Author name: CCHA

Richard Casey instrumental in selecting Brisbane as a key WWII base.

Richard Casey, born in Brisbane in 1890, was a prominent Australian statesman and diplomat. During the early years of World War II, he served as Australia’s first Ambassador to the United States from 1940 to 1942. During his tenure, Casey played a pivotal role in strengthening the Australia–United States alliance. His efforts were instrumental in […]

Richard Casey instrumental in selecting Brisbane as a key WWII base. Read More »

Brisbane Timeline to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in the Pacific

Brisbane in World War Twoby Dr Jonathan (Jack) Ford Introduction2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, both in Europe and the Far East. From July 1942 to May 1944, Brisbane was the most important city in Australia during the war. It served as the headquarters for US General Douglas MacArthur’s

Brisbane Timeline to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in the Pacific Read More »

Nederlands Military Air Transport Services at Archerfield – WWII

Military Air Transport in Australia started soon before the fall of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). In the few months before this happened evacuations started to happen, mainly of Dutch civilian personnel including families of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Airline (KNILM). These civil aircrafts became the earliest core of military air transport in Australia.

Nederlands Military Air Transport Services at Archerfield – WWII Read More »

US Army Morning Reports Camp Columbia

Morning Reports in the U.S. Army were daily administrative documents used to track and report personnel and unit activities. These reports, maintained operational planning, and record-keeping. They are now considered valuable historical resources for research, including genealogy and military history. Key Features of Morning Reports: Accessing Historical Morning Reports Morning reports from the U.S. Army

US Army Morning Reports Camp Columbia Read More »

Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile in Australia (1944-1946)

Soon after the liberation of the southern Netherlands, on 14 September 1944, the Dutch Queen Wilhelmina decreed from London the official formation of a NEI government-in-Exile. This replaced the Netherlands East Indies Commission for Australia and New Zealand (NEICANZ) as it was established in 1942 in essence not much changed structurally and the renamed entity remained led

Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile in Australia (1944-1946) Read More »

The Dutch at Camp Columbia Wacol

(In 1942) When the Japanese overran the Netherlands East Indies, 14 officials from the NEI administration were ordered to escape to Australia. After April 1944, when the US 6th Army transferred its headquarters to Hollandia (in New Guinea), Camp Columbia was o erred to the Dutch. On 14 September 1944, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

The Dutch at Camp Columbia Wacol Read More »

War Brides

An estimated 300 US soldiers returned to their sweethearts in Australia. 10-12,000 Australian girls married Americans and emigrated to the US – 7000 of them from Queensland. In the USA, the number of war brides was enormous: “During World War II, an estimated one million American soldiers married women from over fifty different countries. In

War Brides Read More »

Brisbane City Council in WWII

To meet the perceived threat from Japan, the Brisbane City Council began construction of at least 200 surface shelters. These concrete and sandbagged boxes changed the face of the city. Office buildings had taped windows and sandbagged entrances, water mains filled with salty bay water for fighting fires ran from North Quay along Ann and

Brisbane City Council in WWII Read More »

Internment and Civil Alien Corps

InternmentIn the fearful months of 1 942, Australians of both German and Italian heritage were interned. 15% of Australia’s Italians were interned as “enemy aliens. ” But in Queensland, where the fear was greatest, the number was far higher! ‘Forty-three percent of the state’s resident male ‘enemy aliens were interned compared to only three percent

Internment and Civil Alien Corps Read More »

The Volunteers Defence Corps

Volunteer. Defence Corps (VDC) was raised and maintained its early years by the Returned Sailors Soldiers and Airmens Imperial League of Australia (RSSAILA): Boer War and Gallipoli veteran General Sir Harry Chauvel was appointed Inspector General. The VDC comprised men from every part o Australia and every walk of civilian life-volunteers under or over the

The Volunteers Defence Corps Read More »

Scroll to Top