Series 1: Photographs (1940-1970)
This series contains a photograph album, loose photos, studio portraits and colour slides, relating to the lives and service of Maurice and Patricia Fox.
Included are images relating to Maurice Fox's service during the Second World War, marriage to Patricia Illing; newspaper clippings, photographs of friends and family, as well as photographs taken in the Torres Strait, while serving with the Presbyterian Christian Mission based at Waiben (Thursday Island).
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Items in this series:
Photograph album (1940-1973)
Album of photographs relating to the military service of Maurice Fox during the Second World War, and his later work with the Presbyterian Church.
Included are images of his wedding to Patricia Illing; Redbank Camp; training at Bathurst, NSW; arriving in Singapore; Wavell Camp, Changi, Selarang Barracks; Mawai village; family and friends; newspaper clippings; studio portraits; Maurice's ordination in St John's Cathedral; churches in Stanthorpe, Weipa, and Longreach; Lockhart River and Waiben (Thursday Island). Some loose items have been housed separately.
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Loose photographs (1941-1970)
Loose photographs, including studio portraits and other commercially produced images, relating to the military service of Maurice Fox. Identified are images of a Japanese aircraft, HM Transport EE enroute to Singapore, and training at Goodna Camp.
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Colour slides (1971-1973)
Colour photographic slides relating to the service of Reverend Maurice Fox and his wife Patricia in northern Queensland most particularly on Waiben (Thursday Island).
Many of the images are captioned and include photographs of the people, places and events on: Boigu, Duan, Iama (Yam), Mabuiag, Mer, Moa, and Naghir Islands, Weipa airport and other places of interest. Identified are Bishop Eric Hawkey, pilot Father Tony (later Bishop) Anthony Hall-Matthews, and Father (later Bishop) David Passi.
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Series 2: Newspaper clippings (1939-1950)
This series contains newspaper clippings related to the service of Maurice Fox during the Second World War, some of which were authored by him. Also included are typed articles which were published by the 'Nambour Chronicle' after his return from war.
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Items in this series:
Newspaper clippings (1940-1950)
Newspaper clippings, many related to the service of Captain Maurice Fox, 2/26th Infantry Battalion, some of which were authored by him.
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Manuscripts (1945-1950)
Typescripts of articles titled: 'Nambour Chronicle P.O.W. articles' - recollections published by Maurice Fox post-captivity.
The articles include:
26 October 1945: [untitled] relating to the moral of prisoners of war, news services, and handmade radio sets.
9 November 1945: Commander Eighth Australian Division, Personal bravery never questioned, by an Eighth Division Officer
16 November 1945: Life in Changi P.O.W. Camp, former British Garrison Area, by an Eighth Division Officer [Part 1]
23 November 1945: Life in Changi P.O.W. Camp, former British Garrison Area, by an Eighth Division Officer [Part 2]
30 November 1945: Life in Changi Camp, Jap difficult outlook and mentality, by an Eighth Division Officer
7 December 1945: Life in Changi, recollections of a guest of Nippon. The most important activity - work, Part IV
21 December 1945: Travel under the Jap. Singapore to Burma and back. Part I. By an Eighth Division Officer
4 January 1946: Travel under the Jap. Singapore to Burma and back. Part II. By an Eighth Division Officer
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Series 3: Map (1941)
Field Map of Singapore and Jahore, maintained by Maurice Fox throughout the entirety of his captivity. The map was kept in the same wallet as his assorted unsent letters and notes.
[Item 6]
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Series 4: Newsletters (1940-1941)
Issues of newsletters retained by Maurice Fox relating to his service, with the 2/26th Infantry Battalion and his voyage on board the troopship HMT EE (codename for the Dutch vessel "Marnix van Sint Aldegonde") which sailed to Singapore in August 1941.
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Items in this series:
Cobbers (1940-1941)
Issues of 'Cobbers' a fortnightly newsletter first published in 1940. Some issues have been added to the holdings of SLQ, see RBS 355.7 001; signed duplicates retained here, others returned to the donor.
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H.M.T. E E Daily News Sheet (August 1941)
Issues of 'H.M.T. E E Daily News Sheet' a newspaper published on board the troopship HMT EE (codename for the Dutch vessel "Marnix van Sint Aldegonde") which sailed to Singapore in August 1941 with 2012 Australians, including Maurice Fox.
Issues include: 6 August; 8-14 August 1941. A second copy of the final 14 August issue has been autographed by a number of men.
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Series 5: Military papers (1939-1945)
Miscellaneous papers relating to the service of Maurice Fox during the Second World War. Included are training notes and instructions, routine orders and an application for a commission in the Royal Australian Air Force in Alec Maurice Fox's name.
[Item 9]
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Series 6: Correspondence (24 August 1939-13 April 1941)
This series contains letters, notes and other items of correspondence principally written by Maurice Fox to his parents Eric and Annie Fox, in Nambour prior to his embarkation for overseas, as well as several to his soon to be fiancee Patricia Illing.
Maurice a qualified solicitor, volunteered for service with the Citizens Military Forces in 1939 and trained with the 9/49th Infantry Battalion, at Redbank, before enlisting with the 2/26th Battalion in 1940.
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Series 7: Correspondence (21 April - 29 August 1941)
This series contains letters, notes and telegrams principally written by Maurice Fox to his parents Eric and Annie Fox, in Nambour, his brother Alec and his soon to be bride Patricia.
Now with the 2/26th Infantry Battalion, Maurice trained at Enoggera, and Redbank in Queensland, then in Bathurst, NSW. After his wedding in April, he embarked with the battalion for Singapore, where he spent the majority of his time at H.Q. 27 Australian Infantry Brigade. The brigade participated in the defence of British Malaya with its headquarters at Kluang, Jahore.
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Series 8: Correspondence (September - November 1941)
This series contains letters, notes and telegrams principally written by Maurice Fox to his parents Eric and Annie Fox, in Nambour, his brother Alec and his wife Patricia.
During this period Maurice spent the majority of his time at H.Q. 27 Australian Infantry Brigade, Singapore. The brigade participated in the defence of British Malaya with its headquarters at Kluang, Jahore.
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Series 9: Correspondence (December 1941-December 1942)
This series contains letters and telegrams principally written by Maurice Fox to his parents Eric and Annie Fox, in Nambour, his brother Alec and his wife Patricia. Later items are from the Prisoner of War Red Cross Society, and several to Maurice, which he kept while in captivity.
Maurice remained at H.Q. 27 Australian Infantry Brigade, until January 1942 when he returned to the 2/26th Infantry Battalion. In February 1942 the family was advised that Maurice was missing, presumed captured and taken a prisoner of war.
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Series 10: Correspondence (1943-1945)
This series contains letters and cards relating to the captivity and release of Captain Maurice Fox, a prisoner of the Japanese, in Changi Prison, and later employed on the infamous Burma Thailand Railway.
A number of the letters that Maurice received and retained were used to record notes on the reverse. Some written by Maurice were unsent. Just prior to the Japanese surrender in August 1945 Maurice wrote a lengthy letter to his wife Patricia detailing his love for her and his hopes for the future.
After his recovery from captivity, and while he waited to be returned home, he wrote many letters to his wife and parents, with plans for the future and a growing family.
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Series 11: Souvenirs, ephemera (1941-1945)
This series contains a collection of souvenirs and booklets relating to the service of Maurice Fox during the Second World War.
It includes: occupation currency, signed menu cards, postcards, and a military colour patch for the 2/26th Infantry Battalion.
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Series 12: Transcripts (2000-2020)
Two spiral bound manuscripts of transcribed letters by Maurice Fox's daughter Rose O'Brien.
Book 1: Maurice Fox - Letters from the Malayan Campaign, July 1941-February 1942 Pre-embarkation to the Fall of Singapore.1941-1942
Book 2: Maurice Fox - PoW Letters and Articles 1942-1945. 'These are the letters, messages and writings of my father Maurice Fox, Captain, 2/26 Battalion A.I.F and "F" Force Thai-Burma Railway construction, sent home between the fall of Singapore in February 1942 and 21 September 1945, the day he embarked on HMT Largs Bay to return home to Brisbane."1942-1945