Anzac Square & Memorial Galleries in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | Landmark & historical place

Anzac Square & Memorial Galleries

Locality: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Phone: +61 466 922 259

Address: 285 Ann Street 4000 Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Website: https://www.anzacsquare.qld.gov.au

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25.01.2022 We are excited to announce that Anzac Stories (Voice Activation) has been nominated in the Online Startup & Innovation Awards as Best Australian Collaboration During a Crisis. Anzac Stories by State Library of Queensland and Alkira Software enabled users to listen to oral histories and extracts from World War One to present from the safety of their homes. It also allowed individuals to commemorate differently on Anzac Day by requesting a poppy be laid in the Anzac Square Memorial galleries on their behalf. Please show your support for Anzac Stories by voting here: http://ow.ly/7yGS50BgsR3

25.01.2022 The Womens National Emergency Legion was a female auxiliary and training organisation established in 1938. The organisation was based in Brisbane and sought to provide volunteers with training in first aid and other skills which were considered relevant to Australias war effort. Following the outbreak of war in the Pacific, members were assigned to the US military units in Australia as transport drivers and clerks. Polly Teasdale, Midge Ruddle, Thelma Drury and Miss Fox, p...ictured below, were all engaged to drive for the United States Army, through the Transportation Section 81st Air Depot group. These women were chosen for this task as they were very efficient drivers, learning how to operate American left-hand drive cars. They were responsible for chauffeuring high ranking officers around Brisbane. Courtesy State Library of Queensland, Women drivers known as the Four Musketeers, posing in front of their car in Brisbane, ca. 1944, negative number: 190534.

24.01.2022 Last week we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the end of the war in the Pacific and it is important to acknowledge the contribution of nurses to the Australian war effort, especially during this The International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. During WWII nurses once again volunteered to serve their country. At first the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) was their only option and some 3,500 nurses enlisted. In 1940 the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (RAAF...NS) was formed and 600 nurses served, while the Royal Australian Navy Nursing Service (RANNS) wasnt established until 1942 and being a smaller unit had 60 nurses. Nurses served on hospital ships and troop transports and in base and camp hospitals in England, Palestine, Libya, Greece, Syria, Ceylon, Malaya, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and throughout Australia. They experienced combat conditions, evacuation under fire, air and torpedo attacks on their ships and massacres. 71 nurses died during their service. Forty-one of them were from the ill-fated ship Vyner Brooke, where of the 65 AANS on board after evacuation from Singapore in February 1942, 12 died when the ship was bombed and sunk, 21 survivors were massacred by Japanese soldiers when they reached Bangka Island in lifeboats and 8 died in POW camps. Another 11 nurses died when the hospital ship Centaur was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sank off the coast of Moreton Island in 1943. Seventy-five nurses received decorations for bravery or meritorious service and 133 were mentioned in dispatches for the exemplary performance of their duties. These brave women, who joined out of patriotism, and a sense of duty truly served their country in its time of need. This memorial in Anzac Square depicts a wounded soldier being assisted by a nursing sister. It is a scene typical of all theatres of war and exemplifies the involvement of all Australian servicemen and women in World War II.

23.01.2022 During WWI, regulations did not permit Australian soldiers to carry a camera or take photographs during their time on the battlefields of the Western Front (although some did anyway). As well as being a defensive measure, this prohibition also allowed authorities to control the flow of images and information back to loved ones at home. "Official photographs" such as the ones shown here were therefore not just important mementos, but key tools in controlling the narrative and ...managing public opinion about the war. Images of Daily Mail official war postcards, courtesy of SLQ, from Burley Family Records collection: 1. Wounded soldier being carried out of trench, France, image M946-0036-0067 2. Three soldiers sharing a cigarette, France, image M946-0036-0068 3. British machine gunners, wearing gas helmets, France, image M946-0036-0057 4. Soldiers crawling towards German trenches under fire, France, image M946-0036-0070

22.01.2022 Gas masks became a constant companion for frontline soldiers after the first successful mass use of gas by the Germans at Ypres on April 22, 1915. After this the race was on to supply gas masks to the troops. The first gas masks used by the allies were copied from the German units found at the front and were simply a fabric envelope filled with cotton wool soaked with hyposulfite solutions and worn as a gag. Development of a Large Box Respirator during the summer and autumn o...f 1915 meant that by February 1916 they were being issued. Fortunately, a compact version, the Small Box Respirator, carried in a haversack around the neck for quick access, was developed and made a universal issue from August 1916. The masks were usually extremely uncomfortable and hampered the movement of the men, often inducing fatigue, disorientation and confusion. Despite the development and issuance of gas masks, gas weapons caused more than 90,000 deaths in WWI. Interestingly, since dogs were frequently used in the front lines, a special type of gas mask was developed that dogs were trained to wear. Likewise one was developed for horses in the various mounted units that operated near the front lines. State Library of Qld photos: Soldiers doing drill in early gas masks, negative 182319. Australian Field Ambulance Officers sheltering in a trench. One holding his gas mask, negative 186781.

21.01.2022 No. 23 Squadron was first formed on 3 May 1937. In August 1939 it became the first squadron to move to Queensland. The unit operated from Archerfield and performed maritime patrols and escorted shipping off Australia’s east coast. The squadron was reorganised in 1942 and moved to Amberley where it was equipped with Bell Airacobras and later, Vultee Vengeance dive bombers. In February 1944 the unit was deployed to Nadzab, New Guinea, where it began combat operations. The u...nit was eventually withdrawn to Australia as the Vultee Vengeance bombers were less efficient than other fighter bombers in the Pacific. The unit was then assigned B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and moved to Long Airfield in the Northern Territory in April 1945. From here, no. 23 conducted reconnaissance, bombing and anti-shipping missions in the Netherlands East Indies. The squadron's last action in the war was supporting the Allied assault landing at Labuan on 10 June and the amphibious landing at Balikpapan in Borneo. When Japan surrendered in August 1945, the Liberators continued to be based at Balikpapan and participated in supply drops to Allied POWs. The squadron later flew POWs and other Australian personnel back to Australia.

21.01.2022 Today marks the 78th anniversary of the infamous Battle of Brisbane, a riot between American military personnel and Australian servicemen and civilians. Fighting turned the streets of Brisbane's CBD into a war zone and resulted in the death of one Australian serviceman and scores of injuries. Learn more about this unique episode in Brisbane's wartime history here: http://ow.ly/r8oq50CexIj

21.01.2022 Clive Cecil Hale, from Capella, Queensland, enlisted with the RAAF in May 1941. He was assigned the position of Wireless Operator Air Gunner (WOAG) and posted with the 100 Squadron, which flew Bristol Beaufort aircraft from bases in Queensland, New South Wales, and New Guinea. In May 1942 Hale and his unit moved to Mareeba where they staged missions through Port Moresby in New Guinea. Later that year they were relocated to Milne Bay, tasked with providing support against fu...rther landings by elite Japanese naval troops and undertaking reconnaissance and anti-shipping missions, during what is known as the first Battle of Milne Bay. Following this battle, the squadron undertook a moonlight torpedo attack on enemy shipping sheltering in the Shortland Islands, near Bougainville. Hales aircraft left Milne Bay at 1:00 am as part of a formation of 10 aircraft. The formation split up as they approached the Shortland Islands, flying at low altitude with navigation lights off. This was the last time Hales aircraft was seen. After extensive searches by the RAAF and the Australian Army Cecils belongings were returned to his family. This included a letter addressed to his parents in the event of his death. This moving letter is featured in the WWII Gallery at Anzac Square. You can also listen to it via Voice Activation. Learn more about this feature here: http://ow.ly/KL0f50AVZIx Image: The Queensland Central Herald, Thursday 22 October 1942, pg. 7. #anzacsquare #anzacsquarememorialgalleries #shrineofrememrbancebrisbane #eternalflamerbrisbane #VPDay75 #VPDaystories

20.01.2022 On 13 November 1939 the first units of the war began to mobilise at the Kelvin Grove Defence Reserve, Brisbane. The site comprised of five drill halls, two-gun parks, an artillery brigade office, artillery officers mess and the Frank Moran Memorial Hall. During WWII it become a training centre for artillery, signallers, Royal Australian engineers and the Australian Army Service Defence Corps of the part-time Australian Military Forces (AMF). By the conclusion of the war in 1945 Kelvin Grove was a major militia training facility for militia units fighting in New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville. Courtesy State Library of Queensland, Interior of Army Barracks at Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, 1940, 6511-1-3 Green Photographic Studio Portraits.

20.01.2022 On this day in 1918 Lieutenant Edgar Thomas Towner showed such "conspicuous bravery, initiative and devotion to duty" that he was awarded the Victoria Cross, Australias highest military honour. His unit, the 2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion was part of the Allied offensive that broke through the German line near the French town of Peronne. His citation details how he single-handedly located an enemy machine gun that was causing severe losses and slowing the Australian ad...vance. He captured the gun, killing its crew and then turned it on a large group that were amassing for a counter attack. He also performed reconnaissance under heavy fire, firing on various enemy groups. When he was low on ammunition he captured a second enemy machine gun which he used to force the enemy to retreat further, allowing the infantry to advance. Although he was in view of the enemy he maintained continuous fire at a critical time in the battle. During the night he continued to perform reconnaissance and rally the troops around him. He was finally evacuated 30 hours after he had been wounded. Lt Towner was credited with contributing in a large way to the success of the battle. Courtesy State Library of Queensland, The Queenslander Pictorial Supplement to The Queenslander, p.28, 1 February 1919 See more

20.01.2022 In October 1929 the Brisbane Women's Club launched a campaign to raise funds needed to commission the Queensland Women's War Memorial. The memorial was designed and created by renowned Brisbane sculptress Daphne Mayo as a tribute from the wives, mothers, and sisters of men who had served in the First World War and to acknowledge those who had lost their husbands, sons and brothers. It was unveiled on 24 March 1932 by Lady Goodwin, the wife of the then Governor of Queensland.... This stunning sculpture is located on the western wall of Anzac Square, near the entry to the Anzac Square Memorial Galleries. The figures represent members of the Royal Australian Navy, and the Australian Imperial Forces, including gunners, engineers, signallers, infantrymen, machine-gunners, flyers, and medical staff and nurses. The inscription is taken from the hymn 'O Valiant Hearts', by Sir John Stanhope Arkwright, a member of the British House of Commons. In front of the memorial there is a sandstone drinking fountain, with four bronze fish at the base. Visit the Galleries to learn more about the history of Anzac Square.

19.01.2022 Learn more about WWII and the War in the Pacific by diving into the personal collections of Queenslanders who were involved in this conflict. Joe Tilson Langs personal collection is one of many featured at Anzac Square and provides a unique insight into the fighting in the Pacific. Joe Tilson Lang was an engineer who worked on the construction of Brisbanes Story bridge before the outbreak of WWII. He had previously served during WWI with the 53rd Infantry Battalion and the... 2/97th Rajputs (British Indian Army). During WWII he was posted with the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion and held the rank of major. In 1941 he took part in operations during the Syria-Lebanon campaign where he was wounded by a sniper in the arm and thigh. While convalescing in Australia his battalion moved to Java where many of his men were taken as POWs. He returned to active service first in Darwin and Katherine and then in Melbourne, to reform the 2/2nd Pioneer battalion and ready them for action against the Japanese in New Guinea. He led them through the Lae-Ramu Valley campaign before taking over as commander of the Buna Base sub-area. Courtesy State Library of Queensland, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Tilson Lang, 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion, in camp, New Guinea, 1943-1945 31630-0023-1 Joe Tilson Lang collection

18.01.2022 Many wreaths and flowers were laid at Anzac Square today in commemoration of Vietnam Veterans Day. We also welcomed veterans and other visitors to the Anzac Square Memorial Galleries where we were honoured to hear their stories. Thank you to you all. Lest We Forget. Photo of the Vietnam Memorial at Anzac Square.

18.01.2022 Dont forget to take advantage of the vast online resources, content and interactive platforms on the Anzac Square website. Here you can access eBooks, blogs, movies and documentaries that delve into Australias unique experience of World War Two. You can also listen to personal stories from veterans who served in the Pacific through Voice Activation or view images and film from WWII via Explorer. Embark on an online journey here, http://ow.ly/D6yM50B39Ft, or visit the galleries, open Sunday to Friday 10-4. Courtesy State Library of Queensland, Young men attempt to reach a higher vantage point on VJ Day, Brisbane, 1945, negative no. 201319.

17.01.2022 A Queensland unit of the militia, the 61st Battalion was also known as the Cameron Highlanders, in recognition of the Scottish ancestry of many of its members. In the last week of August 1942, the 61st faced an attack from 2,000 Japanese marines who made an amphibious landing north of Milne Bay in New Guinea. The Battle of Milne Bay that followed, involving the 61st and other units of the 7th and 18th Brigades, would eventually give the Australians their first land victory ag...ainst the Japanese in the War in the Pacific, and provide a much-needed boost to Australian morale. The 61st suffered 19 killed and 27 wounded in this battle. You can view plaques, photos and more information about the 61st and the War in the Pacific at the Anzac Square Memorial Galleries .

16.01.2022 #OnThisDay in 1914 the HMAS AE1, an E-class Submarine, was lost at sea with all hands near what is now Papua New Guinea. She was the first submarine to serve in the Royal Australian Navy and had been in service for less than seven months. When WWI began the AE1, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Thomas Besant, was sent as part of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force to attack German New Guinea. She took part in several operations, which contributed to the oc...cupation of German territory and the surrender of Rabaul on 13 September 1914. On 14 September 07:00 the AE1 departed Blanche Bay, Rabaul, to patrol off Cape Gazelle with HMAS Parramatta. When she did not return by 20:00, several ships were deployed to locate the missing vessel. Despite extensive searches no trace of the AE1 was found and she was listed as lost with all hands. This disappearance was Australias first major loss of WWI. The fate of AE1 and her crew would remain a mystery until 2017. Search missions attempting to locate the lost submarine began in 1976. However, it was not until the 13th search mission in December 2017 that the submarine was located near the Duke of York Islands. Researchers concluded that the likely cause of the AE1 sinking was a diving accident. A ventilation valve had not been properly secured when the submarine had divided causing water to flood into the engine room. The submarine sank 100 metres before imploding and killing everyone on board. Courtesy State Library of Queensland, HMAS AE1, Page 28 of the Queenslander Pictorial, supplement to The Queenslander, 19 July, 1919, Image number: 702692-19190719-0028.

16.01.2022 Did you know the Anzac Square Memorial Galleries offer free tours Monday to Friday at 10:30 am, 11:30 am and 1:00 pm? They are a great way to learn more about Australia's unique military past and the history of Anzac Square. Bookings are essential. More information here: http://ow.ly/f71m50CkLRW

15.01.2022 Combat operations on Bougainville ended with the surrender of Japanese forces on 21 August 1945. From November 1944 until this time, primarily Australian troops had been involved in neutralising pockets of starving, isolated but still determined Japanese. Lt General Sir Stanley Savige commanded the Australian II Corps, a force of just over 30,000, as part of the aggressive operations to destroy the Japanese Garrison of approximately 40,000. This phase of the Bougainville cam...paign saw 516 Australians killed and another 1572 wounded. The Japanese however, had 8,500 killed and another 9,800 die of disease and malnutrition. Consequently, some 23,500 troops and labourers surrendered on Bougainville at the end of the war. The official surrender ceremony on Bougainville was held on 8 September 1945 when Lt General Kanada, Officer in Command of troops on Bougainville Island, unconditionally surrendered to Lt General Sturdee, General Officer Commanding, First Army. Photo courtesy of State Library of Queensland, 31553-2-113 John Stanton Davis Mellick Archive

14.01.2022 #OnThisDay in 1914 Albert Percy Warnes, from Gympie, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. At only 20 years old he was the youngest of three brothers, all of whom served during World War One. Albert was posted to the 9th Australian Infantry Battalion and undertook a short period of training at Enoggera before the battalion embarked for Egypt on the troopship Omrah. While in Egypt the troops underwent a period of intense training, believing that they were heading to th...e Western Front, but the decision was made to assign the battalion to an Anglo-French force being sent to Gallipoli. Albert Warnes and his battalion were some of the very first men ashore during the ill-fated Gallipoli landing. While Albert survived the landing, it is estimated that 2,000 men were killed or wounded on the first day. At the end of June 1915, the 9th battalion participated in attacks on Knife Edge and Snipers Ridge. It is thought that it may have been during these attacks that Albert Warnes was killed in action. He was one of 8,700 Australians who were killed during the Gallipoli campaign. Albert was buried at Shell Green Cemetery, which lies just South of Anzac Cove. The inscription on his headstone reads: In Memory of dear Albert, son of Mr and Mrs Warnes of Gympie. Fortunately for Alberts parents, their two other sons returned safely to Australia. Courtesy State Library of Queensland, Studio Portrait of Albert Percy Warnes, 31166 Warnes Family Collection, 1914.

14.01.2022 Anzac Square Memorial Galleries are open for visitors from 10am to 4 pm Sunday through to Friday each week. We have a COVID Safe plan in place with hand sanitiser, regular cleaning of surfaces and social distancing being practised. Come and learn about our rich military history and experience the quiet tranquillity of Anzac square.

14.01.2022 World War II would offer women various opportunities to enter the workforce. The increasing demand for soldiers to be stationed abroad as the war intensified saw the introduction of womens auxiliary services, giving women the chance to work as part of the Australian forces, in a capacity other than nursing, for the first time. Women could do the technical jobs normally performed by men, freeing those men for combat. Each branch of the armed services formed their own auxiliar...y corps for women. These were not combat forces, as the government was determined that no female auxiliary forces would serve outside Australia. Learn more about the WAAAF, the first of the auxiliary corps to be established in this blog: http://ow.ly/2o6T50Bd6ke Aviation basics for the Australian Womens Corps, October 1941. Women around the table are WAAAF and woman in the brimmed hat is AWAS. Photo courtesy of State Library of Queensland, negative: 102813

13.01.2022 #onthisday in 1917 the Battle of Poelcappelle in Belgium began. Part of the Third Battle of Ypres, this campaign was launched during dreadful weather conditions. As fighting had been ongoing in the region for an extended period the ground was denuded of vegetation and rutted with deep shell holes. Frequent rain caused poor visibility and it had become almost impossible to move heavy artillery guns forward through the deep mud and water . There were extensive areas covered wit...h barbed wire, large German concrete pillboxes and machine gun nests. With very little artillery support and men exhausted before the battle began, the Allied forces were doomed to fail at this attempt to gain valuable ground in the Flanders region. Sadly 1250 Allied casualties was the cost of this battle that, essentially, gained no ground at all. Australia's 1st and 2nd Divisions fought alongside the British and Canadian soldiers in this fruitless action. Pictured is Sgt. Simon Tait Hamilton who served with the 9th Battalion on the Western Front where they received Battle Honours for the Battle of Poelcappelle. Image courtesy of State Library of Queensland, 30151 George Crigan Graham Collection. See more

11.01.2022 The declaration of Victory in the Pacific in August 1945 brought an end to WWII, however the fate of many Australian service personnel who were missing or taken as prisoners of war was still not clearly known for weeks or months afterwards. In local newspapers in Australia, lists were regularly published after the war to update relatives on the status of these missing loved ones abroad, and to advise if or when personnel were due to be repatriated to Australia. The first shi...ploads of returned POWs began arriving in September 1945. After many years away, and changed by their wartime experiences, some fathers would return to children they had never met or who did not recognise them. Our defence forces remained on duty in the Pacific well into 1946, searching for and repatriating POWs. Image: SLQ, Negative No. 112053. Mrs B. Clarke and her son, at Hamilton wharf, Sep 1945 (awaiting the return of Major Burnett Clarke on the hospital ship Oranje).

10.01.2022 Alan Groom, from Auchenflower in Brisbane, pursued his passion for aircraft by joining the RAF in 1935. By 1940 he was a Wing Commander in the Far East, but during his deployment to Java in 1942 he was taken POW by the invading Japanese forces. Imprisoned in the Tasikmalaya Camp, Alan was described by his friend Roy Bulcock as the handiest man in the camp. Alan was appointed Camp Commandant in Jogjakarta but disappeared in August 1942. His fate remained unknown until 1945 b...ut after the war it transpired Groom had been taken by the Japanese Kempeitai (military police) and held in various prisons where he was tortured. In the wake of the war, Groom continued to serve, taking on a role with the Recovery of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees taskforce. In 1946 he also negotiated with rebels in Sourabaya to secure the release of Europeans interned during the Indonesian National Revolution, saving many lives; this earned him a Distinguished Service Order (DSO). You can learn more about Alans distinguished service career in this SLQ blog: http://ow.ly/ewYd50B0Vvh Courtesy State Library of Queensland, Wing commander Alan Douglas Groom, ca. 1940, Image no: 28024-0001-0003

09.01.2022 Leonard (Len) Waters was Australias only Indigenous WWII fighter pilot. Enlisting in August 1942, he started his RAAF career as ground staff and trained as a Flight Mechanic. In 1943 he was able to transfer across to air crew and received his Wings in July 1944. During his 9 months of active service with No. 78 Squadron in New Guinea and Borneo, Len flew a total of 95 missions in his Kittyhawk named "Black Magic." Unfortunately, despite over 3 years of service, Len was... unable to transfer the skills hed acquired in the RAAF to his civilian life after the war. To learn more about Len and his WWII service you can read this blog:http://ow.ly/dQZQ50B490f

09.01.2022 On 24 August, 1916 the Australian Comforts Fund (ACF) was established to coordinate the activities of the state-based patriotic funds that had been operating since WWI began. Mainly run by women and with the motto Keep the Fit Man Fit, the aim of the organisation was to provide free comfort items not supplied by the service to all Australian troops. They relied on fundraising and donations to provide these items. The ACF ceased operations on 10 April, 1920 but was revived... in 1939 to provide comfort to a new generation of soldiers. "Comfort items could include: singlets, socks, pyjamas, cigarettes and tobacco, razor blades, soap, toothpaste and reading materials (newspapers and magazines). This photo shows soldiers of the 2/31st Battalion receiving their Christmas Hampers in the Ramu Valley, Papua New Guinea, 1943. A diary entry from a RAN Radio Operator in WWII listed the following contents of his Christmas Hamper: Christmas pudding, cake, cream, peaches, cheese, cards, sweets, nuts and fruit, a toothbrush, 20 cigarettes and a Colgate toothpaste. The ACF would dispatch 1.5 million hampers by the end of the war. Courtesy of SLQ and Hinchinbrook Shire Council Library, image: hin00096.

09.01.2022 Mont St Quentin is a hill with only 100m of elevation that overlooks the French town of Peronne on what was known as the Western Front during WWI. This small hill was of strategic importance because its height, in a relatively flat landscape, made it a great observation post for the approaches to the town and for that section of the Somme River. Lieutenant General Sir John Monash was keen for this last, major stronghold of the German Army in the Somme Line to be in Allied ha...nds. The men tasked with capturing these objectives were ordered to "scream like bushrangers" when attacking to unnerve the Germans. Australian troops of the 2nd Division crossed the river at night in preparation and then at 5am, on August 31 1918, under the leadership of Major-General Charles Rosenthal, broke through the German lines to begin the Battle of Mont St Quentin. As the initial assaults were uphill, across open ground and were followed by largely hand to hand combat, this action caused heavy casualties for the Australians. With reinforcements, the Australians managed to capture and, after repelling counter attacks from the Germans, hold the summit and later the town of Peronne. This forced the Germans to retreat back to their last line of defense, the Hindenburg Line. All objectives had been achieved by nightfall on the 3rd of September at the cost of 3000 casualties. 2600 German prisoners were captured during the 4 days of intense fighting. British Commander, General Lord Rawlinson, stated, " this feat by the Australian troops under Monashs command was the greatest of the war." The 2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion were part of the 2nd Division that fought in the Battle of Mont St Quentin. Image courtesy State Library of Queensland, 30576 Edgar Thomas Towner Letters, 1918.

08.01.2022 On 4 September 1943, the Australian 9th Division, under Major General George Wooten, landed east of Lae, on Red Beach and Yellow Beach, seeking to encircle Japanese forces located in the town. The Battle of Lae was the final stage in the Salamaua-Lae campaign which sought to capture two major Japanese bases, one in the town of Lae, and the other one at Salamaua. Five US Navy Destroyers provided artillery support during this amphibious landing. The landing was not opposed by g...round forces, but Allied forces were targeted by Japanese bombers. This resulted in numerous casualties among Allied naval and military personnel. By the 16th of September Lae had fallen to Allied forces. It was achieved more quickly and at a lower cost than anticipated. However, a significant proportion of the Japanese garrison had escaped through the Saruwaged Range, to the north of Lae, and would have to be fought again elsewhere. A Memorial Plaque for the 9th Australian Division resides in the World War Two Gallery at Anzac Square. Visit the galleries to learn more about the service history of this Division.

08.01.2022 From 1915 onwards many Australian towns and shires issued Certificates of Appreciation to those who served with the Australian Imperial Forces. These certificates became an important symbol of recognition and honour. This certificate was issued by Widgee Shire Council to Albert Percy Warnes after he was killed in action on 28 June 1915 at Gallipoli. He served with the 9th Australian Infantry Battalion and was one of the first ashore during the Gallipoli landing. Learn m...ore about Queensland's World War One history at the Anzac Square Memorial Galleries, open 10-4 Sunday to Friday. Courtesy State Library of Queensland, 31166 Warnes Family Collection, 1915.

08.01.2022 During Australia's 10 year commitment to the Vietnam war several local South Vietnamese civilians found employment on the Australian logistics base at Vung Tau in Phuoc Tuy Province of South Vietnam. They were employed in a number of roles including stores, administration, gardening and cleaning/burning of latrines. After Australia pulled out of Vietnam many of these people lost a part of their income stream and also risked being penalised by the opposing forces for collabor...ating with the Australian and US Army and Air Force. Some were sent to re-education camps to learn the ways of the new government. Many years later an Australian Vietnam veteran returned to Vietnam and searched for some of these former employees to check on their welfare. He then started a charity, supported by other veterans, which assisted some of the former employees' children and grandchildren through school and paid for funerals and headstones. This photo shows some of the accommodation huts in 1 Australian Logistic Supply Group, Vung Tau, with some local civilians working in the gardens in the foreground. Image courtesy of State Library of Queensland staff member.

06.01.2022 This great photo from the State Librarys collections shows the happy smiling faces of soldiers in North Queensland, taking some much needed respite away from the battle grounds of the War in the Pacific. They appear relaxed and comfortable in their camaraderie. Also notable is the swimming costume fashion of the time. #photooftheweek Image courtesy of the State Library of Queensland, Negative No. 77710

05.01.2022 We all love a good soak in a big bathtub but sometimes you just have to make do with a small basin. This candid snap shows that bathroom facilities for our soldiers during WWII were sometimes less than impressive. Image courtesy of State Library of Queensland 32106-0001-0028 #photooftheweek

05.01.2022 Although Japan officially surrendered on 15 August 1945 (VP Day) the formal surrender of Japan ceremony wasnt held until 2 September 1945, in Tokyo Bay. The ceremony began at 9am (Tokyo time) and was held aboard the US Navy Battleship, USS Missouri. As Supreme Allied Commander, General MacArthur, took charge of the ceremony. Two copies of the surrender document were provided and the Japanese delegates were first to sign. Japans Foreign Minister, Shigemitsu Mamoru, signed fo...r the Japanese Government while General Umezu signed for the Japanese Armed Forces. After the Japanese signed, it was signed by MacArthur and then Lt General Jonathan Wainwright (US) and Lt General Percival (UK), who had recently been rescued from Japanese POW camps. MacArthur then called on each nations (USA, Great Britain, USSR, China, Australia, Canada, France, Netherlands and New Zealand) representative to step forward and sign. Of the eight Australian delegates on the USS Missouri it was General Sir Thomas Blamey who signed for Australia. More than 250 ships, representing all the Allied powers, were anchored in the bay. Australian ships there on the day included: the cruisers HMAS Shropshire and HMAS Hobart; destroyers HMAS Napier, HMAS Nizam and HMAS Warramunga; the frigate HMAS Gascoyne and the mine sweepers HMAS Ballarat, HMAS Cessnock, HMAS Ipswich and HMAS Pirie. To learn more about the surrender you can read newspaper articles from the time using Trove. http://ow.ly/HSVq50AKPRZ Photo courtesy of Trove, Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton, Thursday 13 Sept, 1945.

04.01.2022 Since World War One official war artists have been used to explore the visual and sensory elements of war that are absent from written accounts. Bruce Fletcher was the first of two official war artists appointed by the Australian War Memorial (AWM) during the Vietnam War. Fletcher studied at the Prahan College of Advanced Educated and privately with William Dargie, who had been an official war artist during World War Two. War artists for Vietnam were appointed in July 1965..., however, Fletcher was not deployed until March 1967. The delay was widely due to AWMs first choice, Ray Crooke, declining the commission, the need for artists to undergo rigorous jungle warfare training and the increasing unpopularity of the war. While stationed in Vietnam Fletcher produced several oil paintings. Soon after arriving he was badly injured when a captured Viet Cong Weapon accidently discharged on board a RAAF flight between Saigon and Vung Tau. Consequently, he spent much of his tour in hospital At Vung Tau, where he worked on drawing the activities of the personnel at the base. This included sketches of tents equipment and portraits of known and unknown sitters performing daily duties. After the war Fletcher turned increasingly to portraiture and become a lecturer at the Caulfield Institute of Technology. Courtesy State Library of Queensland, Bruce Fletcher, war artist, in Vietnam, 1967, 7609 James Wieneke Collection of Photographs, negative no. 165342.

04.01.2022 Did you know that many Queensland soldiers had their portraits taken and published in The Queenslander newspaper from 1914 to 1918? Talma Studios set up a tent in the soldier camp at Enoggera in September 1914. The demand for portraits was so high that Fegan Studios also set up a tent for the same purpose. Kit was provided for those who had not yet been fitted out. Nearly 30,000 portraits were taken. This was only around half the number of Queenslanders who served, as not ...every soldier had their photo taken before embarking overseas. These portraits are a unique part of Queensland's military history and allow us to see the faces of those who served during WWI. Many of these portraits are featured in the World War One Crypt at Anzac Square, open 10-4 Sunday to Friday. They are also available for download through the State Library’s online catalogue, One Search. Courtesy State Library of Queensland, The Queenslander Pictorial, supplement to The Queenslander, p. 23, 15 July 1916.

04.01.2022 Opened in 1927, Lone Pine was a popular tourist attraction for US service personnel on leave in Brisbane during WWII. Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, visited Lone Pine while touring US bases in September 1943. The Royal Australian Navy used the sanctuarys tourist boat Mirimar as an auxiliary patrol vessel. An American soldier, Lt. Mark Muller, poses for a photograph with a koala, while in Queensland during World War Two. Photo courtesy of State Library of QLD, GS-44 Photograph Albums of Americans in Queensland During World War Two, Image : 99804.

04.01.2022 The USA observes Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday of November each year. In 1942 workers carved 250 turkeys for Thanksgiving Day dinners at the American Red Cross Services Club in Creek St, Brisbane, allowing US service personnel to uphold this tradition. Image: SLQ Neg no. 102811

04.01.2022 Have you used State Librarys exciting new interactive online tool Explorer? This platform allows you to view images and film from the Second World War. You can also help document the story of Queensland by tagging and commenting on collection items and by uploading your owns photos from the time. You can find more information about Explorer here: http://ow.ly/r8oR50B0vAz #anzacsquare #anzacsquarememorialgalleries #shrineofremembrancebrisbane #eternalflamebrisbane

03.01.2022 Today, on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, we mark Vietnam Veterans Day, in memory of all who served in Australias 10 years of commitment in the Vietnam war. We commemorate those who were lost and pay tribute to those who still carry the physical and emotional scars of their service and the families that have stood by them. We are thinking of those men chosen to serve by the "birthday ballot" as part of the National Service scheme as well as the regular Army, Navy ...and Air Force personnel. Almost 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam. More than 3,000 were wounded and 521 lost their lives. Due to public sentiment at the time and opposition with the decision to send Australians into this conflict, many Vietnam veterans were not welcomed home the way veterans of other wars had been in the past. In October 1987, then Prime Minister, the Honorable Bob Hawke declared that the 18th of August would be Vietnam Veterans Day, a day to commemorate all who served during this conflict. In that year the Australian Vietnam veterans were finally, officially welcomed home with parades across the nation. These are the medals of Major Jeff Steele, a Vietnam veteran who served in the regular Australian Army for his entire career and later, after retirement, with the Army Reserve.

03.01.2022 The 9th Battalion was recruited in Queensland for the AIF in August 1914, just weeks after the outbreak of World War One. At around 4:30am on 25 April 1915, the 9th Battalion was one of the first ashore to help establish and defend the front line of the beach head at Anzac Cove. It would serve there until the Allied evacuation in December 1915. Following the failed Gallipoli Campaign, the 9th Battalion was transferred to France in March 1916. There it was deployed to the So...mme, with its first major action at the battle of Pozieres in July 1916. The battalion also fought at Ypres in Flanders and was heavily involved in stopping the German Spring Offensive in March and April 1918. On 8 August 1918 the battalion participated in the battle of Amiens, which marked the beginning of the Allied 100-day offensive. The battalion suffered heavy casualties and was withdrawn in late September. It took no further part in fighting before the Armistice was signed on 11 November 1918. The 9th Battalion reported 1,094 killed and 2,422 wounded during World War One. You can learn more about the 9th Battalion by visiting the Anzac Square Memorial Galleries, open 10-4 Sunday-Friday.

01.01.2022 The most distinctive and recognisable article of clothing worn by the Australian soldier during WWI was the khaki felt slouch hat. However, the slouch hat is not the only head wear they were issued during the war. Approved for service on 15 May 1916, the Australians on the Western Front wore the British issue steel helmet (known as the Helmet Steel Mark 1 or Brodie Steel Helmet) as head protection while in the trenches. Helmet cloth covers were extensively used, even after the introduction of textured, non-reflective paint. Covers were made of sacking, cloth or whatever material was available. Photo courtesy of State Library of Qld, Sandbagged dugout occupied by members of a howitzer battery wearing steel helmets, 1917. Negative: 194870

01.01.2022 During World War One, camels were used in the Middle East to transport equipment and soldiers. These animals could travel over 40 km a day, carry up to 145 kg and survive without water for up to 6 days. This #ImageOfTheWeek is of Australian soldiers washing their camels near El-Arish, Sinai. Courtesy State Library of Queensland, Soldiers washing camels in the ocean, El-Arish, Palestine, ca. 1917. Image number: 30590-0001-0105.