June Rose discusses her Uncles’ Bill and Joe’s World War 2 service, and in particular their repatriation.
Bill was with the Military Police, and both served in the Middle East.
At one point, Joe returned to his family home to attend his mother’s funeral, and Bill was tasked with bringing him back to the Army after the funeral.
Upon return from the war, Bill suffered from serious mental health issues that appeared clearly linked to his war experience - he drank heavily and was alienated from the community and his family as a result, and June believes that neither he nor the family received any support from the authorities to deal with this situation.
She also recalls that neither uncle was allowed into the pub to drink despite their service.
Watch June’s interview in Newcastle.
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Sources:
https://ourmobserved.anu.edu.au/yarn-ups/yarn-participants/june-rose
