#151 Peter Whitehead

Tony Park interviews World War II veteran Peter Whitehead.

Guest interviewer Tony Park.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Peter Whitehead, born in 1923, is a veteran of World War II. He tried to join the Royal Australian Navy when war broke out but was rejected, instead becoming a ‘rough rider’ with the 2nd Remount Unit based at Holsworthy, in Sydney. After breaking in thousands of horses to support domestic war operations, he managed to join the Royal Australian Air Force, qualifying as a gunner. Peter was sent to one of the first B24 Liberator squadrons, in New Guinea and then flying bombing missions in the Pacific War from Darwin to Morotai. Today, Peter lives in New Zealand, and turned 100 years old on Christmas Day 2023.

He co-wrote his memoir, Bwana, There’s a Body in the Bath! with international bestselling Australian author Tony Park. Tony – an army veteran and previous guest on this podcast – interviewed Peter over an international Zoom call for Life on the Line. 

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu. The B24 image is courtesy of the Australian War Memorial, image number AC0074.

Referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• #4 Guy Griffiths

• #7 Tom Hughes

• #11 Andrew Robertson Vol I & Vol II

• #14 Hugh Kelly

• #20 Doug Gilling

• #27 Victor Power

• #34 Antony Greatrex

• #40 Rothesay Swan

• #42 Jack Bell

• #55 Avis Quarrell

• #59 Arthur Atkins

• #71 Bob Semple

• #81 Tony Park

• Christmas on the Line Vol III

• Life After Service - Tony Park

• #127 Reg Chard (also a video podcast)

• For School and Country

• Barney Greatrex

Additionally, you can hear Norton Duckmanton, Bevan Harris, Doug Symes Snr from the Life on the Sea miniseries, Holocaust survivor Phillip Maisel, and Alex Lloyd's interviews with two German World War II veterans: Eugen Pichurra and Horst Haase. 

FSAC: Episode IV Terror in the Jungle

FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY is a five-part documentary miniseries about 12 World War II veterans who went to school together, and then to war. In the fourth episode, 'Terror in the Jungle', Eric Thew battles the Japanese and disease in the New Guinea jungle; David Nesbitt flies in the Burma campaign; John Hordern is part of the largest naval battle of the war; and Lysle Roberts begins perilous flight training.

Battle for Milne Bay with Michael Veitch

Alex Lloyd speaks with author Michael Veitch about the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with author, actor and presenter Michael Veitch, widely published on the subject of Australian airmen's experiences in World War II. His ninth book, TURNING POINT, is about the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942. Michael spoke about the book and this fascinating, relatively untold piece of history with Alex Lloyd.

Michael has appeared on the podcast before to discuss his writing career, love of history and his seventh book, BARNEY GREATREX, which was worked on by Alex Lloyd and Angus Hordern. You can find out more about this book here and also listen to Season 1 podcasts on the topic:

--Australian Airmen's Untold Stories with Michael Veitch

--Barney Greatrex - Out Now

--Launching Barney Greatrex with Michael Veitch

--Retracing the Resistance with Charlie Mort

--RIP Barney Greatrex

The last image in the above slide is of Alex Lloyd at the Yushukan in Tokyo, Japan, in January 2017. This is discussed in the podcast.

#14 Hugh Kelly

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II veteran Hugh Kelly. Thomas Kaye spoke with ninety-eight-year-old Hugh in his home, days before he moved into a retirement village. This is the first time Hugh has spoken with someone outside the family about his wartime service.