War on the Sand Plain
by Graham McKenzie-Smith
In early 1942 Imperial Japan rapidly advanced, capturing Malaya, Singapore, the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies. Japanese planes attacked Darwin, Wyndham, Derby, Broome, Port Hedland and Exmouth.
Where were they coming next ?
HQ 3 Aust Corps believed that the Japanese would first land at Geraldton to capture the port and airfield before advancing south to capture Fremantle. There was no Brand Highway or Indian Ocean Drive and the only track to the coast between Yanchep and Dongara from the main road through Moora went to Jurien Bay, via Dandaragan.
On 10 April the 1,600 men of Special Mobile Force arrived at Mingenew without notice as the start of an influx of soldiers to the sand plain between Perth and Geraldton.
By August some 20,000 men were deployed on the sand plain between Perth and Geraldton with brigade groups (~4,000 combat soldiers) at Geraldton, Mingenew, Dandaragan and Gingin, while HQ 4 Infantry Division and their support troops occupied Moora and supply depots were set up at Mullewa and Morawa.
The troop numbers reached a peak of 32,000 in August 1943 when the 160 tanks, 150 tracked vehicles and many hundreds of trucks from 1 Armoured Division roamed around Moora and Dandaragan, while HQ 2 Infantry Division was established outside Geraldton, with brigade groups at Geraldton, Mingenew and the Swan Valley.
The four books of the 'war on the sand plain' series detail the movements and activities of the 306 Army units, with 47,300 men, that occupied 290 camp sites in the region. Also detailed are the 37 coast watch posts established to give warning of any enemy activity along the coast.
Researched by Graham McKenzie-Smith whose first book 'Australia's Forgotten Army – Vol 1 – The Ebb and Flow of the Australian Army in Western Australia – 1941 to 1945' first alerted West Australians to the huge build up of the Army in the West. In these books he expands on this by including the movements and operations of all units, at all locations, down to the Supply Depot Platoons, Field Post Offices and concert parties.
The 'war on the sand plain' books are published by Hesperian Press and Grimwade Publications. They are available at locations on 'the sand plain' or can be supplied from the publishers. Send your order (with contact details) to either :-
Hesperian Press Grimwade Publications
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
1. The Army comes to Northampton, Geraldton and Mullewa $25 + $5 postage
2. The Army comes to Dongara, Mingenew and Morawa $25 + $5 postage
3. The Army comes to Jurien Bay, Dandaragan and Moora $25 + $5 postage
4. The Army comes to Gingin and Wanneroo $25 + $5 postage
5. Set of four books $90 + $15 postage