Alwyn Edward Watkins - Patrol reports, 1934-1935

PMB 1143

fonds

Canberra : Pacific Manuscripts Bureau, 1998

441488

Microfilm : PMB 1143

microfilm reel 35 mm

Alwyn Edward Watkins (Bud) went to Papua to serve as a Patrol Officer under the Lieutenant Governorship of Sir Hubert Murray at the age of 21, in 1929. Initially, he was sent to work in and around the district and islands of the eastern end of the Territory. Later, he served for some time with Ronald gordon Speedie and assisted in the opening up of the Goilalal district, north west of Port Moresby. With Speedie, he made the first European ascent of Mount Yule in May 1935. On various furloughs to Australia, Bud attended Sydney University and studies law, tropical medicine and, under, Professor A.P. Elkin, anthropology. From late 1936 until late 1940, Bud was District Officer successively at Rigo, Abau Island, Samarai Island and Buna before returning to Port Moresby as a Magistrate. During several of his patrols as a District Officer, he also escorted a number of visiting anthropologists and medical figures, including Dr Margaret Mead and Dr Frederick Clements. During WWII Watkins joined the Army, serving inhis administrative post each morning and training as a soldier each afternoon. However, he took seriously and was shipped south to Australia in 1942. After about eighteen months of recuperation, he served with the Dept. of External Territories in Canberra until October 1945, when he returned to Port Moresby and took up the post of senior District Magistrate until he retired through ill health in 1948

The papers comprise:Patrol Report no. 12 of 1933/34 : Report of Patrol by A.E. Watkins to Normanby Island and Sanaroa Island, 14 Dec. 1933-26 Jan. 1934; Patrol Report no. 13 of 1933/34 : Report of Patrol to South East Coast District, 25 Feb.-28 Mar. 1934; Patrol Report no. 17 of 1933/34 : Report of Patrol by A.E. Watkins to Goodenough Island, 24 May-27 June 1934; Patrol Report no. 6 of 1934/35 : Report of Patrol by A.E. Watkins to the Mount Yule District, 13-28 Dec. 1934; Patrol Report no. 7 of 1934/35 : Report of Patrol by A.E. Watkins to the Kanosia District, 5-12 Jan. 1935; Patrol Report No. 5 of 1934/35 : Report of Patrol by A.E. Watkins from Kaiuku to Goilala Police Camp, 23 Jan-9 Feb. 1935; Patrol Report no. 6 of 1934/35 : Report of Patrol by A.E. Watkins to the Vetapu Valley, 27 Feb.-22 Mar. 1935; Report of a Patrol to the Karuama (Mt. Yule) District by R.G. Speedie and A.E. Watkins, 4 Apr.-26 May 1935; Report of Patrol by A.E Watkins from Goilala Police Camp to Kairuku, 3-14 June 1935; Patrol Report no. 1 of 1935/36 : Report of Patrol by A.E. Watkins, 19 June-6 July 1935; Patrol Report no. 1 of 1935/36 : Report of Patrol by A.E. Watkins to Goilala Police Camp, 9 July-2 Sept. 1935

PMB (Australian National University. Pacific Manuscripts Bureau) ; 1143
Available for reference
Microfilm copy of original held in private ownership