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Militaria

Read more about the article The wartime US invasion of Port Stephens
US troops practice landing at Port Stephens, NSW, during World War 2.

The wartime US invasion of Port Stephens

At the peak of the Allied Pacific campaign in World War 2, more than 14,000 American and British troops were based in the Shoal Bay area of Port Stephens. Shoal Bay's famous country club was requisitioned to become a headquarters for part of the amphibious warfare training area known as JOOTS (Joint Overseas Operations Training Services). The Royal Australian Navy called its training establishment HMAS Assault, and the ships HMAS Westralia, HMAS Manoora, HMAS Kanimbla and USS Henry T. Allen were frequently in the port, along with more than 130 other vessels of varying sizes. The…

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Read more about the article The end of HMAS Australia
HMAS Australia in Sydney Harbour in 1920

The end of HMAS Australia

The Indefatigable class battlecruiser HMAS Australia was the Australian Navy’s first flagship, whose arrival in Sydney in October 1913 is popularly regarded as marking the coming of age of the nation’s naval service. In fact, it might be said that the acquisition of the expensive capital ship by Australia was mostly a way of inducing the dominion to contribute to Britain’s naval arms race against Germany, with the knowledge of a war fast approaching. Arrival of HMAS Australia at Sydney, October 4, 1913.Arrival of HMAS Australia at Sydney, October 4, 1913. The ship had been ordered…

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Read more about the article Harry was a WW2 Z-Force commando
Harry Boyle, training at Armidale

Harry was a WW2 Z-Force commando

WHEN the Australian Army invited Harry Boyle to enter a services shooting contest during World War II, they told him first prize was three weeks leave. They didn't tell him about the other prize until he won it. Harry swore he wouldn't have competed if he'd known exactly what being identified as "marksman, first class" would mean. Harry, then in his early 20s, had helped feed his family during the Great Depression with his gun and his exceptional marksmanship. In 1942, the military authorities were looking for men like Harry to do dangerous, secret work. These…

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