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Letters
Grandfather was the "Deputy Provo Marshal" of "Western Command" (1940 to 44) and as such was in charge of the "Kormoran verses Sydney" survivors come prisoners. (see the story of Koroman and Sydney) Hello one and all, just had a thought! My Grandfather was the "Deputy Provo Now this fact may lead to another historical look and maybe new information on this subject. His personal records should tell his part in it? His name was William Harvey, MC and he organised taking over Fremantle prison to harbour the German prisoners etc. We are currently authoring a book on William and as such have not looked too deeply into his WW2 service as we have been doing his WW1 and Police Service to date ( Legendary story here). This bloke was something else and like I said there maybe some hidden info on the Sydney??? I am very busy so if you wish to know more then contact me at rencejames@hotmail.com and I will release info as we come to it. So there you go, hope life is good. Cheers
My thanks for your E-Mail. I would be delighted to learn of any information you may turn up about the loss of HMAS Sydney, that might emanate from your Grandfather as a result of his exposure to any of the German prisoners ex Kormoran. You are probably aware there is a new push on trying to find her wreck off the WA coast. By coincidence I am in contact with an American journalist in Germany, who is in touch with some ex sailors from Kormoran, Ward is trying to interview one of them to get his story of how they sank our cruiser on the 19th. of November in 1941. It is all grist to the mill. Any information you may be able to provide would be gratefully appreciated and received. All the best,
19 November 2003 Hi there Gregory, how's life? I am almost ready to sign on the dotted line to an agreement to co-author a history book on my grandfather 'William Harvey, MC' who was the main man. William served on the Khyber Pass 1906 to 1911 then deserted the British army and came to WA with an Aussie mate whom he met while serving. He was a Sgt in the 'Royal Horse Artillery' and when he arrived home he along with his mate Strahan worked sinking dams in the wheatbelt. Then in 1914 they both joined the 'Old Sixteenth' and Will became a signaller. He was one of the first of the sixteenth ashore on the 25th of April 1915 and was at 'Quinn's' and 'Pope's' for his time there. He also ran with a message to the Pommie lines at what we believe was Sulva bay. When he arrived there he was taken to the pommy CO with the message just to find his ex commander from India seated in the bunker and was arrested for desertion. The Aussies got him back and he went on to stay in charge of '16 battalion signals' for the rest of his time on the peninsular. Then he became an officer in charge of battalion signals and won the 'Military Cross' for taking out a machinegun bunker with just a hand gun. When he came back he became the most legendary policeman this state has ever seen and in that time he was a pioneer outback cop etc. He had a main street moonlight wild west gun fight with a armed bank robber in 1932 of whom he shot in the forehead killing him with a .44 lump. This was possibly the last wild west gunfight in history???? He then went on to be requested to serve in the military as the only man in WA who could form, train and run 'Western Command Provost Corps' so this is where it gets interesting for you and the "Sydney V Kormoron". Now we know he had a collection of wooden swords etc taken from the prisoners at some time after detention. My father said one pine sword had beautiful burnt engravings of swash stickers etc. As we get to that section of his life we will be into his personal service records of WW2 so I will inform you as we get to it if there are any reference to the prisoners. Ok William's life was extreme to the max so I have just brushed over it a bit to give you an idea of who he was. He was a most respected soldier and policeman who was also a complete gentleman with a way of dealing with people like few others can. His records prove the admiration that his peers thrust upon him and it is the 'essential Australian story'. That's about as much as I can give you at this moment so I will get back to it. Cheers Gregory
Thanks for your wonderful message, your grandfather must have been both a great soldier as well as a character. I will be waiting to see if his life can give us any extra light on Sydney versus Kormoron, thru his association with the German POW's from the latter. Thank you for your apology about calling me Gregory, its not a problem, has happened all my life, that is the penalty for having a christian name that doubles for a surname and vice versa. Hear from you when convenient. Mac. ( For short and its much easier. )
Dear Laurence, I came across your mail to Mac about your grandfather and his being in charge of the Kormoran PoWs. He was most likely in charge of Willy Schruefer too. Mac and I have been corresponding because my father-in-law's (Afrika Korps) cousin was a German Navy prize crew member on the Ramses which Mac and the Adelaide stopped in Nov 1942. Willy was in PoW camp with the Kormoran survivors and attended several of their meetings here in Germany after the war. Through Willy, who unfortunately died this year, I got into contact with the President of the Kormoran Association here. We hope to do an interview before Christmas. We are putting on the finishing touches of the Japan - Adelaide- PoW time of the English translation of Willy's story and will send it to Mac - hopefully by 12 December - so that he can publish it. By the way, if Willy and the Kormoran vets has known what a wild man your grandfather was, they might have tried swimming to Germany! Seriously - Willy says he was treated well the whole time in Australia. But when WILL you write your grandfather's story. The Khyber Pass bit would be pure Kipling. Best regards,
(December, 2003 MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR
PS - More to come: new picture of Willy and the English-language text.
How nice to have your Christmas wishes, thank you. May you and yours have a wonderful 2004, with great results from you POW interviews. Mac. |
