WWII Aust & USA in Far North Queensland Australia ~

Well weather has really gone West of late ~ wind gusting and showers ~

This is of course not good as any burnt off areas will burst forth with regrowth and some we want to check over for relics and potentials but there is never enough time ~

So yesterday I decided to to do a Solo hunt ~ Ironically the weather on site turned to perfect before closing in late in the afternoon... so a great afternoon and 4 1/2 hours.

Decided to stop off at local camp ground and water front as there were no campers on site and hte place was deserted. Almost immediately I scored yet another ring ~ But it was SEVERELY encrusted with black mud ~

After an hour ~ I moved camp to the military camp and a smoko ~

All the essential nutritional food groups here ~ ( Unfortunately as always i leave something behind and today it was my mug ! But whiel there is a will there is a alternative ! )





The new CTx Mode I have built is working amazingly and while i figure there will always be room for improvement the Mode is SLAYING the targets now and I am stoked with the results. And when I find a lot of "quality trash" signals I simply slip back the Silver mode which has a higher discrimination level ~

I did not collect the many Water and fuel drum bungs ~ and there were plenty ~

But good afternoon ~ plus the second site is MD Utopia with superb digging conditions ~

Note the hole in 25 minutes! Wow factor here ~ There are over nine holes in this picture alone ! Digging heaven !

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The battle damaged piece is a safety triad for a artillery shell. This I found in the bush nearby but I was concerned when i head dogs barking ~ and figured someone may be pig hunting ~ and obviously more concerned the dogs might not be able to discriminate between a pig and a Detectorist !

So I backed out of the bush !

 

Weds Mid week hunt Solo again ~

Decided to go for number three Gold ring ~ ( I was asked to find a lost Gold wedding ring and have had two attempts at this quest ~ Ironic that I made a final and fruitless attempt to locate the missign ring ~ right in the middel of th last two recent finds ~ )

I headed to a very popular site ~ a waterfront club scene ~ and worked the water line ~ and blow me down instead of finding modern decimal coins and "jewellery", I confirm the site was WWII site !

I dug buttons, buckles, tent ring, 9mm bullet head and ~ a battle damaged Rising Sun !

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So after an hour or so i moved to the first site I worked with my earlier Garret MD and tested my new Minelab CTX ~ and the new software design delivered yet again ~

I dug a 303 spill, AMF buttons , two padlocks and misc WWII relics ~

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Repaired the spoon as it was a unit 70 years ago but serves no gain !

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But always remember to talk to the locals ~




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Another week day hunt ~

Perfect day ~ " Spring has sprung ~ "

Right off the bat I hit a favourite ~ Officer's webbing buckle relevant to Seervice revolver I believe ~ ( with the New pinpointer ~ So I was a happy camper right off the bat ~ )



The buckle was quickly followed by a strange and mysterious / confusing signal ~




After this I headed up the nearby hill with a plan to circumnavigate the crest and then go in pursuit of a 'new' site ~

Lots of targets ~ Ironic. my first ever Slipper clip with rounds ~ I like this piece and plan on 'preserving it as is with 303 round remnants !




Plus relics past ~




Then the Holy grail in the remnants of a re-enforced building long gone!


Spring regrowth ~




Intriguing was the .30 calibre US carbine round shell~

The brass water/ fuel drum cap is always a nice find ~




The Rising Sun has both rear pins and is in real nice condition ~ It did have the split pin but typically the pin/s fall apart on clean up !



Ed's collection ~

 

1943-07-31. 2 28TH BATTALION, 24TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE, LED BY WX7500 CAPTAIN L. H. LYON, GIVES EYES RIGHT TO THE BRIGADE COMMANDER

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View attachment 142122 ​

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Another solo Hunt ~ one Hell of drive ~ A right goats track ~ and I don't have a 4*4 !!

But on a good hunt on a god day ~ what better is there?

Got away earliest for a solo hunt for some time ~ on site <09.45>!

Slow start ~ but a good day at days end ~

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The large round piece is knurled outer edge suggesting it is an adjusting hand piece (?) ~ Artillery piece (??)

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The brass angular piece to the right of the adjusting knob is typical of what I have seen before so a standard produced piece ~ (?)

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Inspiration items~ AMF coat button ~ 1942 Ram head shilling ~ 1940 1/2 KG VI 1/2 penny ~ LE 303 drop weight.

Tooth paste tube is 97% intact and I have sprayed it with clear lacquer to preserve ~

Aluminum piece says “To use as Re-load for Holder Top
Remove this Cap”



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Another Hunt team effort ~ casual start on site 08.30.

Working a heavy bush area we headed out ~ the finds varied and just enough to keep one interested ~ I found a variety of relis ~ as seen below.

It was when some blokes on a ATV were threatening our 'camp site' tat I headed back to base and Smoko !

'ATHERTON TABLELAND, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. 1944-09-08. TROOPS OF THE 2/ 14TH INFANTRY BATTALION CROSS ROCKS DURING MANOEUVRES WITH THE BATTALION. IDENTIFIED PERSONNEL ARE:- VX78730 PRIVATE W.G. BELL (1); VX41385 LIEUTENANT D. ROSS (2); NX162658 PRIVATE L.J. MASSINA (3); NX101702 PRIVATE W...​

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My morning round as seen below ~ Yep ~ another Rising Sun but better was to come ~ and a nice battle damaged 'Zac" ~ 6d !

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Ed once again hit the coppers and several badges and another RS.

After smoko we shifted camp for a further research recce ~ I went the high ground to check out any hope of locating a mythical bunker ~

I soon cut back into the same timber we had hit before Smoko but from the opposite end ~ I soon came on a spill of 30 call rimless US cartridges ~

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And in the middle I found a chain link which suggested to me that the spill was from a US light MG! (This was verified by my military authority later on! )

After several hours we decided to move to site #3 ~

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As we were now against the clock I raced to an area which we have worked before ~

Because we were pressed for time I dug the best signals ~ this soon paid off with a Hat Rising Sun ~

Then dug to chin a for a canteen tray ~ Plus a nice brass tap ~

We headed home around 14.30 ~ an early finish ~


The total for the day ~

Ed's tally ~

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And mine !

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Straightened ​

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Rising Suns cleaned and brushed ​

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The Hat badge is real roughie but hey ~ A Hat RS is a good day anyday ! ​

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A long overdue update ~ A lot happening of late ~

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A CHEVROLET CAB 12 FIELD ARTILLERY TRACTOR AND 25 POUNDER GUN OF THE 2/7TH FIELD REGIMENT MOVING ALONG THE NEWLY BUILT CORDUROY SECTION OF THE ROAD NEAR THE CAMP, on the Atherton Tablelands, QLD .

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Mid week hunt ~ Team effort ~

Lazy start ~ Started by checking out a new site ~ Ironically we found evidence of even more encampments ~ but little reward were to be had ~

Although I thought I have FINALLY found a Mythical 'Blue bottle' which as been on my Wish list fro some time ! But it is modern , but I kept it anyway ~ Along side of it was another modern embossed beer bottle which I had not seen!









FOr a moment I thought I had dug a shell case.. as the spot was an obvious (IMO) gun pit based on the direction the gun would have be aimed ~ but it is ferrous metal .. then again for a moment I thought ~ souvenired German gas mask cylinder ~ not to be ~

But some sort of similar portable cylinder as it had strapping on the base ???




Also dug to the water table in nearby creek bed to find the remnants of a 2 lber shell case off cut ~ great signal , obviously why I persisted ~


Midday smoko and we did one more hours sweep of the area ~ and we did not even get to teh specified area we wanted to check ~

Moved camp to one of our favourite sites ~

With ten minutes I found a "August 1945 dump hole" as I like to call them ~ where the Diggers dumped so much gear !

I was stuck in the hole for about an hour sifting through it, retrieving Officers P38 and numerous otrher buckelsa nd buttons plus a nice KG VI 3 pence ~ Fortunately recent rains in the area made for pleasant digging conditions ~

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Called ti a day around 15.00 and headed home.. Again too little time !! Camping over is beginning to become very appealing to me ~


Ed's collection ~

My day's efforts ~​

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Several 303 rounds plus .30 cal case plus 2 * Israeli 1967 7.6 mm blanks (?) Used locally during Military exercises in the Area during the Vietnam War !

I also found a penny several metres away from the dump hole ~ and immediately below it was the spool which is obviously a fishing reel spool ~

I assume being part of an old style wooden hul reel of the 1930-40s ~ Most likely bought to the site as there is a local river not far away ~

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Been pretty quiet around these parts of late. Apart from the extremely fickle weather I have been busy and loading my bow with more than a metal detector ~



This of course is a give and take from Ms M as she reckons I never rest enough as it is ~ probably right ~ as we all know the Le Femme of the species ~ and who of us is game enough to debate the point ~ well an point with a woman! LOL!

But on the flip side she is keen to join in as soon as he foot is back to normal ~ after SEVEN months of being incapacitated and losing a small toe. all because of a lost a GPS !!

*BTW ~ The Garmin was never found ~ *


But I did get in a small hunt mostly to introduce a Newbie who contacted me last week~

Only a few hours and a very well worn side on the Atherton Tablelands ~

I managed a few surprises ~ Just proof any site can deliver regardless of how hard it is hunted ~




For one crazy moment i thought I had finally duga LE 1911 Bayonet ~ but not to be ~



Intriguingly I have regularly found examples of the 'crushed' hood ~ and I like to research items purely by panning through sites like EBay ~ and that is exactly how I found out what the small hood/s are ~ plus the handle!

 

Been preoccupied with getting a new vehicle road worthy after my MD mate made me an offer to good to refuse ~

So i have been working on roadworthy and servicing plus essential mods ~ This will allow me greater access to MD sites rather than the pocket Hyundai ~

Finally completed and did a first 'recce test'' last Wednesday ~ and again today ~ Wednesday ended in a one hour hunt!

But today had fuel flow issues and ended up at the "workshop' and pleasantly surprised when the blokes including the manager hung back well past midday & closing time to make sure I was mobile for another test run ~

But better still I spent a lot of time sharing stories and facts with the manager who is of similar age to self and has a military background ~ and he showed me his modest militaria collection which he is keen to expand!

But Wednesday's one hour collection ~ I was stunned by the amount of shell cases and even detritus in this old but now expanded site ~ as I ventured to the outer boundaries of the site ~

Cool insulator~ as I have never seen the light blue insulator ~

The item on the right I think is a brass illumination lamp frame/ base or a large heater base (??) It is engraved "Clean as required " ~

Like I need more .380 revolver rounds ~ Pftt!!!




But l am always ready to bring scrap brass home !!

Maybe tomorrow for another drive out ~

A very Short hunt weds but enjoyable ~ then today ~ Saturday~ wipe out ! ~

 

Feeling very positive and all geared up ~

Immediately pulled a single projectile head, quickly followed by a Aust Military Forces jacket button ~ in a very well worked area ~

Again I am working a much slower pace and digging 99% of targets ~

The theory paid off big time today ! And in retrospect I am really getting on top of the Minelab now ~

I was pulling target left right and centre then it happened ~ Taa-Dah!!! Number # 50 ~ ( in nice condition too!)



Washed off with drink bottle.


Kept plugging on and broke for Smoko around 13,00 ~ before checking out another nearby previous productive area ~ But zip !

Well~ I did find a very deep Torch ! well what was left of it ~ Closest to a complete torch yet ! LOL Oh well it is AL brass ~






A little TLC will save the day I am sure ! Hehehe!!


Back to the previous grounds ~ found a bloody spill of 303 blanks ~ must be dozens there as the area is about 2 sq-metres ~ !!

Only thing that kept me digging was the single webbing buckle that I found amongst the shells ~ As soon as I moved out of the zone nothing ~




Firstly I think the ‘T’ piece is in fact a trench art piece designating the Digger’s regimental / battalion patch ~ while there are a mired of units that used the ‘T’ as their shoulder patch.



The renowned 2/13th ( and 2/12th) batt which served on the Kokoda track and the bun fight at Buna, Gona, Sanananda~ also were based here at Kairi ~




AUSTRALIAN MANNED GENERAL STUART M3 TANKS BUST JAPANESE PILLBOXES IN THE FINAL ASSAULT ON BUNA. MEN OF D COMPANY, 2/12TH BATTALION, SHOOT JAPANESE FLEEING FROM A TANK BLASTED PILLBOX.

SMOKE AT LEFT IS FROM THE PILLBOX WHICH THE TANK IS ATTACKING, AT RIGHT IS A TANK BLASTED EMPTY PILLBOX. THE SOLDIER AT BACK OF TANK, PRIVATE E. R. GLOVER, WAS KILLED A FEW SECONDS AFTER THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN.

FAR RIGHT IS PRIVATE DAVIES. THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN DURING THE ACTUAL FIGHTING.

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Then we have the tubes with holes ~ 2 lber primer flash tubes ~ and the stars are safety caps for the two pounder artillery shells ~ The small tube is a 303 drop weight for cleaning the barrels ~ was attached to a piece if hemp string ~

The scrap and some shell cases and blank cartridges ~ the blanks are inert as they had powder in them and not cordite ~



But then it was scary today when M tried on the Clobber ~ (note the damaged toe ~ looking batter again ~ She wanted to demo her weight loss ~ and try the gear ! Her time is coming despite the critical injury experienced in April assisting the Fossicking Hunts!

And I have two Metal detectors !

 

Made an excellent trade this week!

Met an agreeable gentleman and owns and runs a ( retail) armoury !

Ironically first time we met and once he realised my recent back ground, he enthusiastically stated he wanted to Horse trade ~ I asked what he would horse trade me ! (??)

Last week we struck up a deal to enhance his modest collection ~ I supplied with him with an expended inert 25 lber Smoke shell case ~

He is now supplying me with 20* 20.08 cartridges~ but he is removing the heads and the propellant ~ then firing off the primers and refit the heads ~

( After all I figure I don't need to have any live stuff sitting around, even in my lock up display cabinets ~ )

He is sacrificing 120 grm rounds as they are more military style as per projectile seating ~

This was initiated after I dug the spill of 20.08 cases and very sad steel chain link/s which suggested the use of a Browning .30 MG, locally ~








This then lead to one of our on site members generously donating a 'few' Browning .30 chain links to match the shell cases !



End of the day should be a very nice display piece for my collection and no live ammo laying around ~

Many Thanks Sean and thanks Gus ~

 

Finally ~

Put in a Hunt ~ but there problem was that the only window of opportunity was last weekend ~ so I headed out < 08.30 > on Saturday morning with high hopes of a great day's hunt!

The catch being that after several weeks of on going heavy storms and rain we are currently experiencing hot days and relatively high humidity ~


View attachment 144361

WONDECLA, QLD. 1944 04 05. MEMBERS OF A TANK ATTACK GUN CREW OF THE 2 2ND INFANTRY BATTALION, LISTENING TO A LECTURE ON SIGHTING.

So Saturday was < 33 deg > and < 67%> humidity ~ which does not sound a lot but put those elements together ~ where as our average temp is around 25 deg C. Occh !

And on the west side of the hills there easterly breeze did not make it to my position!


It was very pleasant to begin with but as the temperature rose ~ it got very hot ~ and very humid!

I broke for smoko around 11/30 and then moved onto another nearby site.. 13.00 I shifted again ~ but ti was getting too much and I felt I was not tuning in with the CTX and I think I was simply not in the groove at all and more than likely missing targets galore ~ so pulled the pin at 14.00hrs.

Drank over two litres of mineral water just on the drive home and then once home could not get enough fluids ~

Try again next Saturday ~ we have forecast of rain before then so may break this weather extreme..




Yet another torch handle ~ I do wonder if the second fork could be defined as trench !!? ~ more like a lethal weapon!!



The glass stopper was a near miss being dark glass in black soil!

 

Well~ put in a great days Hunt today ~

Joined by "Dwayne" ~ others were welcome but went wanting ~

On site 09/00 hrs ~ As soon as Dwayne stepped out of the transport he scored a Sun baker drum bung ~ which he was pleased with ~ but then he scored a Sun Baker ~ Queen Victoria 1894 Sixpence ~






We split forces and broke Smoko around 11.00 ~

We resumed operations but we agreed to raly to consider moving camp around 12.30 but the fact was we were being harangued by Yobbos in 4*4's as they started a race circuit which included our area ~

In the meantime I dug a Risng Sun among other relics.. heaps of targets but lacked a lot of quality ~

But I did dig what I am told is an Officer's belt buckle ~ but better stil it was sharing the hole with a Bakelite LE 303 oil tube ~ Intriguing that they were 'holed up in a water hole or depression~ so the hole was very muddy ~



We moved camp ~

Targets were agin on a run ~ I scored another Rising Sun ~ and an intact Worcester sauce bottle ~ with glass stopper and contents intact after SEVENTY years .. and the contents still aromatic as !




My collection for the day ~






Two Rising Suns ~ Bakelite Oil with maker's marks ~ drop weight LE 303 ~ AMF buttons~ Military Jack Knife .





Boot Maker's work Tool !



Unusual Brass drum bung ~



Suspect Slipper clips (??)



The wing Nut ~ US ,50 cal ammo box below~




Dwayne's day collection ~ his included a a trench art 1945 KGVI penny ~ Not bad for his first serious site Hunt !




Footnote ~

I carefully opened the Jack knife ~ as the Stainless steel blades appeared to be in exceptional condition ~ I then cleaned the base of the blades to establish makers ID.





'Made in Japan' ~ in English NOT Japanese text~ Opps !

(Unless of course Japan was exporting such items to Australia under the contentious politics of 1938 !!!

As some know our PM of the day (Robert Menzies) agreed to trade with Japan and laid claim, that the desire for Australian Steel 'saved Australia' in the Great Depression~)

 

Hunt #229 ~

Solo Hunt ~ decided to just do a mid week hunton a very old well worked site ~ same as the site as Nov 14 ~

Been a bit of rain of late but it is into our Wet season now so to be expected ~ there is a degree of debate as to whether the rain actually enhances detection~ but seems to work for me anyway~

I worked my way the exact same stretch that I did so well in several weeks back but blow me down nothing but alot of expended 303 shell cases and a lot of metal rubbish! (?)

After smoko ~ I worked on and even further and again things worked out for me ~

I was only saying I have not seen a lot of AUSTRALIA shoulder flashes of late ~ well made up ground ~







Thought I was on a winner but this was only the beginning ~

Obviously found a tent site as the 3 Sq-metres just kept giving ~

Turned into a good afternoon ~




Just luv those old Beer bottles ~

The 'T' piece is a failed trench art piece ~ seems the Digger started and lost interest IMO ~ art work headed to nowhere (?)






View attachment 144602


CORPORAL J. F. ARMSTRONG, 2 1 PIONEER BATTALION, (LEFT) INDICATING POSITIONS TO BE ATTACKED BY FLAMETHROWER OPERATOR PRIVATE R. J. CORDIN,


The previous find ~ weird Trench art or just a pickle onion jab!?

 

Another hunt. (Saturday) ~ On site around 09.30 ~ another lazy start~

Again very pleasant for early Summer ~ but high UV and temperature as the day wore on only releived by a shifting breeze which was a pleasant escape ~

Early I dug a single LE 303 Barrel drop weight which vied well for the supposed camp site ~

Dwayne again struck early with several Sunbaker .50 cal shell cases ~

The finds soon came at a steady pace and certainly variety to say the least !

I dug a modern blank. 7 mm. These I believe to be a 1967 production from Israel ~ Then there was a major military exercise in the area around 1969 ~

Betting the 20 cent coin (1967) was dropped by one of the troops involved!






The Crucifix was an intriguing find ~ and someone kindly posted a related link on Dwayne's Face book!

National Museums of Scotland - Crucifix and cross, attached to identity tag of Sergeant Joseph Kerr

But in the end a productive day form both team players ~

Dwayne's collection ~







My gathering...............



General Service Button UK ~ Further evidence of British troops also present in the camp/s (?) ~ (Unissued example for comparison.)






Luv these old beer bottles ~ " The property of Richmond Brewing NS "








KAIRI, QUEENSLAND. 1945-03-10. MAJOR GENERAL E.J. MILFORD, GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING 7 DIVISION, (1), ACCOMPANIED BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL P.E. RHODEN, (2), INSPECTS C COMPANY, 2/14 INFANTRY BATTALION TROOPS DURING A REVIEW OF 21 INFANTRY BRIGADE

 

Despite filthy Wet season Monsoon low weather i put I put in two hunts over the Christmas break ~ Both Solo hunts ~

Xmas day was a good day and I never got rained on at all ~








KAIRI, ATHERTON TABLELAND, QUEENSLAND. 1944-12-25. A COMPANY, 2/31 INFANTRY BATTALION PERSONNEL COLLECTING THEIR BEER ISSUE ON CHRISTMAS DAY. (FOR IDENTIFICATION OF 12 NAMED PERSONNEL REFER PROVISIONAL CAPTION).

I wonder if it was the same beer keg (bung) I dug on the site three years ago ~ I got the right day !LOL

Note refrigeration~ slap a wet bag over the barrel and she'll be good!

Only spent a few hours before heading home ~ just in time to dodge the afternoon (heavy ) showers




Always pull silver pre-decimals on this site !








Came back for another go two lays later ~ first site was a tad tight on finds so I moved on site two , another site I have worked over three years ago and this time I found a rubbish pit ~

But had sweat out a serious downpour ~



KAIRI, ATHERTON TABLELAND, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. 1944-09-28. VX12014 MAJOR-GENERAL E.J. MILFORD, DSO, GOC 7TH DIVISION (1), ACCOMPANIED BY NX349 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL E.M. ROBSON, COMMANDING OFFICER 2/31ST INFANTRY BATTALION (2), INSPECTS PERSONNEL OF THE UNIT AT HEADQUARTERS 25TH
INFANTRY BRIGADE ON THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY SPORTS GROUND.

No outstanding finds but a rubbish pit well worth a second visit ~





Included a very nice condition AMF button and I always like the belt buckles ~



Weather has really gone to Wet season but hoping for a team hunt on the coming weekend !

 

Well the Wet season in Far North Queensland had bitten down big time with cyclonic/ Monsoonal weather spreading form West Australian and Northern Territory right across to us here in FNQ ~

As demonstrated over Christmas I Have managed a few modest hunts with some success ~

As the latest fronts recede some what ~ Two of us of an original optional team of FIVE ~ braved the rain , drizzle and low flying Cloud to put in a hunt yesterday~ New Years Day ~ (Perhaps a litmus test for the 2016 year ahead ?)




As we approached the site the weather cleared a little but light showers again descended on us ~ but the good news was that by midday the skies cleared allowing the Sun to break through ~

We put in some 6 hours before beating a retreat as the clouds began to close in again~

But a good start to the New Year ~

Dwayne's finds `




My finds ~

( Some items not included and not relevant ~ ( including what I thought in a mad moment ~was just maybe a Gold nugget as this is not unfeasible in the area by any standard ~ )





A period Lighter and a battle damaged Officer's shoulder pip were nice finds ~

The area is known for occasional 4*4 Campers thus the modern Gold " Kangaroo" $1 coin !

Also dug a 2" mortar fin, a little unusual for this site ~




The smaller copper coin , oval rather round, is n fact a discarded 1/2 penny trench art piece ~ "Austr " can be still seen on the face !

We have found 'horse shoes' on the site ?




Members of the 2nd Australian Pack Transport Company, moving off with their donkey trains. Identified are: SX30286 Driver (Dvr) Trevor Melville Barrett (leading), V104014 Dvr Victor Kenneth Watkins (following) and N202815 Dvr Alfred Lawrence Glascott (standing behind Watkins).

 

Well ~ another intriguing day ~

Storms continue ~ fien balmy morning ~ actually very cool but wamrs up pretty quickly then isolated storms build to pour down around post 15.00 hrs ~

I was up and at it around 06.00 ~ headed off and on site around 08.00 ~ First I wanted to check out tow sites ~ one registered and the other purely speculative ~








The first showed some optimism ~ a 303 projectile ~ but HEY ! hat coudl have come from just anywhere ~

Spent some time sweeping the area~ but first it was too small an area and the bush behind was virgin rain forest and obviously never been cleared ~

Second site ~ less time spent and even less optimism ~ nothing and virgin rain forest ~

So I then returned to familiar ground ~ It soon became evident that there had been interlopers here very recently ~ but one I believe was my former team mate Ed who fessed up to takiing a break from Gold fossicking to do a solo hunt only some 4 days earlier ~

Anyway it was a bewt day early but the humidity and heat was rising ~

I was ready to quit by 11.30 but broke for a second cuppa and smoko ~ thsi revived me soem ~ and I plodded on ~
Good job as i found the Mess ~ and two bottle dumps ~ and unusually ~ they are smashed but these had more intact bottles than broken!




The beer bottles and the clear beer bottle are all dated 1944







I bought 16 home including one with the glass stopper ~

Relic finds ~ Blue case is modern 12 Gauge case !





The rod and machined ring is from a Primus stove or lantern.







I cleaned up some of the bottles and refilled with Home brew Lager Beer

 

Another Mid week Hunt ~ * in hindsight~ a tad over keen as I had to work last night and it was a bit of struggle ~

Stretched the balloon to bit too long ~ LOL

Solo hunt and mixed results but scored some nice items ~ especially relevant to Australian history~

But Bewt day weather wise and a pleasant SE breeze kept things ~ cool ~ but the UV ratings are EXTREME!!







A ripper Rising Sun + a battle damaged Officer's cap AMF button + 1923 KG V six pence!

Been hunting a Florin for ages and this is only number three for me !



KAIRI, QLD. 1943-08-27. MEMBERS OF "D" TROOP, 14TH BATTERY, 2/7TH AUSTRALIAN FIELD REGIMENT, DOING MAINTENANCE ON A 25-POUNDER.

SHOWN ARE:- SX9885 GUNNER (GNR) G. H. GLOVER (1); SX4870 GNR W. D. MATTHEWS (2); WX7238 LANCE BOMBARDIER L. F. BEECH (3); WX3932 GNR C. J. MCMAHON (4); WX11537 GNR W. D. O'HARA (5).

( Classic Aussie workers ~ more about standing around chewing the fat ! LOL )

 

The pics from the War Relics Forum are locked to non members Stuart, looks like you are doing well though. I did a bit of battlefield searching in North Africa recently, would love to go back there with a metal detector to do it properly.

PS You can keep NQ, too hot/humid for me

 

Yes the issue of the War relics site ~ that's why I have switched to posting the images from my HDD ~

( IF I find time ~ Pfftt!! Good luck with that Stuart ~ I should go back and replace as many of the War relics post images I can find time for ~ Phew ! Another task !! LOL)

As for FNQ ~ Mate I have lived and worked in EVERY state and territory bar tassie and this wil do me ~

Sure it is hot and the UV is extreme but hats what hats, neckerchiefs and camo gear is for ! LOL

And we have most deadly and severe biting creatures ~ and foliage than ANY other place in the entire World ~ (Quote unquote National Geographic !)

But it is Word perfect ~ and we have an array of Historic WWII sites ~

North Africa ~ Tobruk ~ Tunisia ~ Woww!!! I wish ~ But too many extremist radicals for my liking ~