Battle coverage brought back so many memories

CONGRATULATIONS to the Townsville Bulletin on its interesting articles about the Battle of the Coral Sea and how Townsville played its part.

In 1942 my family moved to Townsville when many families were evacuating, as my dad had received a transfer as manager of the Union Bank, now the Perc Tucker Art Gallery.

I remember clearly the searchlights across the night skies and the air raid sirens going off and Dad, being a warden, putting on his helmet and walking down dark Melton Hill to stand guard outside the bank, while my mother would bundle me and my brother into the air raid shelter we shared with the family of the manager of Shell, who lived next door.

One particular night stands out in my memory.

As we looked out to the harbour on our way into the shelter, there was fear as to what might happen because an oil tanker was in the harbour.

Its lights were still on as we went into the shelter and there was every likelihood it could get hit in an air strike if it did not turn off its lights quickly. An explosion could blow up the harbour.

Fortunately, when the all- clear signal was given everyone heaved a sigh of relief as they came out of the shelter to see the tanker was still there.

When I was in Year 12 at a Brisbane school, I mentioned in my history class how Townsville was involved in the Pacific war and had even experienced some bombs being dropped.

My teacher told me I did not know what I was talking about. Such was the lack of understanding of the dangers we faced in Northern those difficult years.

Your story in “Prime Time” ( 25/ 4/ 17) of the Jackson sisters’ experiences in Townsville during the war also brought back my memories of the many Americans around The Strand.

Like them, I also remember my first doll. My unmarried aunts saved up coupons for it. Dolls and toys were rarities.

Thank you for evoking the memories. Australia during GWENYTH CUTLER, Kelso.