Tom Trumble who has lived his whole life in Melbourne, and has worked in journalism, policy development, copywriting and book retailing. He has studied music, history and journalism, and is the author of Rescue at 2100 Hours and Unholy Pilgrims.
 
Chairman David Bradshaw introduced Tom Trumble.
 
We got a hands on insight into Tom's research and passion in uncovering the facts behind the true story of the former book. 
 
Tom's grandfather was Bryan Rofe who at the time of World War 2 in early 1942 was a young Air Force flying officer with prime duties as a meteorologist in Dutch Timor ( the western part of the island) at the key airport of Penfui.  With the Japanese advance and bombing of Darwin and Broome, most  units were withdrawn from the airport, but a small group of 29 Australian air force men were left to maintain its operative capacity to the last.   Bryan Rofe was the senior man.   The planned evacuation of those men was thwarted when Australian based aircraft assigned to pick them up were destroyed in the bombing raids.   Thus the 29 men were left to their own resources.  Japanese paratroopers invaded Timor.   What followed was the tortuous journey for the 29 as they fled from the invaders to spots in the north where they hoped various escape options might prevail (for example one hope centred on rafts).    

The foresight to keep and carry a radio with them across the perilous trek was key. A message came through from Darwin asking if they had a way to shine a light out to sea. The light was needed to signal the crew of the USS Searaven, a Sargo-class submarine that displaced 2,350 tonnes and could reach speeds of up to 21 knots.  Eventually after a couple of failed attempts they were retrieved by that submarine and liberated to Freemantle.
 
This was not an adventure.  The books describes the immense stress and horrors suffered.  All lost massive amounts of weight. Tom talked of 90 Kg down to 38 Kg.  One died from snakebite.  Bryan Rofe at 24 was one of the eldest  and with limited experience in leading men in warfare.  Tom proudly told of his grandfathers thoughts along the way....Bryan Rofe was a prolific diary writer.   It was fascinating to hear of the interaction and personal aspects of the young men.   Tom explained that recent  interviews with four survivors of the party supplemented his direct research including travel to the locations in Timor.   He spent two years gaining the material.
 
The audience were kept intrigued.   A common reflection was that there must be many many untold like stories of similar heroic and arduous exploits of young men and women in war.  The Chairman remarked the book to be "a good read".