Australian WWII - Far North Queensland Metal detecting and recovery

[AT P Sweep]

And remembering the US Army Tunic button I found mere meters from the Silver coin spill ~



Always living in Hope of US Army relics ~

[AT P Sweep]

LOL

Yes ~ So True , Mate ~

Ironically The next hunt/s same area ~ I did find a (Zack) Sixpence.. so close yet so far ~ and of course another oen the previous hunt I found none too~

( I must a do a total count on Australian Small predecimal silvers from December!


That report is coming up shortly ~

8,019

[AT P Sweep]

Finally finished and cleaning my recent 113 Smoke 25 Pdr. Fuze guard

And have added one of the Three the retaining bands~ which I found several years ago ~

The Conical guards are a pretty rare find and all these previous finds were all crushed ~

Additionally i found 221 Timer fuze guards in the same spot~

Add a Retaining band ~



More clean ups ~

These are long standing pieces which have deteriorated or have not been fully cleaned up ~

The central Rising Sun is immaculate despite being bent and a split pin on the rear ~ will leave to be subject to natural Patina retention!



Includes a Italian Live round ~

A modern training blank dated 1987~

A"Trench art tampered" Dated 1942 Hispano 20 mm shell case.

Plus fifty Cal. BMG LC 1942 damaged case ~

A very tidy Officer's Shoulder rank Pip~

[AT P Sweep]

Been slacking off of late ~

Been busy with a recently arrived Wet season ~ and endeavouring to reorganise my relics displays which has turned into a Massive task ~

First up the accumulation of Silver coins which I had a run on up to the last few hunts when the run simply dried up ~

Includes a Digger's lost or discarded wedding ring.

Included are several Copper coins all found in Military camps ~ There are a lot more copper coins pennies etc but the rest are now soaking a vat of Motor oil ~

Additionally some of the draw revamped ~

Also working on cleaning upt eh best of my Bofors AA shell cases and mount rack

[AT P Sweep]

My current preferred site on a (permission) Cattle property~ The wet has bought on the grass at the rate of a Brush fire ~ and even ravenous cattle can't keep it down but they consume and trample enough to allow me access some areas ~

A summary of finds ~

Australian 1 CORPS PERSONNEL LEAVING THEIR BIVOUAC AREA FOR A SWIM AFTER A 12 Mile HIKE each way ~ February 1943 ~

AMN !! That is Keen ~ High Summer ~ 12 Mile Hike either way ~ no shirts and a few Hats ~ That's Insane ~ They made the Aussie Diggers tough lads ~ or crazy!

A Handy piece leaf Spring ~ High tensile steel ~





Now that came as a Surprise!? ~ ,577 Snider ~ flattened ~ but an intriguing 3D effect ~







One of the many local Swimming holes ~

LAKE EACHAM, QLD. 1943-10-08. CROWD OF SPECTATORS AT THE SWIMMING CARNIVAL, ORGANISED BY THE 6TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.

[AT P Sweep]

Spent some time checking for fresh sites ~ But access is more than little hazardous some sites~

This is extreme ~ hunting grounds for Tiapans and Brown snakes that are hardly charitable nor friendly characters by far ~but hey some days you got to do what Detectorist has to do ~

Obviously been cleared as this is regrowth ~but post war many sites were bulldozed and top soils removed by Lorry to allow safe Farming ~ Not a thing ~



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





The Cattle still chowing down on that grass but looks like they are losing ground ~ I am not even trying to go there ~






Suggest the webbing buckles and studs mostly found in one hole ~ are from a Ammo Pouch long since gone ~





Appreciate comment here as the suggestion id that it is a Backing plate for the Major's badge ~ not sure ~ only has the stem pin on the back ~ Not sure!(?) Better suggestion than an end cap for a cheap Hunting knife handle !

0,095

[AT P Sweep]

More Hunts more dodging snakes and cloud down pours ~ thunder and Lightning ~

Often the area is hammered by isolated to wide spread storms But hey this is our Wet season ~ No cyclones thus far!



I found a Hot spot which had remained untouched since WWII~ But the threat a severe storm sent me scampering for cover and home ~

An Aluminium Trench art Piece



Gave it a bit of a celan up and polish ~ Nice ~

I returned to the spot several days later ~ and had some good to reasonable finds ~

I often do not dig sign as ranging form "14 ' to
22' as they are trash or even cartridge cases ~ Glad I dug this oen as it is a rimless case so a little unusual ~



FRENCH MAS Mle 1936, , 7.5x54 cal.,



This would have been bought back form Syria by an Aust Digger after teh Lebanon Syrian campaign against the Vichy French in 1941 .











BEIRUT, SYRIA.
1941-07-15.

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS RECEIVED AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME WHEN THEY ENTERED THE CITY FOLLOWING THE HISTORIC CONVENTION AT ACRE THE PRECEDING DAY. AT THE CONVENTION THE AGREEMENT FOR THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE VICHY FRENCH IN SYRIA WAS SIGNED.

THIS PICTURE SHOWS AUSTRALIAN FIGHTING VEHICLES IN A PROCESSION THROUGH THE CROWDED STREETS.


One small find I believe was a saddlery rivet~ more evidence of the Donkey and Horse units ~



The Horse and Donkey transport system was sued with considerable efficiency transporting supplies around the region~ bein slower but far more cost efficient!

0,183

[BlackCat1982]

Love the trench art bird find, such simple personal finds are the most emotive for sure.

[AT P Sweep]

Fossick #499

Well finds are thin on the ground, and one has to work hard. ~

And the Grass is still growing ~

This ground is lousy with Lantana and Bracken~ plus the reedy grasses ~ At least the grass stuff is penetrable if one perseveres. always eyes peeled for Joe Blakes of Course!

I found a couple of “hot” spots but had a run on water Bungs ~ Left for future generations ~ I have quite enough thanks!


I generally dig reasonable quality tones even if they are Ferrous signals as you never know might dig a SMLE or a Bren gun ~

(The old Cocky walking his dogs some time back ~ told me they used to pick up all sorts back in the day ~ including SMLE magazines ~)

No idea what the Lead piece is ~ found along side one of the Water Bungs!

I almost passed over on the Mouth piece as it only rang a ‘17’ ~ too middly for me as that is right amongst 303 Shells ~

But after this Hunt I will be digging 17-22 all day from now on ~

A very tidy Officer’s Belt buckle ~ 1938 Commonwealth Penny ~ Another AMF button.

The Bugler's Mouth piece ~ The clean Up~

I gave the Mouth piece a clean up ~ and I polished to a point and then dropped back into the Snake Oil and that actually gave it a nice Patina appearance ~which worked so I will eave it as is now ~

And some of the Pieces I have found of late ~Including the Shell casing.French MAS, 7,5 x 54 1938

Luv this Shot of australians sharing remeberrance Day withthe US forces in Darwin ~ Very Cool !

MAY 3OTH `942, "DECORATION DAY". THE BUGLER SOUNDS THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR "LAST POST". Australia: Northern Territory, Darwin

Australian troops pay respect to US forces

Memorial Day - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Memorial_Day


Jump to Decoration Day (Appalachia and Liberia) - Memorial Day (previously but now seldom called Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering and honoring the military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Darwin area, NT. 1944-10. A RAAF Bugler sounding a call at a RAAF training camp in the North-West Area.

[MAP]

I'm always surprised at how many of the "Australia" and Rising Sun Cap badges you find. Like they were easily lost.....