Hi Joe,

Yes, I did see documents relating to the passengers on the trains that took people south prior to 19 February 1942. The passenger lists identified ethnic origin for each passenger and marked "HC" against half-castes. I was surprised (c. 1977), but accepted the 1940s were different days with different norms.

I don't recall anything about children being "taken away" (removed from their families). Relatively few civilians left in Darwin, apart from the Post Master and his female staff, all of whom were killed when a bomb hit the post office.

As for the original documents...!!

One of the most powerful bodies in Darwin at the time was the North Australian Workers' Union. They effectively controlled the wharf and could shut down supplies from the south. The railway went south, but only to Adelaide River, I think.

The NAWU still existed in 1976-77. I phoned them and asked if they had any records from the period (1936-46). The NAWU bloke said they had had records from that period, "...but they were all blown away by Cyclone Tracey." The ANU, which had a Northern Australia Research Unit, had not found, copied or archived those documents, which would have been essential to understanding Abbott's period as Administrator, because he was in conflict with the union from very early in his term there.

The Lowe Royal Commission directed at Abbott most of the blame for the civil disorder in Darwin. The relevant minister (in the Curtin government) advised Curtin to ignore it, which he did.

One month later, Major General David Blake, the senior Army officer (and senior defence officer in the NT) and who had a strong record from WW1, was transferred from Darwin line of command to Alice Springs line of command and a month later to the unattached list. I guess the Army had a view about who was responsible for the disorder, since it involved mostly military personnel.

After the war both Blake and Abbott were members of the Naval and Military Club in Sydney. Interesting conversations over a glass of port, no doubt.

Hi Calwest,

Fascinating ! I suppose Blake would have been at least partly responsible for sealing the Stuart Highway, using enemy-alien labour, including Jews who happened not to have taken out citizenship, even though of course they would have been refugees from Nazi-controlled Europe. Did they extend the railway down to Pine Creek during the War ?

The unions don't have a very good record of supporting the War effort up that way, hence so many ships in Darwin harbour waiting to be unloaded, hence so many bombed by the Japs and sunk needlessly. One more disgraceful period in our history.

Thanks, mate.

Joe