This post continues the recollections of Endrius Jankus, a Lithuanian refugee who arrived in Australia on the First Transport, the General Stuart Heintzelman. Endrius became known as Andrew in Australia. He was born in Draverna in the south of Lithuania on 7 July 1929. He died in Hobart, Tasmania, on 23 July 2014. He sent the memoir to me in 2012.
12 December 1947
English Classes were organised by a group of university lecturers and the man in charge was Professor Crossley. The professor was from the University of Sydney. He was a short, dumpy fellow who spoke to us in German. We thought that he was a linguist and assumed that all of us could speak German. Probably about three-quarters could understand German, but not many were fluent.*
 |
| In his late 30's but still playing rugby union with the students: Dr Ralph Crossley from a photograph of the 1939 New England University College rugby team |
The professor, Dr RG Crossley, was from the Department of German at the University of Sydney and was the chief instructor of 22 teachers recruited from NSW and Victoria who volunteered to work during their summer vacation to teach the newcomers English and familiarise them with the Australian way of life.
The official estimate was that 80 per cent of the migrants could not speak English. I would dispute that figure. Of the 839 in our group, that would amount to more than 150 speaking English. There were very few in the First Transport that could speak English. My guess would be that 95 per cent could not speak the language. Most of them could speak and understand a little German.
We had dances in the Great Hall. Girls from Albury and Wodonga were brought in to complement our somewhat moody girls. Some started quick romances with them. Some came back later after completing their contracts and married them.
One fellow showing off his swimming capabilities drowned in front of his girlfriend. He was our first casualty in Australia. We buried him with the respect that we always applied to our departed.**
One barbel latched on to me, but I steered her promptly towards another fellow.*** I wasn’t interested in getting 'chained' just yet. The slogan at that time was Populate or Perish. When we asked the local girls to help with the 'population' part, pointing out that it will be good for the country, the reply was that it might have been good for the country but that it wasn’t too good for them. How unpatriotic!
15 December 1947
A heap of journalists and photographers descended on us. They took our photos at the Lake, swimming and diving. Those photos appeared the next day in the newspapers. I didn't see it, but someone told me about it. I was watching a movie in the Hall when a camera was pushed in front of me and I was filmed watching it. Later, a journalist 'corralled' me for an interview.
 at least this is a photograph of some men for a change: it's likely to be one of the photographs taken on 15 December 1947 Source: Sydney Morning Herald via Trove |
Camp life went on as usual. I didn’t hear it, but someone informed me and my friends that at 2 am Radio Moscow read out all the names of the people who had arrived in Australia. No doubt the KGB was still interested in the people who got away from them.
17 December 1947
I was ordered to offside on the camp’s truck. We drove to the railway station at Albury to pick up clothing and bring it back to the Camp. The second trip we made was to Wodonga to pick up food for the camp.
At 6 pm we received a surprise visit from the Immigration Minister, Mr Calwell, as we had organised an exhibition of cultural relics from the three Baltic countries. He was impressed.
At 7.30 pm we had a concert in the Hall. A lot of guests arrived as well. All this was filmed and taped. After the concert, Mr Calwell thanked us for our efforts and appeared to be very pleased. The next morning as we were standing at the clothing store, he waved goodbye to us as he left the Camp.
 |
| Estonians Valter Kongats (left), Tiiu Jalak (later Salasoo, centre) and Vally Meschin (later Johanson, right) perform one of their folk dances, Raksi Jaak or Crackerjack, at the concert put together for the visit of the Minister for Immigration, Arthur Calwell**** Source: Collection of Tiiu Salasoo |
18 December 1947
At the clothing store, I was issued with a sports jacket, trousers, army boots, army shirt and two pairs of army socks. Outside the clothing store we had to line up to receive our new outfits. We were called alphabetically according to our surnames.
 |
| The back of Endrius' 'Bonegilla card' confirms the clothing issue; a later diary entry records that the 2 pairs of pyjamas, hat and set of braces to hold up the trousers were issued on 23 January — they were all Army surplus, left over from the end of WWII Source: National Archives of Australia |
The clothing store was next to the Camp Commandant’s office. In the line there was banter going on in our own language.
One tall fellow with a booming voice replied to the banter quite often. That must have infuriated our Camp Commandant, Major Kershaw. He came flying out of his office, marched up to the 'booming voice' and punched him in the face saying, 'I am the Commandant'.
We were astonished that the receiver of the punishment punched him back with the words, 'and I am an emigrant'. The Commandant retreated to his office speechless, and most of us just clapped and shouted 'Bravo'. Not because he had hit the Commandant, but for his ability in the English Language.
A Scout Master from Albury arrived after lunch to inspect the Scouts and have a word to us.
That night I was invited by the Albury girls to a dance in their town. About thirty of us went in the Camp’s truck. We saw the same girls who visited us, but a few new ones had joined them. I met a girl called Nancy. She was a good looking Amazon and friendly girl. She even gave me her address.
The supper was fantastic. We were urged to eat up all the different cakes and biscuits. The problem was that they were too sweet for us. We were not used to so many sweet things, but enjoyed drinking the tea.
To be continued.
Footnotes
* Ralph George Crossley was the Senior Lecturer in German and head of the subject at the University of Sydney, but not a Professor. Most of the 22 other teachers were his students who had just completed their third year of university studies.
** I have told the story of Aleksandras Vasiliauskas earlier in this blog, at https://firsttransport.blogspot.com/2021/04/aleksandras-vasiliauskas-short-and-sad.html.
*** A barbel is a type of fish found in British fresh waters. I don't know for which word or words Endrius might have been searching here. Bar girl?
**** There are videos of Raksi Jaak on the Web. Since the photograph shows 3 dancers only, I've linked it to a video of the dance performed by a trio. It seems that, the more dancers you have, the more energetic and athletic it can be. Watch more energetic versions here and here.
