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Solemn ceremony to farewell fallen American soldiers

On December 22, 1947, Brisbane honored fallen American servicemen with a solemn ceremony. A coffin representing an unknown American soldier was paraded on a gun carriage through King George Square, halting in front of City Hall. Dignitaries, including officers from the Australian Commonwealth Government, Brisbane City Council, various patriotic organisations, and the American Consul, laid

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The Pensacola Convoy – very first American soldiers arrive in Brisbane

The Pensacola Convoy, officially designated Task Force South Pacific, was a significant U.S. military operation during the early days of World War II. Originally en route to reinforce U.S. bases in the Philippines, the convoy was redirected to Australia following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. The convoy departed Pearl Harbor

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WWII Sites in Brisbane

This list is produced by Peter Rasey for the Australian American Ass. Qld. Division with the input and assistance of the late Sir Frank Moore AO, Don Cameron AM, and Rick Jefferies OAM. CCHA has been given permission to publish this on their website and invite people to provide correction, updates or additions. Peter Rasey

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Launch of the project by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Australia – May 2022.

n the presence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Australia, H.E. Mrs Marion Derckx, at an event hosted in May 2022 by the Pooh Corner Environment Centre and Dutchlink Brisbane a plan was launched to preserve the last remaining heritage items of Camp Columbia (which are situated in the Pooh’s Corner

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The Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) WWII – Established at Camp Columbia

During World War II, as the Japanese occupation swept through the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia), the Netherlands government-in-exile faced a daunting challenge: how to maintain control and provide administrative continuity in the occupied territory. Out of this necessity, the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) was born. Established in 1944 and operating initially from Australia,

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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

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Sinking of the Centaur

The Centaur, 2/3rd Australian Hospital Ship, was a motor passenger ship converted in early 1943 for use as a hospital ship. In November 1941 it had rescued survivors of the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran after it had sunk and been sunk by HMAS Sydney. On 12, May 1943 the Centaur sailed unescorted from Sydney at

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Racism in the Army

Segregation as brought to Brisbane with the US troops. The US Army formed coloured troops into coloured units (which were not armed-always transport and labour units), housed them in separate camps (e.g. Camp Freeman in. Richlands) and prevented them from entering the Brisbane ‘CBD (West End across the river was designated their Reg.R area). NB-The

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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

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Brisbane City Council

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

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Gailes Golf Club

During the war, Gailes, like all other clubs, had its difficulties. Machinery failures caused the closure of the second nine for months and clubhouse supplies were so scarce that the club introduced its own ration tickets  The course was far from congested but there was activity around the clubhouse. The American Army established its officer

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US to investigate 1943 blast

The Australian 3 March 2003 “it 15 amazing what a coalition of the willing can achieve even on the home front. “ For almost two decades, Queensland pensioner Roy Thompson, 73, tried in vain for compensation, or at least an apology from Washington for a tragic accident in which one child was killed and seven

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Darra Deputation

On 15 August 1944, a deputation of 3 residents from Darra met with the State Minister for Health and Home Affairs and the Police Commissioner’for Brisbane. They were introduced b` MLA Mr TIC Kerr The notes of the meeting include claims that: ..several attacks have been made by American Negroes on the residents at Darra

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Restrictions

In the crisis year of 1942, Brisbane people surrendered many of the customary freedoms of daily life. All civilians were required to register for the war effort and were issued with:personal identity cards. Children were issued with identity disks. Travel out of Brisbane was restricted, and censorship of publications and private correspondence was enforced. The

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Wolston House

This important part of local and Queensland history is now owned by the National Trust. On the river at Wacol, hay- way between Ipswich and Brisbane, it was established in 1852 by Dr Stephen Simpson, Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Moreton Bay colony. During WW 11, part of the property was taken to build

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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

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