A trove of photos documenting the journey of Tasmanian soldiers to the Top End during World War II will soon join a collection in Hobart.
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The pictures, taken by Tasmanian prisoner-of-war Reginald ‘Bowie’ Wise, show the journey of the state’s 2/40th Battalion from Hobart to Darwin.
They document moments including crocodile hunting at Katherine as soldiers tried to set up a safe camp site.
Rod Stone, from the Friends of the 2/40th Battalion, said they were possibly the most complete pictorial record from enlistment to disembarking from Darwin. He thanked Newstead’s Marlene John for donating the collection.
Lieutenant Tom Campbell, of the 12/40th Battalion, said the collection added significantly to understanding aspects of Tasmania’s military history.
The photos, news clippings and POW’s telegrams will join an historical collection at the 12/40th Battalion’s Derwent Barracks in early November.