Lionel Probert's War Diary "Bougainville 1945"

I have been transcribing this Journal all afternoon and decided to share some of what he'd written.

The whole Journal is going to take some time to complete and with Edna's permission I would love to publish it for her.

I find it hard to see him as a 23 year old and taking the time to write this down.

Lionel Probert's War Diary Notes:

 

Entry December 21 1945

Corsairs going out with two bombs & belly tank, going out to bomb Rabaul.

Lot of big guns, going up to the front. I’ll bet these Japs are sorry they started this war.

Are going to have a pretty comfortable camp here. Camped on an old battlefield.

7000 Japs killed here last march when they tried to push the Yanks off Bougainville. Almost succeeded.

Sixty nine of them buried just off the road.

Four Letters from Joy tonight, seems to have it bad.

Active volcano 5 miles away, very interesting smoke pouring out all day. According to scientists, it is due to erupt next year. It’s called Mt Bogana. There is another active volcano on island

Big offensive by A.I.F. S/Western side of perimeter.

Yanks beer issue tonight & they sound very boisterous.

Fifteen Aussies buried in Military Cemetery. “Killed In Action”