darwin 1941-1942,
Northern Territory history - 1941-1946,
Northern Territory history - Alice Springs,
World War II 1939-1945,
Northern Territory history - Barrow Creek,
Northern Territory history - Katherine,
Bombing of Darwin 1942,