Anzac Square & Memorial Galleries

During World War II our first and only indigenous Battalion was formed in the Torres Strait Islands. The Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion was raised in March 1943 in response to Japan’s sweeping victories in the Pacific region. Almost every man from across the small island communities, 880 in total (from a population base of about 4,000), volunteered to join the Battalion and help defend their families, community and country.
As early as December 1940, with mounting pressure on manpower resources in Australia, it was decided Torres Strait Islanders could be enlisted to ‘replace’ some of the white troops being sent to the Horn Island military garrison. Recruiting into a Militia Torres Strait Infantry Company started in June 1941 but as the pay offered was less than half the regular army pay, only 66 enlisted. By October 1941, 106 men had joined, and a report of their service acknowledged their excellent discipline and good conduct. When Japan entered the war things changed dramatically in the islands. Air raids on the RAAF base at Horn Island began on 12 March 1942, and the tempo of defensive preparation increased rapidly. An aggressive recruiting drive began and during the tense months, from the Japanese landing at Gona on 21 July 1942 and the recapture of Kokoda on 2 November 1942, the company of 106 recruits grew to over 730. These men would become the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion (TSLIB) when it was officially raised on 1 March 1943.
The recruits were engaged in defensive preparation, basic training, range practices, joint exercises with non-islander units, reconnaissance and the dispersal of ammunition and other stores. By December 1943 the underpaid troops in A, B and C companies, who were also worried about their families left on the islands to support themselves with no men to protect them or ensure food supplies, refused to work in protest. A Company, mainly Murray Islanders, were the last to return to work on 31 December after assurances their complaints would be heard. Despite acknowledging at a conference that the underpayment of the troops was illegal, it was decided that an increase to 66.6% (from 50%) of white pay was sufficient. It wasn’t until the 1980s that surviving members of the TSLIB would receive the full back pay to which they were entitled, and in the early 2000s their service medals were finally awarded.

This photo of Torres Strait Island Policemen taken in the 1950s includes 4 Murray Island men who served in the TSLIB during WWII.

Q85044 Jimmy Wailu was 29 and married when he enlisted on 14 June 1941. He served for 5 years discharging on 20 June 1946. His service included 145 days of Active Service overseas in Merauke, Dutch New Guinea.

Q85198 Nagai Tabo was also married and 32 when he enlisted on 1 June 1942. His service continued until 13 March 1946 and included 99 days of Active Service overseas in Merauke.

As we couldn’t find any service records for Benny Kudul, (centre), we can’t ascertain if he served during World War II.

Q85158 Dad Epseg was only 21 when he enlisted on 13 April 1942. It would seem he was in one of the TSLIB Companies that went on strike in December 1943 as his records show he was fined one pound at that time, which was the punishment meted out to the strikers. Dad served until 5 June 1946.

Q85122 Arees Tapau was just 18 when he enlisted on 20 August 1941. Like Dad Epseg, he was fined a pound and confined to barracks for 14 days for being part of the 1943 strike. He continued to serve until 20 June 1946.

As three of the four who served died before or in 1984 it is doubtful they ever received their backpay or medals. Jimmy, however, lived until 1997 so hopefully received those entitlements. Despite the inequalities experienced during WWII, men and women of the Torres Strait Island communities continue to serve in our forces today. For example, it is believed that every soldier in Charlie Company 51st Battalion FNQ Regiment based on Thursday Island is a descendant of someone who served in the TSLIB.

Jimmy Wailu (Quantell), Nagai Tabo, Benny Kudul, Dad Epseg and Arees Tapau, circa 1950. TR 1970, Miles Family Photographs
Brisbane John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Image number: TR1970-001-0038

In 1967 No.2 Squadron left their base at Butterworth, Malaysia, to join the Vietnam War. Based at Phan Rang Air Base as part of America’s 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, they made a name for themselves as the best performing unit in the group. Flying around eight missions per day, No 2. Squadron flew a total of 11,900 missions throughout their time in Vietnam.

The squadron used the English Electric Canberra, a bomber with the ability to fly below low cloud cover. This unique ability allowed No.2 Squadron to outperform their colleagues who had to use dive bombing techniques. With experience hunting insurgents in Malaya, the squadron was well equipped to locate guerrillas and Viet Cong infrastructure.

The squadron was involved in the defence of Khe Sanh in January 1968. Khe Sanh was attacked by the North Vietnamese to draw American soldiers away from areas which were marked for the Tet Offensive. In total, 115,000 tonnes of ordinance was dropped by the allies. Due to possessing air superiority, Khe Sanh was successfully defended, although the Viet Cong’s success with the Tet Offensive caused this to be overlooked.

Another famous battle the squadron was in was the 1971 South Vietnamese attack on the Ho Chi Minh trail. The Squadron supported a pre-emptive South Vietnamese attack on the trail in Laos, where it was thought northern forces would amass to open a new vector of attack on the south. As American ground forces were not allowed to assist, the outnumbered southern assault failed.

Combat was not the only thing on the squadron’s mind though, as they engaged in several humanitarian activities. Led by Padre Patrick McCormick, No.2 Squadron built an orphanage for children in Tan Tai near Phan Rang. Airmen also delivered Christmas gifts to children, provided villages with reticulated water, and facilitated youth projects. The squadron left Vietnam in June 1971, where they returned to Amberley.

Refueling a Canberra Bomber, RAAF base at Phan Rang, South Vietnam 1968-1969., 32657, Jon Fallows Vietnam War Collection, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image No 32657-0003-0023.

This reconciliation week (27 May to 3 June) why not visit Anzac Square Memorial Galleries, to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have served in military conflicts and operations. The Galleries commemorate and showcase stories of First Nations service personnel, featuring personal accounts, historical artefacts and unit histories, such as the service of the Torres Straits Force. The galleries are open 10 – 4 pm Sunday to Friday. To enhance your visit why not book a spot on one of our daily tours at 1:30pm, https://qld.pulse.ly/m1j1kw8zkp

For those unable to visit in person you can also read stories, https://qld.pulse.ly/bra8xciglo, of First Nations men and women who have served their country. Simply click on the topics drop down bar and selection ‘First Nations’. If you would like help researching the service history of a First Nations person, State Library of Queensland also has a useful guide here: https://qld.pulse.ly/qglwv5zo9n

1st Reinforcements Queensland to Egypt, 1918, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative no 12532.

This reconciliation week, tune in to RSL Queensland's Indigenous Veterans Ceremony to commemorate the service and sacrifice of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for Australia. Since 2006, RSL QLD has held the annual Indigenous Veterans Ceremony on the Saturday of National Reconciliation Week. This year, the ceremony will be held in Cairns starting at 11am. You can click this link to view the livestream: https://youtube.pulse.ly/njljiwrnwr

It has often been underacknowledged that many Indigenous veterans who served alongside other Australians in the same conflicts were not granted the same entitlements and rights upon their return from service. The Indigenous Veterans Ceremony is an opportunity for the community to recognise these inequities, and to recognise the invaluable contributions of Queensland’s Indigenous service personnel to the Australian Defence force who have served and continue to.

We encourage all to pay their respects by attending the ceremony if they can, in-person or virtually, and discover stories of Queensland Indigenous service this reconciliation week.

Elgin Leedie, also known as Buddy, as master of ceremonies at the Anzac Day ceremony at Cherbourg in 2023, Dean Saffron Cherbourg and Murgon Anzac Day photographs, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image no 33967-0001-0010.

Today we witnessed the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Brisbane III, exercise their right to Freedom of Entry to the City of Brisbane. The granting of Freedom of City to naval units traces its history to medieval times when it was considered a highly prized privilege, which allowed troops to secure food and supplies. Freedom of the City was also granted to naval units in recognition of the defence of seaport cities and towns.

HMAS Brisbane III was commissioned on 22 October 2018 and is a Hobart Class Guided Missile Destroyer with a crew of approximately 180. These destroyers provide defence for accompanying ships, land forces and infrastructure in coastal areas and for self-protection against missiles and aircraft. The ship’s home port is Fleet Base East in Sydney, but she is visiting Brisbane from 28 May to 01 June. The ceremony today started on Adelaide Street near Anzac Square. The procession, which proceeded up to King George Square, was led by a crew member proudly bearing a lifebuoy marked with H.M.A.S. Brisbane. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Ensign, the White Ensign, which is the official flag flown by commissioned ships of the RAN, was also carried.

During WWII, Brisbane City Council built ‘austerity’ buses as a way to adapt to the shortages of resources at the time. The K3 or K4 chassis models were imported from the USA and the bodywork was added here in Brisbane. As you can see, the design was quite simple and functional both inside and out. The first of these buses came into service around 1942 and were used to ensure bus routes could continue to run. With British chassis unavailable and our local bus manufacturing restricted due to shortages of steel and workers, they filled a void. The capacity of the bus was around 20 – 25 passengers.

International K series bus, on River Road, (now Coronation Drive), near the Milton depot, Brisbane, 1943, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative no 157641.

Today 27 May, marks the beginning of Reconciliation week, in which all Australians are encouraged to learn about our shared history and cultures. It is also the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, which amended the Constitution to include Indigenous peoples in the Australian population, equally subject to Commonwealth law.

This year's theme is 'All in.' It reminds us that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that we can all take action to affect change. Together, we can promote equality and equity, historical acceptance and unity.

At Anzac Square we encourage you to explore and share the historical experiences of Indigenous servicemen and women, over 3,660 of whom have served country since the Boer War.
If you don't know where to start, you can find three digital stories from Indigenous Vietnam veterans here: https://qld.pulse.ly/fpfpsnxjsv

Claude Malone, Peter Hegarty and Eric Law speak about their deployments to Vietnam, experience as Indigenous servicemen and takeaways from Army life. They also reflect on how military service prepared them to support community after discharge.

Peter Hegarty and Claude Malone at the Anzac service at Cherbourg in 2023, Dean Saffron, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image No. 33967-0001-0003.

Join us on Sunday 14 June for our free monthly talk, as we uncover the remarkable history of the Rosemount Military Hospital with special guest presenter Associate Professor Clifford Pollard.

Rosemount was opened as 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital (AAH), later becoming the 27 AHH, in the suburb of Windsor, 1915. The hospital played a crucial role in caring for returned service personnel, specialising in the rehabilitation of orthopaedic and spinal injuries with massage, physiotherapy, and amputee services. The historical site is a testament to the countless Australian soldiers who returned home with complex medical conditions and the essential role medical staff played in their ongoing rehabilitation.

Our guest presenter, Associate Professor Clifford Pollard, brings a wealth of first-hand military and medical experience. Having served in Bougainville and East Timor with the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, he is the former Chair of the Queensland Trauma Clinical network, and previous Director of Trauma Services at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and Director of the Queensland Trauma Registry at the Centre of National Research in Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Queensland.

After the talk, visitors are welcome to explore the Memorial Galleries, and experience stories of courage, resilience and sacrifice. These stories come to life through interactive displays and personal accounts dating from the First World War until today.

Book now to secure your tickets.

The new orthopedic hospital at Rosemount, Brisbane, Page 27 of The Queenslander Pictorial, supplement to The Queenslander, 19 July 1919, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image no 702692-19190719-s0027.

The United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, commonly known as Top Gun and made famous by the movie of the same name, is widely seen as being at the forefront of military aviation. Less well known however, is that Australia’s own Top Gun is older and its training more extensive.

Founded in 1954, the Air Warfare Instructor Course, or AWIC, had its genesis in Wing Commander Richard ‘Dick’ Cresswell, three-time commander of No. 77 Squadron. Cresswell had gained a wealth of air-to-air combat experience in World War II and Korea, and had witnessed the high losses such fighting incurred.
During the Korean War, No. 77 Sqn lost 41 pilots killed in action, 7 taken prisoner and 54 out of 90 Gloster Meteor aircraft destroyed. Cresswell was determined to avoid future casualties and set about reforming the RAAF’s training program.

AWIC has evolved over the years, from a limited focus on dogfighting to the modern program which includes aerial support of ground and naval operations. Indeed, the program no longer focuses exclusively on jet fighters, with other aircraft, such as the E-7A Wedgetail advanced warning and battlespace management craft being included to help the entire RAAF work seamlessly together.
Compared to Top Gun’s 13-week training schedule, AWIC pilots train for six months, mixing academic and practical training elements. The program is held every two years, and the curriculum culminates in three exercises across the life of the course: Diamond Seas, Diamond Shield and Diamond Storm.

Upon graduation, pilots receive their instructor badges in recognition of their efforts and work to disseminate new tactics throughout the RAAF as they train other units.

These images are provided under licence by the Commonwealth of Australia. Unauthorised use or reproduction of any Commonwealth of Australia materials is prohibited.

A RAAF Mirage fighter jet on standby as an F-111 aircraft lands at RAAF Butterworth, Penang, 1974, 31655 Mal Lancaster's photographs of Royal Australian Navy and Defence Public Affairs events, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Image No. 31655-0002-0037.

Did you know that in World War II, Cooktown was the site of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) 44/56 Radar Station?

In the 1930s and 40s, military and government planners recognised that aerial raids posed a new threat to Australia. Potential foes, such as Japan, possessed large numbers of modern aircraft with increased range and armament, and had developed supporting infrastructure and doctrine. Additionally, aircraft carriers allowed strikes beyond the limitations of built airfields.
Their concerns were to be validated by Japanese raids on Darwin, Broome, Townsville and others.

By September 1941, 32 air warning radar stations were planned throughout Australia. These stations used radio direction finding equipment to triangulate the position and course of an aircraft; providing guidance to allies or warning of enemy operations. Grassy Hill, Cooktown was considered a suitable site and in August 1942 the RAAF 44 Radar Station unit was formed in Townsville to be ferried north by boat.

The initial establishment called for a total of 60 men, but the actual strength rarely exceeded 36. Shorthanded, the unit arrived in mid-November to find that the technical housing for the radar was incomplete and that no permanent camp site had been prepared. A disused house near the base of the hill was requisitioned as a temporary mess, store and orderly room while the men slept in tents. They finished the installation of the radar themselves and, after delays in equipment delivery, the station was operational at the end of January 1943.

The unit was redesignated RAAF 56 Radar Station in April 1943 and the radar upgraded in 1944. Though the men did improve the site (including camouflaging the radar), facilities remained very basic until the station was disbanded and dismantled at the end of the war. Today, concrete slabs are some of the few remnants of the site and the men who served there in defence of Australia.

If you want to learn more about RAAF 44/56 Radar Station or other wartime sites near you, visit the WWII Historic Places map here: https://qld.pulse.ly/hwxileze0n

View of tents in a radar camp, Cooktown, Queensland, around 1943, 29617, North Queensland Photograph Album, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image no 29617-0001-0253.