WWII Aust & USA in Far North Queensland Australia ~

Discussion in 'Australian' started by Stuart SS, Jul 7, 2013.

  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Photos in this post don't show on here for me.
    They are links to warrelics forum that say I can't view them.
     
  2. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Owen

    Thats a bugger.. It would seem you have your security settings a tad too high ...I don't use the web site format as I hate this style of posting photos at th ebottom of the post ~ Spoils the entire post IMO !

    I f I am doing it wrong the admins might let me know how to post a better way ~ My last post contain some 20 photos ~
    ..
     
  3. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Only that post. 'Invalid attachments specified'. Everything else fine.
     
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    They don't need to be at the bottom of the post.
    Once attachments are uploaded you can "add to post". So you can write a little about an image and then place each photo where it's most relevant. Click cursor where you want the attachment placed in the reply window, then click 'add to post'.
    Screen Shot 2015-07-20 at 14.55.28.png Screen Shot 2015-07-20 at 14.55.44.png


    e.g. I uploaded illustrations and placed them where they originally were in the narrative.
    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/58208-advance-of-guards-armoured-division-major-f-hennessy-grenadier-guards/?p=675860

    It may not be as easy to see, but once an attachment is clicked/accessed, people can scroll through them all at full resolution.
     
  5. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Cheers mate I will try that technique ~ I have a another Hunt with spectacular results after Sunday and I will endeavour to try this out !
     
  6. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    (Okay ~ trying the optional post system here ~ lest see how we go eh ! )

    Last Sunday Ed and I headed out yet again real early ~ I planned a 'exploration ' hunt ~ and endeavour to expand our 'data base ' ~

    Fossick #201 New ground  Sunday 19 July  (1).JPG

    We spent around 2 hours checking sites and rigged up and checked several sites ~ then debated the potentials and whether we should simply re-route and go to the extreme even further afield site ~

    But we agreed we had spent enough time researching and we should just go work some of our regular sites ~ We headed to a near by site which we had looked at previously but decided ti was far too over grown with dense ground weeds ~

    But as I insisted we should simply push through the ground tangle and head up the nearby hill ~ so off we went.

    I skirted the bush and then drove to the higher ground which almost instantly delivered for me when i hit a target area of around ONE square meter ~

    I literally spent the later morning and afternoon in that one spot ~ I could not believe the target s in that one area~

    Early results and in impressive condition ~

    Fossick #201 New ground  Sunday 19 July  (7).JPG

    Ed. my MD mate did not do quite so well ~ and had a very mixed bag .. Seems i am really getting to grips with the Minelab CTX ~

    Mid morning tally and Smoko ~

    Ed's catch ~ real mixed bag .. but some nice webbing buckles.. I believe ~ as I explained to Ed, the buckles are US issue but by 1944, supplies of US military fittings were coming through to the Australian forces ~

    Fossick #201 New ground  Sunday 19 July  (8).JPG
    My collection which included numerous King George V & VI silvers and coppers ~ plus ACP 45 and 9 mm rounds.. a good start for me I felt !


    Fossick #201 New ground  Sunday 19 July  (10).JPG
    We split again after Smoko .. I headed out for a quick scout around before returning to the same site ~

    We decided to call it a day around 15.00 and on the way back to base camp I dug a grubby dirty encrusted Rising Sun ~ I also dug a single unusual primer ~

    Ed scored a cluster of unusually large primers ~ Any help appreciated ~ My primer wa same but smaller with no scribing!

    Fossick #201 New ground  Sunday 19 July  (30).JPG

    Fossick #201 New ground  Sunday 19 July  (33).JPG
    Fossick #201 New ground  Sunday 19 July  (32).JPG
    My final tally ~ ​
    Fossick #201 New ground  Sunday 19 July  (36).JPG
    But when I finally returned home and cleaned my relics I was totally blown away by some of the results ~​
    The AMF button has the original black enamel completely intact ~ amazing ~ ​
    Fossick #201 New ground  Sunday 19 July  (21).JPG
    But the Creme la Creme was the Rising Sun ..​
    With absolute minimum cleaning ~ merely brushed under running water this has turned otu to be a STUNNING relic ~ ​
    This is one of ~ if not the BEST RIsing Sun example I have found to date absolutely stunning ! Immaculate!!​
    Fossick #201 New ground  Sunday 19 July  (25).JPG
    So this was one of my long over due better days ! ​
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    I have done some research on the primers and they are ~

    β€˜ME 12/42 Q’

    1713

    Okay ~ they are a QF MKI Fuze ~

    ME ;Explosives Factory Maribyrnong (ME) – Maribyrnong; Melbourne, Victoria (1910–

    I have not established exactly the correct artillery piece but I suspect a they are from a 4 1/2" howitzer as they are way too large to fit the 25 Pounder shell base I dug !

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    We have been endeavouring to establish or confirm the site of a WWII camp site in the back country since April when i was advised by a workmate of a bottle dump and a rusted corrugated iorn water tank ~

    I have mentioned this previously but all endeavours led to a fail ~

    Yesterday two of us took the 4*4 into the site again~ This time we foudn the water tanks and a small modern (1970-80s) bottle dump!

    Fossick #206 11 Aug  (5).JPG

    Fossick #206 11 Aug  (3).JPG

    Fossick #206 11 Aug  (10).JPG



    So over Smoko we debated the issue at hand and theorised the site ~ It certainly does not constitute a WWII AIF training camp ~

    So we headed off to check out a 1930s caw mill camp site which consisted of a large number workers cabin/s site ~

    But the entire site has been bulldozed and pushed int rows for burning ~

    So we headed off again aiming for a site which i have worked many many times including my first Mills Bomb find!

    I actually did a hunt there on Sunday last with some limited success.

    Fossick #205 Solo Burton Rd  Aug 09 (4).JPG


    Finds included a camera aperture piece, misc .455 projectiles and damaged webbing buckles ~ ( I am collecting the brass tent rings again and toss them into the scrap container for resale at scrap merchants. )

    So we rocked up to the same well worn site but this time we came at the site with my same approach as Sunday with very respectable results ! A few hours resulted in the following ~

    Fossick #206 11 Aug  (11).JPG

    Ed 's find included two Rising Suns, one very sad but a worthwhile battle damaged piece IMO!

    I dug a 25 lber frag which I am planning to clean up ~ the rifling bands come up superbly!


    Fossick #206 11 Aug  (13).JPG

    Fossick #206 11 Aug  (14).JPG

    Fossick #206 11 Aug  (16).JPG

    IMO a stunning result in a very short time in a well worn site purely based on a revised approach ~
     
  9. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Last week we did a hunt endeavouring to resolve the back country site.. Ironically the site we most pinned our optimism on was a total fail but we actually stumbled into an area which was very obviously a camp site or even training ground as all we found were a LE Oiler tube and a rusty barbed wire ~ but it is a perfect site.. flat and good ground !

    Fossick #204 For hand deal Aug 5  (25).JPG


    We then pressed onto visit one of our favourite sites again~ I had a brilliant result with a ID tag !

    Fossick #204 For hand deal Aug 5  (36 II).JPG

    Fossick #204 For hand deal Aug 5  (44).JPG

    My relics at the top ~ Ed's lower down

    Fossick #204 For hand deal Aug 5  (49).JPG




    Name


    JOHNSON, ROBERT GEORGE


    Service


    Australian Army


    Service Number


    VX37841


    Date of Birth


    19 Oct 1912


    Place of Birth


    KOONDROOK, VIC


    Date of Enlistment


    23 Jul 1940


    Locality on Enlistment


    SWAN HILL, VIC


    Place of Enlistment


    ROYAL PARK, VIC


    Next of Kin


    JOHNSON, WILLIAM


    Date of Discharge


    18 Dec 1945


    Rank


    Lance Bombardier








    WW2 Honours and Gallantry


    None for display


    Prisoner of War


    No



    The ironic part is that 'we' found this Digger has a direct link to an ol' mate's family in NZ !!!!!!!!!!
     
  10. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Thurs

    Another hunt ~ same spot as Ed and I did on Tues ~

    The challenge being that the ground is just SO ^%%%%^& Hard ~ clay base and stones ~

    But I was barely even rigged up and Wooh Hoo!! !!!!!!

    Fossick #207 Aug 11 Solo MD (1).JPG

    A Rising Sun ~ quickly followed by several coins ~ KG VI ~

    This was followed by a number of webbing buckles and misc.

    But I really thought I would be replacing the Garrett Pick handle for the third time!

    Plenty of scrap brass to add to the bucket ~ including a very solid cable joiner ~

    The two KG VI penny and 1/2 penny turned out to be a surprise as they were dated 1948 and 1949

    The best of the two ~ and a stock AIF button I also dug ~ restored ~

    Restos  Aug 14 15 (2).JPG

    Fossick #207 Aug 11 Solo MD (8).JPG

    Fossick #207 Aug 11 Solo MD (9).JPG

    Even dug a US .30 cal shell
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    MD buddy in Holland suggested a revised electrolysis method which I took on board and now instead of my relics laying and mellowing for a week these ( including mostly the best relics from the last two hunts this week ) ... 24 hours !!!!!!

    Relic Resto Aug 15 15 (3).JPG

    The top right buckle is definitely improved considering it was burnt ~ and I thought it was past saving but I will give it another session!

    Relic Resto Aug 15 15 (5).JPG

    Relic Resto Aug 15 15 (6).JPG

    The KG VI Penny ~ the 1/2 penny is being a tad more resilient ~

    Restos  Aug 14 15 (1).JPG


    And the frag 25 lber second time around and in for another round same method ~

    Relic Resto Aug 15 15 (1).JPG
     
  12. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Fossick # 208

    Solo hunt same site as previous ~ expanded search area ~ proved a theory of a now defunct road separating the current camp site and the replacement road actually trashing the original WWII camp site !

    Started midday ~ by 14.00 hrs ready to quit but had a smoko and rested up ~ then moved sites with more positive results ~ turned into a good day ~

    Fossick #208  Aug 16 Sunday  Solo  (3).JPG

    Heavily encrusted but has the pins intact ~ nice score ~ Now to see if the elctrolysis can save the day !

    Fossick #208  Aug 16 Sunday  Solo  (4).JPG


    The AUSTRALIA badge is exceptional as it has the original black enamel 100% intact!

    Fossick #208  Aug 16 Sunday  Solo  (9).JPG

    The large brass piece is unknown purpose ??


    Fossick #208  Aug 16 Sunday  Solo  (7).JPG

    Fossick #208  Aug 16 Sunday  Solo  (12).JPG
     
  13. hatch

    hatch Junior Member

    This is an incredibly good find, thanks for the pics!
     
  14. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Hatch ~ the good finds continue ~ and you will have to wait til Saturday's hunts ~ (today ~ LOL)

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Thursday ~

    Invited one of our team members to join me on a hunt !

    We had a lazy start and headed to a 'new ' site but it remains a quandary as the grass is way ~ way too heavy and dense ~

    So we headed off to plan B ~

    An old site ~ but always worth a look! The lower ground is pretty clear but at the top of the rise there is a lot of undergrowth and variety of low ground growth ~

    I focused on the high ground in the theory that the high ground was also part of the camp ~ The area was/ is a fantastic MD and research access area ~ But results were poor ~

    (Note the photos ~ Nice fish eye effect ~ but this was to prove the death knell for the dige camera ~ Long story short ~ which took most of Friday to sort ~ but in short ~ a new Nikon 70 series on the way ~ under warranty !)


    FOssick  # 209 Aug 20  (4).JPG

    FOssick  # 209 Aug 20  (5).JPG

    FOssick  # 209 Aug 20  (3).JPG


    Paul was on a run ~ better still ~ his first Rsing Sun badges ~ and even better he dug two ! And an unusual trigger guard !

    FOssick  # 209 Aug 20  (7).JPG

    I remained focused on the high ground and paid the price ! But managed to retain some degree of dignity ~

    After smoko I made some ground ~ included two KG V pennies ~ both 1927 ~ oh yeah ~ Odds on !??)

    ( Appreciate any suggestions on the SS 3 * hole disc (??)

    FOssick  # 209 Aug 20  (8).JPG
     
  15. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Did a solo hunt yesterday~

    Went back to the same area as Thursday ~ had planned to leave home around 10.00 but delays and BS saw me land on site around 12.30~ Much later than planned ~

    Again scanned the high ground timber ~ a lot of ferrous signals and tent rings ~ SURELY cannot ALL be detritus ~

    Makes no sense ~

    Found a few bits and pieces ~ including on modern QE II 20 cent coin being the only coin!

    But was stoked to dig this ripper .. in excellent condition really after being buried in a WWII camp site for 70 years ~

    Fossick #210 Aug 22 Solo Hunt  The Machette  (10).JPG

    Fossick #210 Aug 22 Solo Hunt  The Machette  (13).JPG

    Fossick #210 Aug 22 Solo Hunt  The Machette  (17).JPG


    (Since been suggested it is a US Machete ~ being some 110 mm longer than the old one we have at home ~ assuming the one at home is an Aust disposals piece ! )

    Other finds for the day ~ The bottle is a modern beer but I have never seen one before ~

    Fossick #210 Aug 22 Solo Hunt  The Machette  (2).JPG

    Fossick #210 Aug 22 Solo Hunt  The Machette  (3).JPG
     
  16. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Update on that encrusted Rising Sun which many thought was past helping ~

    ( Took three attempted in an electrolysis vat ~ the last being very low voltage [ 1.00+] )


    The  dagged Rising Sun 006  (3).JPG
    The  dagged Rising Sun 006  (1).JPG


    The two RS and the Australia badge of last weeks hunts​
    Latest  RS and Aust  Aug 15 (4).JPG
     
  17. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Another team hunt.. early start ~ 05.00~

    Ran into a problem ~ white out fog !! ~ Our plan was put in slow Mo ti the fog cleared ~

    Worked three separate sites and pulled some interesting results ~

    The day ended up being a 12 hour day by the time I got home ~

    Ed's tally ~ He had yet a great day with coins ~ found a spill almost right up, front as soon as he switch on !


    Fossick #212 Sept 2 three deal  (39).JPG

    Fossick #212 Sept 2 three deal  (30).JPG

    My score ~ I found the remains of a communications telephone switch board ~ note (RCA type) all brass plugs and misc fittings ~

    I dug a lot of brass ~ most will go into the scrap brass drum! ​

    Fossick #212 Sept 2 three deal  (31).JPG

    The Trench Art penny is a cracker ~ The ID tag is a mystery as the first Digger I found was part of a Ambulance crew and killed in Feb 1942 at Singapore with the assaults by Japanese forces ~​
    But that would NOT work here as there were no WWII camp sites in this area at that point, so further investigation has narrowed the search three !


    Fossick #212 Sept 2 three deal  (36).JPG
    Fossick #212 Sept 2 three deal  (47).JPG


    Once the fog cleared it was extremely hot and humid ~ but another great day ~ ​
     
  18. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Sat

    Decided at 12.00 Midday to go for a Solo hunt and test the new Mode I created on the CTX ~!

    Decided on a favourite site but it was probably a tough choice as the site is pretty heavily mineralised ~ and it is 50 KM from home ~ But it has been a good site ~

    So arrived after 13.00 ~ I would normally leave home at the latest 10.30 but this was a test ~ I spent a few hours and called it a day around 16.00, with a few modest finds ~

    And once again i proved that Golden Rule we fossickers should ALWAYS ~ abide by ~

    That ~ is ~ NEVER EVER ~ discard a relic until I can either ID it or clean it up to prove it value ~

    One of the final pieces I found was several bent and filthy encrusted pieces of aluminum ~

    Much to my delight the aluminium piece turned out to be a Identity Tag ~ another one that was part of an Ambulance crew!

    And he signed up in registered in Cairns ~ 80 kms from here ~ And ironically was a member of a Ambulance crew ~ ( in view of the baggage tag I found on Weds ~ )

    One of the others turned out to be a serial ID for ammo or Medicines (?)


    #213 Solo Fong Bay & CTX test  (6).JPG
    #213 Solo Fong Bay & CTX test  (7).JPG
    QX3869 Watson James Henry.JPG


    #213 Solo Fong Bay & CTX test  (8).JPG
     
  19. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

  20. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    So Weds I went out in view of further field testing. But on the way to the regular site.s I deviated in view of antoher potential site ~ which is more public access ~

    The results were spectacular ~ with further evidence of WWII presence but then also modern militar exercises during the 1960 and 1970s ~

    Not only that ~ I also decided to gather the detritus and rubbish ~ but I also found a very unusual ring (375 9 Carat Gold). Mate's wife who is a self proclaimed authority on Jewellery feels that it is of of local or Australian origin ~


    Fossick # 215  Solo The Ring  (10).JPG

    I took it to the Jewellers I regularly deal with in servicing relevant finds for me and they also agree it is very unusual and not a local item ~

    The larger blank round (?) is in fact a Stove pipe round as it had mis-fired and then jammed in the breach

    (Head stamp 87 F8 FM )

    Then after an hour or so I now have added yet another site for further investigation, In fact expanding the site parameters simply by the most prolific 'early' detritus I found !

    So then I moved camp to nearby recognised site to compare the area with my new settings ~

    Again the result were impressive and I dug 3 KG VI pennies in a well worked area ~ ​
    Fossick # 215  Solo The Ring  (5).JPG
    Fossick # 215  Solo The Ring  (6).JPG
     

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