Chris Townson gives a very detailed account of his long history of service in the Australian Defence Force. Chris speaks very positively of his time in the Army, and how he felt like he ‘found himself’ there as a young man at the age of 18. Over the course of his career he has worked in Malaysia and PNG training soldiers there. He was also deployed to Somalia, the largest deployment of Australian soldiers since Vietnam. He recalls particular experiences and encounters on his overseas travels in fine detail, particularly ambushes and patrols in Somalia. Chris then talks about how Somalia changed everything and speaks very candidly about his experience of PTSD upon his return.

This interview took place on 15 April 2015 in Townsville and was conducted by Dr Allison Cadzow as part of the Australian Research Council-funded project Serving our Country: a history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the defence of Australia.

The interview recording above is made available to be listened to here by permission of the interviewee(s), Chris Townson. The recording may not be copied, reproduced or communicated in whole or in part without the prior permission of the interviewee(s). Requests for permission for use of this material should be made to the Serving our Country research project: our contact details.

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