The 1942 Japanese air raids on Townsville alarmed the whole eastern coast of Queensland. Schools were closed down or a time, and for some it meant a very wonderful time. “We ran wild” say some. Thousands of students from many State Schools as well as exclusive private secondary school were moved to scattered dormitories and […]
WWII – Queensland Schools Closed Read More »
ATIS was an integrated unit composed of Australian and American intelligence personnel and staff from the other Allied Forces (the Netherlands and China) Their primary responsibilities were the interrogation of Japanese POWs from Gaythorne POW Camp and the interpretation of captured Japanese documents. Given the low surrender rate of Japanese soldiers, ATIS placed greater emphasis
Allied Translator and Interpreter Section at Indooroopilly Read More »
My father was born in Italy in 1898. (We have a photo of him at the family house in his village. When it was demolished, it was found to be 300 years old). When Pilede turned seventeen, he was conscripted into the army. (In 1915, Italy joined the Allies in WWI). He fought for two
Carmen Formigoni (née Cantoni) – Italian migrants during WWII Read More »
During World War II, the Central Bureau was established in 1942 to support General Douglas MacArthur’s South-West Pacific Area Command. This unit brought together intelligence personnel from various countries, including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. Concurrently, the Fleet Radio Unit Melbourne (FRUMEL) was formed to assist the
Central Bureau-Ascot: WWII Codebreakers in the Pacific Read More »
The Digulists This story is about the Digulists – prisoners of war who were captured after the Indonesian uprising of 1926/27. These political prisoners were transported to a specially established concentration camp in Tanah Merah on the Digul River in Dutch New Guinea. By the start of WWII, a large number of these political prisoners
The Digulists who brought a Gamelan with them to Australia Read More »
Camp Freeman, part of the larger American WWII military Camp Columbia complex World War II, played a significant role in the context of racial segregation and the presence of African American troops. The camp’s history is closely tied to the broader dynamics of the time, as well as its physical location. This integrated account aims
Camp Freeman in the context of racial segregation Read More »
The American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) Command, or ABDACOM, was a short-lived, supreme command for all Allied forces in Southeast Asia, the area also included the supply port of Darwin, in the Northern Territory, Australia. ABDA had been established at Bandung, Java on 10 January 1942 and became operational following the declaration of war by Japan on 12 January
The American-British-Dutch-Australian Command – 1942 Read More »
Columbia, often referred to as Lady Columbia, is a powerful symbol and female national personification of the United States. Representing the ideals and aspirations of the nation, Columbia has played a significant role in American iconography and cultural imagery throughout history. The origins of Columbia can be traced back to the late 18th century, during
In August 1947, Australian military observers were stationed in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) under the auspices of the United Nations Good Offices Committee (UNGOC). Their purpose was to monitor the ceasefire between the Dutch and Indonesian forces during the Indonesian National Revolution. The number of Australian observers increased after the Second Dutch military operation
Australians in Netherlands East Indies first ever UN Peacekeepers Read More »
