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| 2nd/14th Australian General Hospital, Pallarenda, Townsville, c.1943, Photographer unknown, NQID 6608, NQ Photographic Collection, JCU Library Special Collections |
VP Day, celebrated on August 15th every year marks the end of World War II in the Pacific, specifically the surrender of the Japanese to the Allied powers.
In Australia, we remember the service and sacrifice of Australians during the war, particularly those who fought in the Pacific region. In the garrison city of Townsville, VP Day is most important due to the crucial, strategic role the city played as an Allied base for the Pacific campaign.
Townsville’s position in North Queensland made it a vital forward base for defending Australia. At its peak, Townsville housed over 50,000 Allied troops – effectively doubling the population during the war years.
The photo above depicts the 2nd/14th General Hospital located at Pallarenda with the iconic Castle Hill in the background.
Formed in South Australia, the hospital moved to Townsville on 11 Dec 1942. It was initially established near the Quarantine Station at Cape Pallarenda, primarily comprised of tents with a 200-bed capacity.This was increased to 400 beds as during 1943 casualties began to come in regularly from hospital ships and aircraft bringing casualties from New Guinea and the islands.A cyclone hit Townsville in March 1944, demolishing the Hospital and scattering stores and equipment. Some patients were rushed to the railway station and put on Ambulance Trains, while others were rushed to the American Naval Hospital.The hospital was rebuilt at Mundingburra, a suburb of Townsville, on the banks of the Ross River.1
As time marches on, precious few remain who lived through WWII either as members of the Allied forces or citizens.
Pamela Smith (aged 93) of Belgian Gardens, Townsville lived at the Quarantine Station where her father held the position as the Commonwealth Officer in Charge.
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| Pamela Smith, age 13 years in her St Anne’s school uniform in 1945, Photographer unknown, Source: private collection. |
Pamela Smith (aged 93) of Belgian Gardens, Townsville lived at the Quarantine Station where her father held the position as the Commonwealth Officer in Charge.
She recalls what happened on the 15th of August in 1945,
“The day peace was declared I was 14 years old and at St Anne’s school in the city where the Townsville City Council chambers are now. My sister May worked in the city which those days was the business centre of Townsville. May came to the school and collected me to go down to Flinders Street with her friends and join in the celebrations with the crowd rejoicing “the war is over; the war is over”. What I remember most is the feeling of huge relief shared by all!"Townsville was a military town. Soldiers and their equipment were everywhere. My area of Pallarenda had gun emplacements at 3 Mile Creek, searchlights behind the Quarantine Station on the range and smaller American guns outside the Station gates. Also, a big tent hospital at Pallarenda opposite where the swimming baths are now. It was for the wounded soldiers who had returned from PNG and that fighting region.”
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