The Brisbane Wartime Experience

Children in wartime

Brisbane children found their lives at home, at school and at play changing   rapidly. They wore identity discs and did air raid practice at school. Toys were scarce and war themes became part of their play. Prime Minister John Curtin appealed to the children to Do your bit for the safety of this wonderful country in which we live. Life in a world at war could be frightening but it could also be exciting.

Wartime entertainment

The thousands of servicemen in the camps and bases around the city not only provided a mass audience for entertainment but gave the whole experience a new intensity, whether it was cutting-a-rug at the Trocadero or enjoying vaudeville at the Cremorne. For the first time mobile concert parties were set up to entertain the troops. They included bands, comedians, jugglers, acrobats novelty acts and dancers.

Queensland railways in wartime

From 1942 over two million troops passed through Brisbane on the trains In addition trains were heavily used by service people from the local military camps. This affected both railway employees and civilian travellers. Interstate travel was banned and railway staff worked seventy hour weeks.

The Navy

Day and night the Brisbane River was busy with naval shipping. At night children who lived close to the river could lie in bed and hear the submarines making their way up to the submarine base at New Farm.

The Army

Soldiers, soldiers everywhere! There were eighteen US camps in the Brisbane area. The army presence was overwhelming and made Brisbane uniquely a city at war. People lived their daily lives alongside the physical evidence of Fortress Brisbane.

The Air Force

There was a massive network of airfields around the City and Wirraways, Tiger Moths, Kittyhawks and Flying Fortresses were common sights in the Brisbane skies. Plane spotting was a common activity for children.

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