Australian WWII - Far North Queensland Metal detecting and recovery
Article about: Hi Blokes ~ I am posting this as an going blog for interested parties that have been following my fossicking of (extensive) WWII ~ Far North Qld Australia . This area has been described in r
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08-26-2019, 12:27 PM
#1001
My mate and fellow ( registered) Collector is always trading lots ~ and when he trades a job lot ~ he sometimes finds he has scored a lot he is not into ~
So eh trades with me and as he said last week ~ "I figured I don't want these ~ I know a bloke who would like these ~ !!" and as he said ~ "Just liek I know you like them ~ GREEN" LOL
French 7.62 round and slipper ~ ( Before and after shot ~ )
And a Bonus deal ~ I was only talking to a MD mate in Brisbane this last week and we agreed that we would really like to dig a Boyes Anti-tank case/ round ~
i have dug off cuts and battle damaged and off cuts of Boyes but never an in tact round!
Then Blow me down 24 Hours later ~ Mate announced he had picked up a container of .50 cal Browning shell cases and amongst the lot was ~
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09-03-2019, 11:32 PM
#1002
Well been a Hell of a 10 days ~
A brand new region ~ Again a WWII Camp site ~ And some fabulous finds if only in moderation ~
Rob and I ventured in a initial recce with good results ~ But frustrating ~ no silvers !
One almost immediate find was a Large platform ~ Some debate regarding an obvious artillery or heavy vehicle platform and targeting of the distant hill/s which is Known as a target area during the war years as target site.
But then there were not a lot of Hills on thre Tablelands that were not targets ~
I have coven told of a Mythical "Pyramid" of spent Smoke shells on this particular Hill/s
Aust 2-3 Field Artillery 25 pdr Crew manoeuvre teir gun on the Gun Platform Wewak_1945
Wwe went on to find many terraced areas which would have been tent sites ~
We moved around and made some positive finds ~
I dug a Webbing belt buckle which I have never seen although I knew of ~ Even my Dutch connection assured me has never found one either ~
The Twin pin Belt buckle ~ which turned out to be part of an Officer's Belt and "harness" set up ~ Knew of it but never seen one ~ these I am aussured are a "Sam Brown Officer's ~
(Being badly bent and I nervously torched it and straightened it~ I am now in the process of restoring it ~ after all I have not seen one before!)
Hytest pick head
Grease Gun 45 Cal Sub machine gun ~ Hmm Think not ~
The tag turned into the find of the day when I realized that it was factory stamped ~ No7 Mk III F&B ~
The F&B factory made optical lens ~
But itis amazing co-incidence that I found a Type 7 MK III gun sight insert only end of last year ~ and now i find a factory brass label !
The Bottle cleaned up ~ Impressive ~ Flat externals but concave internally~
Next report on # 457 ~
2,470
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09-04-2019, 12:23 AM
#1003
G'day AT, that buckle comes off one of these.
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09-04-2019, 10:51 AM
#1004
cheers mate ~ Always appreciate the Feedback ~
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09-09-2019, 05:49 AM
#1005
Fossick ~ 45 7
Well I best Endeavour to brig the Reports up to date as I am heading out every 3-4 days and would be more if SWMBO was not resistant ~ about never being at Home and to the bush !!
Two man Hunt in the new grounds ~ Earlier start ~ Perfect weather!
The relics started almost immediately with SS digging ~ Yes~ and RS (collar) ~ DM was being quiet on the UHF communications device!
We broke for Smoko and I was pleasantly surprised to find Dwayne ahd scored not only Two Rising Suns (Collar) but a Hat badge ~
To my Delight ~ the never seen before Sam Brown Officer's belt buckle ~ I dug another one ~
The I couped a very nice ~ intact undamaged SMLE Oiler tube ~ Additionally I found some five Aust Military Forces Tunic Button ~ but these ALL had the split pins intact ~ again I have never seen that !
Plus an Officer's single Pip and a damaged Major's shoulder Badge ~ sadly ~ But I have dug two of these this year so not quite as damaging to the Ego!
Firslty my oiler tube was manufactured in the UK, between 1914 and 1918 ~ and SH &S GB for use in the SMLE MKIV ~
( In WWI Australia shipped large quantities of 303 SMLE Mk III to the UK ~ At the nd of the War UK sent a lot back to Australia ~ So Australian produced very few Mk IV as the numbers of Mk III were more than adequate. I amy stand corrected here ! LOL )
It was turning into a brilliant day ~ We pushed onto < 15:30 > when Dwayne was due home to celebrate his Birthday with Family ~
But the Best was yet to come when we both cleaned up the finds at home ~
So then Dwayne announced that his Hat Rising Sun ( in amazing condition was "Voided" ~ which means that the centre directly bellow the Crown and the centre scrolling is not filled in ~
Turns out it was also made in the UK during WWI ~ and best we can surmise that this was issued in WWI to an Australian Digger who then returned to active duty in WWII.
So a Great day with each of us bringing ho me a 100 years old relics from WWI !! Frustrating though and definitely unusual ~ no Silvers!!
Even more amazing was that Dwayne opened a OS package he received and only opened after this Hunt ~ He is a Dedicated Collector of Australian Military badges ~ and to his delight there was another same 'Voided' RS ~ He did not see it in the lot he bought on line as the lighting was not to good ~
So a Great day with each of us bringing hoe a 100 years old relics from WWI !!
The Enamel Mug is in amazing condition and Stamped on the Bottom with the Dept Defence logo ~
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09-09-2019, 11:57 AM
#1006
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09-09-2019, 11:58 AM
#1007
Wednesday ~
Decided to do a Team Hunter with DM ~Rob is MIA again ~
10:00 Start~ Tuesday was blowing a gale ~ Weds was not too bad ~
Started out well ~
I was determined to work back toward an adjoining older camp region ~ and th e first thing I find is an Enamel Service Mug ~ but sadly not a shade on the one Dwayne foudn the previous hunt ~ It had holes and no handle ~
We geared up ad headed out ~ Even more concrete slabs ~ Holy Semolly ~ they sure did build some :"huts" !
More concrete slabs and footings ~and even a Toilet block with drains ~
We ranged through the area with mixed ~ result ~ Smoko 13:30 and kicked on till 15:45 and headed back ~
I Luv the Trench art Chevron ~ #003 Rising Sun
Shield medallion ~ No engraving ~ Suggest painted image ~ After some debate we agree it is a Red Shield Salvation army ~ I found a bottom dump or pit very close by so assume is a Canteen.
Tidy AMF button ~
Yet another AMF tunic button with split pin in situ !
Coppers not too shabby ~ KGV 1921 and KG VI 1944
Dwayne's efforts for the day ~
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09-09-2019, 08:23 PM
#1008
Great couple of hunts AT, glad you were allowed out to play!
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09-09-2019, 11:22 PM
#1009
glad you were allowed out to play!
LOl Yes well as tomorrow ~ soem days oen has to put the foot doen and just announce "THIS IS THE PALN for tomorrow ! "
Perfect weather in Far North QLD ! Ideal but the ground is as cracker ~the ground is so Dry I find I getting good at balancing myself on the spade with both feet and full body straight to get the first cut in ~
But that aside this has to be one of Favourite finds oof the latest couple of Hunts ~
Just Luv it ~
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09-10-2019, 05:12 AM
#1010
Lithgow ~ I was hoping you might clarify the issue over Mk IV and III~ Cheers ~
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