Stephen Griffin discusses his father Colin Griffin’s World War 2 service in the Solomon Islands and Bougainville, New Guinea. Stephen relates stories of war that his father shared with him, stories of survival, mateship and killing. He also talks about his father’s post war experiences, including his participation in ANZAC Day commemorations, and his struggle with alcohol as he tried to cope with mental trauma and the long term effects of the physical wounds he sustained in the war. Stephen also talks about the possible motivations behind his father signing up for service but he can’t be sure why he did as his father never spoke to him about it.

• Listen to Stephen’s interview in Newcastle;
• Return to the Newcastle Yarn Up page.