Battle of Brisbane

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U.S. servicemen march through King George Square, Brisbane, circa 1943.

The "Battle of Brisbane" is the name given to violence between United States (US) military personnel on one side and Australian servicemen and civilians on the other, in Brisbane, Australia on November 26-27, 1942, during World War II. Australia and the US were Allies at the time. By the time the violence had been quelled one Australian soldier was dead, and hundreds of Australians and US servicemen had been injured. ^[1] News reports of these incidents were suppressed during the war.

In 1942-45, many US personnel were stationed in and around Brisbane, which was the headquarters for General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander, South West Pacific Area. Many buildings and facilities around Brisbane were given over to the usage of the U.S. military.

[edit] Background

Early 1942; U.S. military police outside the Central Hotel, Brisbane. (Source: Sunday Truth, Brisbane/State Library of Queensland.)

From 1942 until 1945 during the Pacific War, large numbers of United States (U.S.) military forces were stationed at various locations throughout eastern Australia. These forces included personnel awaiting deployment to combat operations elsewhere in the Pacific, troops resting, convalescing, and/or refitting from previous combat operations, or military personnel manning Allied military bases and installations in Australia. At the same time, large numbers of Australian military personnel were also stationed in Brisbane.

Although the military personnel from Australia and the U.S. usually enjoyed a cooperative and convivial relationship, at times there were tensions between the two forces that sometimes resulted in violence. Several factors reportedly contributed to the tensions, including the fact that U.S. military pay was higher than that of the Australian military, the perception that U.S. military uniforms were more appealing than those of the Australians, and a belief among Australian personnel that U.S. servicemen enjoyed great success in their pursuit of Australian women ('They're overpaid, oversexed and over here', was a common phrase used by Australians around this time). The city of Brisbane was one location where large numbers of U.S. and Australian military personnel were stationed and where some tension had developed between some members of the two forces due to these factors.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] The battle

The American Red Cross Services Club, at the corner of Adelaide and Creek Streets, along with the nearby U.S. military postal exchange (PX), was attacked by Australian servicemen and civilians, on November 26-27 1942.

According to Australian historian Barry Ralph,^[2] a group of Australian servicemen befriended an intoxicated US serviceman, Pvt James R. Stein of the U.S. 404th Signal Company some time on or before the evening of November 26. When Stein was arrested by Pvt Anthony E. O'Sullivan of the U.S. 814th Military Police (M.P.) Company at about 7pm, these Australian soldiers assaulted O'Sullivan. Other MPs at the nearby U.S. Post Exchange (PX), in the Primaries Building, near the corner of Adelaide and Creek Streets, heard the commotion and carried O'Sullivan inside. In the meantime, a crowd of Australian servicemen and civilians had gathered and about 100 people began to besiege the PX, throwing objects at it and breaking windows.

The MPs in the PX started to arm themselves with 12-gauge Stevens pump action shotguns in order to protect the PX. People in the crowd took umbrage at this demonstration of force and attempted to relieve Pvt Norbert Grant, of the 738th MP Battalion, of his weapon. During the scuffle it discharged three times. One shot hit Pte Edward Webster of the Australian 2/2nd Anti-Tank Regiment in the chest. Webster died soon afterwards.^[3] Several other Australian servicemen and civilians, and at least one MP also suffered serious injuries at the PX.

The next day, groups of Australian and U.S. soldiers roamed the streets, engaging in violent brawls, which gradually petered out. Writer Margaret Scott has stated that several U.S. servicemen were beaten to death in the fighting, but there is no evidence to support this.^[4]

Pvt Grant was later court martialled, by the U.S. military authorities, for manslaughter in relation to the death of Webster, but was acquitted.^[5] Five Australians were convicted of assault as a result of the events described above, and one was jailed for six months.^[6]

[edit] See also

• Battle of Manners Street a similar 'battle' in New Zealand

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

• Battle of Manners Street a similar 'battle' in New Zealand

[edit] Books

• Thompson, Peter A.; Robert Macklin (2000). The Battle of Brisbane: Australians and the Yanks at War. Sydney, Australia: ABC Books. 0733308961. 

[edit] Web

• Evans, Raymond; Jacqui. The Battle of Brisbane. Politics and Culture. University Press. Retrieved on Oct 20, 2006.
• The Battle of Brisbane - 26 & 27 November 1942, version based on the book They Passed This Way by Barry Ralph