Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Thursday Island & Horn Island

We boarded the ferry for a day trip to Thursday Island and Horn Island.
Graham and Nev. 

Phil and Gae.

Lionel, Marg, Greg and Judy.
The ferry ride was too much for some.

The approach to Thursday Island.

View of the township from the Green Hill Fort, one of Australias first defence posts.

Museum in the underground bunker at the fort.


A great view to the gap between the islands.

the local school built this impressive outrigger.

A colourful Frangipani

Japanese graves at the islands cemetery.

The approach to Horn Island.

 Horn Island was the first and most frequently attacked target in Queensland
and was the most-northerly allied airbase in Australia during WW2.
As such, it was utilized by thousands of aircraft,
both American and Australian on their way to New Guinea and elsewhere.

The area around the airport is littered with many remains of WW2 aircraft wrecks.


Ammunition storage area.

On the trip back to the port I was reading a book published by our guide about the role Horn Island played in the war and found my fathers name in a list of serving soldiers stationed on Horn.
He was an anti aircraft gunner. Dad may have been in this very area.

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