Go to stage 3: Australia

Saturday, 11 February 2012

A report about the WW2 mutiny of US African-American troops in Australia

I came across this article from the Australian ABC news about a local Australian historian, Ray Holyoak, discovering documents talking about a mutiny by US African-American troops around Townsville, Australia in WW2. It seems that the mutiny was very intense with machine guns and anti-aircraft guns being used by the mutinying soldiers to fire on the tents of their white officers. Despite 600 troops form the 96th Battalion, Corps of Engineers, being involved in the disturbance and firing over 700 rounds, the casualties were thankfully light with only one person killed but dozens wounded. The webpage also has a video and audio link to further reporting.

"For 70 years there's been a rumour in Townsville that there was a mutiny among African-American servicemen. In the last year and a half I've found the primary documentation evidence that that did occur in 1942," Mr Holyoak told AM.

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Posted at 13:28 in Australia, World War 2 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Sunday, 05 February 2012

Some pictures of the old fortifications on the South Head of Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour is one of the most beautiful harbours in the world but despite its wonderful vistas it is still a harbour and therefore it has been a location worth defending. Its beauty now conceals a number of sites throughout the harbour and its surrounds that were built for more worried times. Over the recent Christmas break I was in Sydney and went for a trip around a few of the old fortifications. The weather in Sydney over summer tends be gorgeous and wondering around old fortifications in a beautiful harbour setting under sunny weather conditions is a great way to spend a day. I have placed a number of pictures below that will hopefully show what can still be found in just one part of the harbour. North Head, Middle Head and Bradley's Head all have fortifications, some of which are more complete than the fortifications that I discuss below. I grew up around the South Head side of Sydney Harbour so it was nice to return there for a look around.

The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW NPWS) sign on South Head that explains about the fortifications.

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Posted at 00:27 in Australia, Military History | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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