My father (George Haim) was a Dunera Boy and came back to England. He did not talk much about his experience but we have a few artefacts. He died in 1972. I am in contact with Tanya Tintner (nee Buchdahl) whose father stayed in Australia. Tanya is the third wife of Georg Tintner, my second cousin on my mother’s side.
Fred Parkinson was a friend of my late uncle (Haim side)) – is Fred still alive?
Are there lists of the Dunera Boys?
Regards
John Haim
(posted on behalf of Mr John Haim by Mike)
I was wondering if someone can help me. I have a death certificate of my cousin Walter Rossiter who was killed on the 15.2.1942 on the HMS Dunera off Singapore by Enemy action at sea, he was 18 at the time and an aircraftman in the RAF. Does anyone know of this particular history of the Dunera or where I can find the ships log if it exists that may answer a few questions for me. thankyou
Neil Rossiter
Hi my name is John Ebert from Australia.
I am studying to be a high school teacher. A few years ago I had to write an assignment on the Dunera. At that time, I had never heard of the Dunera. But since then, I have given over 20 speeches on the Dunera and the Holocaust. I have met many interesting people including Dunera Boys and families.
Does anyone know or remember Ugo Bonelli (or Achille Bonell) who was an Italian Dunera Boy who was sent to Australia on the Dunera and who travelled back to England in October/November 1942. Perhaps someone will remember him Did he have a wife? children?
If you know anything at all about him, please send me an e mail to lppac1@hotmail.com
Thank you and Kind regards
John Ebert
27 August 2011
Here are a few pages from his experiences on ‘The Dunera’. I am only including 3 pages.. of the 43..!I am also including his prisoner of war papers.
Click thumbnails for larger images!
Images are thumbnails.. click for larger image!
Here is a watercolor drawn by an internee of the ‘Tatura’ internment camp. (click the image to see larger version in a new tab / window)
Hello Mike and all your visitors.
I am an actor/filmmaker, currently working on a documentary as writer/director about Austrian athletics coach, Franz Stampfl (the man who coached Roger Bannister to break the 4 minute mile in England), who was also a survivor of the Arandora Star and a “Dunera Boy”.
We are in the process of putting together information about Franz’s life before he immigrated back to Australia in the mid-1950′s – which of course includes the World War II period and his time aboard both ships, as well as his time in Hay.
We are very interested in speaking to anyone who knew Franz during this time, as well as perusing any letters, photographs, diaries, etc from other internees who would have had a similar experience to Franz (copies of these items are preferred as we know how precious these items are and the originals should stay with their owners or custodians).
I would be delighted to hear from anyone who thinks they can help me with building up a picture of this period of history – and especially happy to hear from anyone who may have known Franz on either ship or in the camps, or the children or grandchildren of those who may have known him and have photos or letters mentioning him from this period of time. Anyone who thinks they can help, can email me at info@franzthemovie.com.
Thanking you all in advance for any help you can offer.
Best regards,
Sally McLean
Writer/Director
Franz Stampfl: The Man Behind The Miracle Mile
http://www.franzthemovie.com
Sailed from Grangemouth aboard the Dunera on 24th May 1962.
Almost everyone was sea-sick as we sailed to Bergen on choppy seas. I can still remember the smell of the food in the canteen and lining up as we waited for our trays.
The best times were on board ship although Bergen, Oslo, Copenhagen and Hamburg were fun.
I have some photographs of the trip which I will upload. I would like to hear from anyone who knew me in those days, maybe exchange a few memories.
I am including a few pics of granddad as a British soldier, and as a business man.
His family moved to the US first and after he married my grandmother in England they followed. My mother and father(son) moved to the US in 1962.
They became US citizens in 1969. We all settled in Tennessee..and Kansas.
I have been researching for over 15 years.. My grandfather never talked about his experience.
I happened upon this diary in his dresser drawer after he passed away, over 17 years ago!
A very quiet man. But, I think history is worth talking about and hope you all enjoy the posts! And maybe, posting will help others find a bit of their history.
