WWII Aust & USA in Far North Queensland Australia ~

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

  1. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Another weekend hunt ~ team effort ~

    Good weather ~ decided to do a Artillery unit ~ well tried and worn ~ site ~

    Again interlopers been on site ~ strangely one does not wear shoes !! NOW thats Crazy !! ( What with detritus , broken glass and even snakes and nasty bugs at ground level ~ Oh wel one way of reducing competition!)

    321_U_Hvy_155_splttrl_hr.jpg

    Australian crew mans a US Long Tom 155mm gun~

    We put in a steady day but nothing outstanding ~

    Had to dig half tree out for this KGVI penny ~ Also dug a 303 / 9mm spill ~ dozens of them ~

    Fossick #238 Team hunt Sun  Jan 17 (1).jpg

    Thought I had founda "good" enamel 'pannikin ' but again was not to be ~

    Fossick #238 Team hunt Sun  Jan 17 (3).jpg

    Dug a base section off a two pounder shell ~ engraved 3 lber 1941

    Fossick #238 Team hunt Sun  Jan 17 (5).jpg

    Also a large calibre separation plate which a Digger I believe has 'played with' before discarding it ~

    Fossick #238 Team hunt Sun  Jan 17 (10).jpg

    Dwayne was less than overly impressed with the site ~

    Dwaynes finds 800x600.jpg

    Dwaynes finds Sixpence IIJPG.JPG
     
  2. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Worked till midnight each night this week ~ bed around 01.00 ~ up at 07.15 ~ as predicted prefect day and it held up all day ~

    Off around 08.15 to meet with Terry ~ Terry there earlier and was off for a ‘local ‘ Hunt till I arrived ~

    Problem was I was ready but ~ no Terry ~ Obviously off on his own !

    Eventually I rallied him up around 09.30 ~


    We headed off and aimed our sights for several new sites ~ ALL looked very promising ~ We felt very confident as there were some period type beer bottle fragments scattered around and the landfall was extremely conducive to a camp site of WWII being very flat and a lot of regrowth!

    View attachment 145793

    MALANDA AREA, QUEENSLAND. 1944 12 16. CORPORAL E J NEWTON, 7 DIVISION PROVOST COMPANY, (2), ON DUTY AT A BAILEY BRIDGE CONSTRUCTED OVER MAUDE'S CREEK NEAR SPRING. ( Newton chats to a bewildered local about the appearance of the bridge virtually overnight! 084288 )


    So we geared up with high hopes ~ It soon became very apparent ~ very quickly that these two areas were going to be a fail !

    Tere no finds short of a few 303 cases and a Dept Defence period water drum bung~

    After an hour or so we reassessed the situation and agreed the area was too clean ~ which we agreed was bulldozed the entire area cleared for potential development ~ and most likely the residue trucked way and dumped who know where ~

    The fact that there were no large tree trunks even remaining was another tell tale sign ~ the point being that in most camp sites there are always large tree trunks usually hand sawn off back in the day !

    So eventually we moved to old grounds to try our luck again ~

    We eventually worked several camp sites and managed a few bits and pieces which made for another good day with Mates.

    Fossick #239 Team Hunt  with Terry P  Jan 20 (18).jpg

    Fossick #239 Team Hunt  with Terry P  Jan 20 (17).jpg


    The small mug is intriguing as it is either pewter or aluminium ~ perhaps a rum shot mug (?) I plan on cleaning it up ~

    Fossick #239 Team Hunt  with Terry P  Jan 20 (20).jpg



    View attachment 145794

    KAIRI, QUEENSLAND. 1944-12-01. 225 FIELD PARK COMPANY, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS TROOPS ADJUST TACKLES BEFORE LAUNCHING DURING THE EXPERIMENTAL CONSTRUCTION OF A BAILEY BRIDGE. THE BAYS SHOWN ARE THOSE ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED TO TAKE A TRACTOR.
     
  3. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    But it gets better ~ two of us reckoned the little mug was something special ~ it is !

    Turns out it is a water mug from a AMF field Medicos water bottle ~

    BUT ~ the confirmation IMO is that fact that I also dug very ~ close to the same spot ~ within mere meters~ last year / Spring was an Identity tag of a one JH Watson ~ whose service record showed he was a Field Medico right through out the War both North Africa and the pacific campaign til his discharge in 1945!



    Fossick #239  Medico water bottle.JPG


    And Ms M threw in her research too ~ a German Wehrmacht Army equivalent ~ Very similar ~ Ironic that the lower 'kidney ' cup is the same as the one I dug up some time back in the same area ~ and obviously a souvenir bought back by a Digger from North Africa campaign and discarded here!!

    Fossick #239  German Medico water bottle.JPG
     
  4. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    All inspired I headed out yesterday in the hope of more 'special relics but the heat and high humidity beat yet again ~ but ~ HEY!! ~ not a total loss ~


    Fossick # 240 Sunday  24 Solo  (2).jpg


    As I Will be at Work tomorrow I am getting in Early ~ 26th January ~

    Australia-flag-image-0028.gif
    flag21.gif
     
  5. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    [​IMG]

    WESTERN DESERT, EGYPT. 22nd July 1942. WALKING WOUNDED BEING HELPED OUT OF THE AMBULANCE ON THE LEFT AT THE 2/11TH AUSTRALIAN FIELD AMBULANCE, WITH A STRETCHER CASE IN THE FOREGROUND. 024636.JPG

    I was more than a little inspired to get out there yesterday and find some more 'gems', but not to be as the 35 deg heat again coupled with high humidity beat me ~

    But hey ~ not a total loss ~

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Sunday ~

    Very early rise ~ 05.00 hrs planned to be out on the site by 06.30 ~

    A; beat the Heat ~
    B; Beat the PM storms
    C; Missed Saturday and I had to work midnight Sunday ~ So planned to be home again by 13.00 hrs!

    All good plans went slightly pear shaped ~ and delayed talking to the better half ~ On site 07.30 ~ Probably for the best as it was a Pea souper fog early !

    I opted for a well worn area and lunged into the brush ~ to my utter horror ~ The March flies are in plague numbers! ~

    The Diggers and even colonials of the 19th Century MUSt have been utterly devastated by these insidious creatures ~

    086103.JPG


    Major General E J Milford, General Officer Commanding 7 Division (6), inspecting 2/4 Field Regiment troops at the Kairi Sports Ground.

    Identified: VX14125 Major Hugh St Omer Dentry, Brigade Major Royal Artillery (1); Lieutenant Lyall, Aide de camp, General Officer Commanding (2); Lieutenant Colonel Blythe, Commanding Officer 2/15 (3);

    Captain Hume, Battery Commander, B Battery (4);

    Brigadier O'Brien, Commander Royal Artillery, 7 Division (5);

    Major General Milford (6); Gunner H Pfeffer, 8 Battery (7); Lance Bombardier K Goodnew, 8 Battery (8); Gnr R Francis, 8 Battery (9); Bdr F Minchin, 8 Battery (10); VX14468 Sergeant Ray Edward Harle, 8 Battery (11); Sgt N Radcliffe, 8 Battery (12).


    I had 'Bushman's 40% Deet spray ' on and they simply ignored it ~ But fortunately I was well covered and the little Barstards essentially landed but ''cleared off ' very quickly ~

    My luck was rewarded though the very first strong signal revealed a Superb 1943 Florin ~

    Fossick # 242 Solo Dodging the Storms  (2).jpg

    Inspired I kept on ~ despiet the March Flies ~ and these are 'Yellow' versions and infamous for the wrong reasons. In fact the sods hammered my right hand first finger which is the gripping hand on the Minelab ~

    And hammer they did. I even saturated the gloves with DEET but the were not deterred ~ almost like they could smell blood!

    ( End of the day I had some 11 bites on the same finger and back of my right hand ~ but no where else !!! ??)

    I managed a few scores ~ including an Officer's razor ~ i.e. Much more ornate handle ~


    The large iron piece is a door lock and the brass key broken off in the lock assembly!

    Fossick # 242 Solo Dodging the Storms  (14).jpg

    Fossick #242 Solo   (6).jpg


    1943 Florin KG VI

    1942 Six pence KG VI

    1943 1 /2 penny KG VI

    I plugged on as planned and the storms started to build ~ then called it a day ~ I was home 12.45 !

    But the bites made a Hell of a mess of my right hand ~ and only today Tuesday are they receding any ~ Several bites on my lower legsare very nasty and are more insidious ~ as huge welts ~

    But I will survive ~ The Diggers suffered these things in tents with no AC or relief ~

    087479.JPG


    KAIRI, QUEENSLAND. 1945-02-13. "LAUGHING WATER", A 25 PDR GUN BEING MAINTAINED BY 8 BATTERY, FIELD REGIMENT TROOPS DURING THE VISIT BY THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, GOVERNOR GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA TO TO ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY UNITS IN THE 7 DIVISION AREA. IDENTIFIED PERSONNEL ARE:- GUNNER M. GEBBIE, (1); STAFF SERGEANT MCKEOWN, (2); SERGEANT HARLE, (3); GUNNER HART, (4); CRAFTSMAN HEANE, (5); LIEUTENANT W.H. JONES, (6).
     

    Attached Files:

  7. ozjohn39

    ozjohn39 Senior Member

    Stuart,

    If you found any decimal 'Round 50c', they are worth about $8 each at the moment, and IMO certain to go a lot higher.

    Daughter and SIL are in Tolga, Queen city of the Atherton Tableland. SIL was born in Herberton back in the dawn of time.
    John


    9890
    1118
     
  8. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Hey John

    Sadly not seen any round 50 cents as yet ~ I did have a couple given to me years ago ~ I did not realise that they were so valuable ~

    The best coin to date I 'scooped' is a 1915 H which the blue book value was $850 last time I checked ~

    I like Tolga ~ pity about the highway running right through the place ~ and a heavy vehicle turn around to by pass Atherton via Kairi ~

    Has a HUGE history in WWII ~ try Aust War memorial search and type in 'Tolga' into the search slot ~ impressive ~
     
  9. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Well Two hunts this week ~ both involved checking out two potential new sites and extended areas ~

    The first was an extended area associated with one of our recognised sites ~ The difference being that we came in from the North and explored the area working SSE and back onto the original now well know areas~

    This in deed did reveal more extended camp site presence ~ This took a few hours trekking the high ground and ridges ~

    Fossick #243 The Team Site   recce  (1).jpg


    This was the first terraced site, high on the ridge line I was tracking ~ Tidy lot though these blokes ~ not
    "tras'ures" were to be had !

    Fossick #243 The Team Site   recce  (3).jpg

    It was the return trek to base camp that became the labour of dedication as I can now offer cheaper substitutes for the Kokoda track ~ as i endeavoured to reconnoiter the country back the vehicle~

    Up ridges down deep ravines ~ dense bush and obstacles ~

    I know how these blocks felt by the time I got "home" ~

    060417.JPG

    TROOPS OF THE 11TH BATTERY, 2/3RD AUSTRALIAN TANK ATTACK REGIMENT AND THE 2/6TH AUSTRALIAN FIELD REGIMENT MANHANDLING A 57MM GUN INTO POSITION.

    ( SHOWN ARE: NX66317 GUNNER L. M. SMITH OF INVERELL, NSW, 2/3RD AUSTRALIAN TANK ATTACK REGIMENT (1); VX17693 BOMBARDIER T. F. CALLANDER OF NORTHCOTE, VIC, 2/3RD AUSTRALIAN TANK ATTACK REGIMENT (2); NX43629 GUNNER L. J. BARTON OF SYDNEY, NSW, 2/3RD AUSTRALIAN TANK ATTACK REGIMENT (3); NX54084 BOMBARDIER S. G. EDENVOROUGH OF SYDNEY, NSW, 2/6TH AUSTRALIAN FIELD REGIMENT (4); NX55201 GUNNER J. H. MCCALLUM OF SYDNEY, NSW, 2/6TH AUSTRALIAN FIELD REGIMENT (5); VX18845 SERGEANT J. W. PHILP, 2/3RD AUSTRALIAN TANK ATTACK REGIMENT (6).)

    After a Smoko we headed across the creek to another area which we know was a south side area of another camp site ~ but apart from a modern fiberglass radio aerial. a mortar primer rag and some spent 303 cases there was nothing ~ Oh and a very misplaced modern empty 'stubby' beer bottle !

    We then moved to the nearby camp site for a hunt before calling it a day ~ The March flies were not intense ~ but I Still got bitten on the second joint of my left thumb in a moment when driving to the second area ~ resulting in a very irritated & painful few days ~

    Dwayne and I put in an hour or so before heading home to beat the storms ~ which in fact developed within 30 minutes of my unloading and putting the last of my gear away ~


    Fossick #243 The Team Site   recce  (4 II).jpg

    Fossick #243 The Team Site   recce  (7).jpg

    Slow day on the Relics front and TOTALLY exhausting ~ I was knackered by day's end !

    Fossick #243 The Team Site   recce  (8).jpg

    Has a Bakelite centerpiece ~ knurling on the outer rim and inner threads ~ I suggest a sight protection cover ~

    Fossick #243 The Team Site   recce  (9).jpg

    Fossick #243 The Team Site   recce  (11).jpg
     
  10. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Decided after a late rise ~to do a solo hunt ~ around 09.30 ~ ( Well I am on leave for a few weeks ~ )

    But I am well set up now and can be loaded and gone around 20 minutes ~

    Worked two sites ~ and put in a very pleasant few hours.. Perfect weather ~ light breeze and no storms ~

    Plan evolved as I approached the area ~

    I have not seen of the unusual webbing buckles ~ with 'flip' bracket ~ I assume is a Post 1944 USA supplied item ~

    Intriguing find was a Aust. CSIRO wildlife identity band ~

    I finally called it day around 14.00 hrs and on the way home I decided to do a walk around at a local recreational area ~ As soon as i started alocal whom I have talked with previously turned up and we kept our selves entertained chewing the fat and sharing tall stories for two hours ~

    Interestingly apart from the numerous pull rings tabs and beer bottle caps ~ I dug a WWII type belt buckle!

    A great casual relaxed day hunt in perfect weather ~ a Great day !

    Fossick #245 Solo Hunt Frid  12  (6).jpg


    Fossick #245 Solo Hunt Frid  12  (8).jpg


    Fossick #245 Solo _ relics (1).jpg

    Fossick #245 Solo  1918 3d  (2).jpg


    Fossick #245 Solo  1918 3d  (5).jpg


    Blank Dog tag ~

    one "Familiar?" hex bung + jack knife clasp

    Australian CSIRO Wild life identity (leg) tag ~ addressed and ref code ~

    Stock brass pants button

    AUST $2

    KG V 3d 1918 (Immaculate)

    Knife handle ~

    Match box toy ~

    Booby trap trigger ( large road transport - trigger) case only

    Typical tent layout of camp site ~ ( So much for the comment that the tents were 20 Meters apart !?? )


    066473.JPG

    PERSONNEL OF NO. 2 PLATOON, "A" COMPANY, 2/5TH INFANTRY BATTALION PROUDLY POSE IN FRONT OF THEIR IMMACULATELY KEPT TENT LINE. IDENTIFIED IS:- NX86211 PRIVATE D. EVANS, HEADQUARTERS COMPANY (1).​
     
  11. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

  12. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Currenlty a return of the Stifling high temps and extreme himdiity ~

    The midday Sun even for here is cruel~ and it is a hardy Soul that ventures into the full blast of the Sun~ the extreme of Mad Dogs and Englishmen echoes loud and clear !

    But Hey this is Australia ~ and after all ti will toughen up the MoJo ~

    Wednesday ~ Terry got a day pass from Home and Cairns fo rthe day ~

    We agreed to we would simply go back to basics and my original MD hunt days ~ a simple straight forward and well hunted area as we wanted to prove that even the most public area still has potential ~

    Most notable were the camp sites 2/31st and 2/7th plus being public access and recreation & leisure area ~

    Fossick #246 TjP &  SsS Special permission sites Febr 17  (10)II .jpg

    Terry had the right idea ~ pity the ground is rock hard ~

    We spent an hour scratching the area ~ I folded after an and camped for a break and a cuppa ~

    We then pressed onto the area which a local celebrity on the Net claims is his "Special Permission" area ~ ignoring the fact that I dug a case of 16 * 2" mortars three years ago!!

    I figured Terry had dug a ripper original Zippo~ lighter. and genuine it is ~

    Fossick #246 TjP &  SsS Special permission sites Febr 17  (16) 800x600.jpg


    But somewhat of an anti-climax ~ but still an original item ~

    Fossick #246 TjP &  SsS Special permission sites Febr 17  (18) 800x600.jpg

    I picked up a very nice AMF button which proved to be still wearing it's original Black enamel ~ rare event ~ only the second on I have found ~

    Fossick #246 TjP &  SsS Special permission sites Febr 17  (21) .jpg


    My early results ~ I misplaced a very nice key which I found !

    Fossick #246 TjP &  SsS Special permission sites Febr 17  (11) 800x600.jpg


    The large round piece an element from a old Kero pressure pump stove. Spond very old most likely WWII ~


    We took Smoko and then moved to another site nearby ~ also well worn and also my very first site I started in over 3 years ago!

    And again we met with some success ~

    Terry generally likes to keep his choice of relics and an regarded as Exces go to my collection/s.

    He gave me small clod of dirt and said ~ " I think it is a button~ It may clean up !"

    Took me around an hour to clean it off but by 17.00 hrs at home it came up pretty good ~

    Fossick #246 TjP &  SsS Special permission sites Febr 17  (26) 800x600.jpg

    Best result to date !! Great Britain General Service Button~ once again suggests presence of British Servicemen inthe area during the South Pacific campaign!!

    Fossick #246 TjP &  SsS Special permission sites Febr 17  (17) .jpg

    A Jack knife with rope/ knot tool ~ sadly past saving !

    Fossick #246 TjP &  SsS Special permission sites Febr 17  (14) .jpg

    A mystery find I made ~ help from web compatriots identified it as one half of a PIAT fuze holder !!

    Fossick #246 TjP &  SsS Special permission sites Febr 17  (15) .jpg

    111069.JPG



    SX27501 Private (Pte) Aubrey Carl Kotz (left) and Pte W Spence (right), members of 7 Platoon, A Company, 2/10 Battalion take cover behind a tree in the town area with their PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank) gun during the Oboe 2 Operation.

    Fossick #246 TjP &  SsS Special permission sites Febr 17  (22) 800x600.jpg


    056356.JPG

    KAIRI, QLD. 1943-08-31. MOVING A GUN OF THE 2/7TH AUSTRALIAN FIELD REGIMENT IN POSITION FOR ACTION DURING FIELD EXERCISES.


    My Current GB General Service collection ~

    Fossick #246 TjP &  SsS Special permission sites Febr 17  (31) 800x600.jpg


    From top left ~ Great Britain General Service button (unissued ) ~ I purchased a number on line )

    Top right ~ The button I cleaned up today ~

    Left second line ~ Original GB GS button traded ~ original WWI Somme battlefield relic 1916 ~ (Will never be cleaned !)

    Second line middle right ~ GB GS button I dug in January on 2/4th site ~

    Bottom ~ GB GS button ~ The first one I dug at the 2/4th site suggesting British servicemen present WWII~

    I have a damaged Officers cap same button ~ not present!
     
  13. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Monday ~

    Heavy overcast and a forecast of rain increasing ~ The first of the rain once again started after I arrived home ! Well done YOU!

    I headed out around 08.00 hrs and on site by 09.30 ~ for a Solo hunt with my modified and retuned Minelab !

    As Terry is supposedly coming up tomorrow and I wanted to road test the Detector ~ Wednesday and the forecast is for receding showers to the north and the Gulf country ~ (The low is part of a long trail which leads right over the Cyclone that devastated Fiji ~ )

    weather 1.jpg


    The weather was cool and heavy cloud but held off all day as said, till after I returned to home base ~ But I had barely rigged up when the first target was within metres of the vehicle ! A webbing buckle ~

    I worked SW to start and signals were promising ~ I picked up a few misc, items including period silver and copper coins~

    Eventually I worked back the vehicle and after retrieving the missing right glove I dropped I worked NE ~ and bingo ~ The MD was working overtime and I must have dug 25 holes in a 5 metre stretch ~

    The thing was I have never dug so many toothpaste and shave cream tubes in one area ~ Obviously I had come across an ablutions area ~ confirmed by the presence of slabs of concrete ~

    Fossick #248 Solo Mon 21 (16).jpg

    I plugged along till 13.00 and decided to move camp out of the wind and a fresh area ~ this did not work out as the site remains way too frustrating and after Smoko I returned the the new area ~

    Once again the area delivered in grand style ~ The Minelab just kept delivering ~

    One of the best days I have put in for some time ~ included three excellent condition Aust. Military Forces. three + 1/4 piece of 'Australia' title bars ~

    Topped off with a (Hat ) Rising Sun. First I have seen for a while ~

    Fossick #248 Solo Mon 21 (7).jpg


    The sugar spoon is a 'bewty' as it is very ornate ~ and has a very long Maker's title ~

    Fossick #248 Solo Mon 21 (14).jpg

    The cigarette lighter I noticed had engraving but could not read it till I got home ~ I immediately noticed the first was a service number beginning with TX which meant an early enlistment from Tasmania ~ Plus I assumed was his initials ~ ' JCC '.

    The flip side has a crude map of Tasmania and the letters, 'TAS'

    Soon recovered the service record.. I don't think Digger Carpenter is any longer with us, as he was born in 1907!

    Fossick # 248  Service record James Charles Carpenter TX 5366.JPG

    067082.JPG

    WATSONVILLE AREA, QLD. 1944-04-28. A GENERAL GRANT M3 MEDIUM TANK HALTED AND READY TO LAY DOWN A BARRAGE ON A NEARBY KNOLL WHICH TROOPS OF THE 2/6TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION ARE TRYING TO CAPTURE DURING A JUNGLE TRAINING EXERCISE.

    056757.JPG


    Always Time out for a 'Durry'!

    SALAMAUA AREA, NEW GUINEA. 1943-07-22. VX36052 PRIVATE J. R. PRIGG (LEFT) AND WX14029 PRIVATE D. SMITH (RIGHT) MACHINE GUNNERS OF "A" COMPANY, 2/5TH BATTALION.
     
  14. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Leave almost over for now but still time another recce on Weds ~ team hunt to goodmate Terry ~

    Up 06.00 and skies were blue ~ if partially and occasionally covered by early morning mountain clouds ~

    Within 30 minutes it was raining ~ but the accent was on clouds drifting up form the SE ~

    The view to the NW was not looking flash ~ but the forecast was for a chance of a shower/s ~

    I rang Terry and he was about to head off ~

    I casually organised self and the transport ~

    Still had to duck in and out of light showers ~but hey this is Malanda FNQ ~ and when there are SE showers you safely bet your sheep station that it is localised ~

    Looked good all the way ~ but as we both arrived almost in sync at the rendezvous and the wind was up ~

    We discussed the issue and agreed to head to the camp ground as planned ~

    We travelled to the site I did so well on Monday and we discussed the potential of the site overall, including the shortcomings to date ~ ! ( A lot f discussions going on here ! LOL)

    We then travelled to the site where I scored the two Gold rings in four days last year ! As it well past holiday season and the camp ground was extremely quiet & we saw no interlopers at all ~

    But after < 1 1.2 hours> we declared the site as total fail ~ absolute dozens of twist top beer caps and pull tabs and at one specific area there dozens of rotten 303 cases in the NW slope !

    Fossick #249 TJP &amp; SSS  Febr 24  FOB (2).jpg

    (Looking to the NNE it was more than a little feasible for the site to be a rifle firing position~ a distance well above the tree line which would be ideal for long range and even sniper training ~ the target area where most know there is a firing range including a < 25 metre > trench ! )

    So we moved camp to the military camp site and a gasping for smoko ~

    We headed out around midday ~ and went our own way!

    Weather was excellent with no real sign of storms or even rain ~


    I was having an ordinary day until I scored a Digger’s ID tag.. ( I have found a tag in the last three hunts and all have been blank ! but not today !)

    HOLLOW, PERCY FREDERICK CECIL

    Turned out to be my first Officer's Identity tag ! A Warrant Officer fists class ! ​
    Warrant Officer's badge.jpg
    Hollow PFC TV 15715.JPG

    Then I found some targets forest as opposed the still partially cleared slopes ~ and dug some bits and pieces I plugged on till I suddenly noticed my pick was MIA and I immediately started to back pack as the area is clean of timber bar for the spreads of grass ~ Turned out the pick had fallen out of the belt before I even left camp ! Thought so !

    Another smoko and we suddenly realised that it was 13.40 ~

    So we agreed to do another 40 minutes and call it a day ~ Problem as it does ~ we both hooked into a good target area ~ ( In fact I want to go back to my find area as it has always been an area of ‘interest to me and after this hunt appears to have a lot of potential ~ )

    I headed back to find Terry head down and working a large hole ~

    Seems he has a hole with at least one even two Owen gun magazines which were loaded but the cases have lost since rotted leaving the 9 mm rounds and the breach loader boxes (??~ Correct title , please blokes ! ) ~

    Fossick #249 TJP &amp; SSS  Febr 24  FOB (7).jpg


    Fossick #249 TJP &amp; SSS  Febr 24  FOB (19).jpg


    Fossick #249 TJP &amp; SSS  Febr 24  FOB (16).jpg


    Fossick #249  Misc  bits (1) .jpg

    Still more than enough time for a hunt for even two before Work again on Monday ~​
    013421.  (AASC), 2  25th BrigadeJPG.JPG


    General MacArthur in light-hearted mood during a talk with Australian officers at the foot of the Golden Staircase in New Guinea.

    From left to right: General MacArthur, smiling; Lieutenant Nicholas D. Walsh, 5th Company, 7th Division Australian Army Service Corps (AASC), 2/25th Brigade; Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Nicholas Chenhall, Commanding Officer (CO) of the 2/6th Field Ambulance. (Negative by Bottomley).

    ( Don't thinK I ever seen a photo of MacArthur smiling or laughing ! )​
    To coin a familiar phrase ~ "I will return!!!"
     
  15. ozjohn39

    ozjohn39 Senior Member

    4297
    Stuart,

    That record of WO1 P.F.C Hollow is very interesting.

    His unit, the 2/6 Company AASC, was originally named the 7th Div Supply Column in its days at Tobruk, was the same unit my FiL was in from its inception in late 1940 to his evacuation from Milne Bay with malaria soon after the battle there.

    It was also the same unit as Pte Ron Barrassi, father of the famous footballer, who was killed in Tobruk in an air raid on the docks.

    Finally, it was the same 6 Coy RAASC that I was attached to in 1958 after completing my basic training in Puckapunyal. My final departure from that unit in 1960 was a HUGE relief to both myself and the Army!

    John
    4473
     
  16. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    John
    Thank you for your input ~

    It's comments and input like yours that keeps me going in regard to these posts ~

    My partner Merete and my family are always intrigued in my fascination with retrieving tangible history, and the records of such things and applaud my efforts ~

    But it folks like yourself that keep the memory alive ~ Always appreciate feed back!

    Thanks ~

    Stuart ~
     
  17. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    Up 7.30 ~ faced with a white out of mist and rain ~

    But the forecast was for receding rain which grounded early proceedings to a halt on Friday ~

    I had a plan and was determined to stick to it ~ geared up and off around 08.45~ Almost immediately the weather started to lift and even occasional sun shine moments ~

    On site around 9.30~ Headed into the bush to check out another area ~ and sure enough the good targets started to appear ~


    Fossick # 253 Solo  Sat 12  (9) .jpg

    Some of the area is heavy going with clusters of extensive Lantana

    Fossick # 253 Solo  Sat 12  (10) .jpg

    Nature at it's best

    Fossick # 253 Solo  Sat 12  (11) .jpg

    More excellent pieces in excellent condition ~

    Fossick # 253 Solo  Sat 12  (15) .jpg

    With the Wet still in motion the temperatures are still high and extremes of humidity ~ I ran with several sites which are familiar but results were poor so called it a day around 14.30 !


    Again not a huge day but excellent result ~ well pleased !!

    Fossick # 253 Solo  Sat 12  (18) .jpg

    Fossick # 253 Solo  Sat 12  (21) .jpg

    Fossick # 253 Solo  Sat 12  (22) .jpg

    TwentyFive pounder (early 1940) primer

    Fossick # 253 Solo  Sat 12  (23) .jpg

    065725.JPG

    KAIRI, QLD. 1944-04-11. TROOPS OF THE 2/7TH FIELD REGIMENT IN POSITION "IN ACTION" ON THE 25 POUNDER GUN, NICKNAMED BUSTER, PURCHASED BY THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA WITH MONEY DONATED BY MR. P. RUSSELL.
     
  18. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    An added phenonium ~ I was doing some research and I was stunned I had never knew of this bloke ~ Another Super Hero of Australian forces..

    I have seen that photo but never put the story together ~

    ( They were ALL heroes but :Bull Allen" was a cut above !!)


    Bull Allen ~ Allen rescuing a soldier off Mt Tambu, 30 July 1943,  BA-05 800x600.jpg


    Bull Allen ~ Allen rescuing a soldier off Mt Tambu, 30 July 1943

    Witnesses claimed that he went back 18 times ~ not the recognised 12 times ~

    Why was it that this man never awarded a Victoria Cross!!

    http://windsky.com.au/the-making-of-in-memory-of-bull-allen/
     
  19. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

    065725.JPG

    KAIRI, QLD. 1944-04-11. TROOPS OF THE 2/7TH FIELD REGIMENT IN POSITION "IN ACTION" ON THE 25 POUNDER GUN, NICKNAMED BUSTER, PURCHASED BY THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA WITH MONEY DONATED BY MR. P. RUSSELL.


    Reference to "Buster" funds donated by one Mr Phillip Russell


    Paper 1944.JPG
    Russell notice.JPG

    Very patriotic man indeed !!!
     
  20. Stuart SS

    Stuart SS Well-Known Member

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