Shoalhaven Family Local & Cultural History Fair

08/01/2025

01/08/2022

170 Years ago today

20/05/2022

Pte Collins was from Nowra.

On a cold winter afternoon on the 21st May 1945, as World War II was coming to an end, a massive explosion killing 26 soldiers, rocked the Kapooka Training Area near Wagga Wagga. It became known as the “Kapooka Tragedy” and is the Australian Army’s largest loss of life in a training accident.

30/04/2022

27/9/1935 - 22/4/2022 Ray passed away peacefully in Shoalhaven Hospital attended by family. He leaves his beloved wife of 65 years, Enid. Children - Ian,

09/12/2021

Born in Nowra NSW

Writing to his sister on 4th December 1915, Captain Luke Bice, 7th Australian Light Horse, described the harsh conditions experienced at Anzac recently.

“For the past fortnight it has been very rough on the coast here, and it was impossible to land stores of water, consequently we have been on a quarter ration of water (one quart) per day per man and 'bully' and biscuits. Fortunately, we have heaps of the latter rations, but they get very monotonous after a week without change. One quart of water for three meals does not leave much over for the bodily toilet, so stubbly chins and dirty hands are plentiful these days. During the past week I can safely say that 'I have suffered for my country.' The weather was just as bad as it could be. First, we had about three days of sleety rain, with a perishing wind straight from Russia, which went clean through one; then the snow came, and lasted for a night and half a day, still with the balmly breeze from the north. The mess it made was a caution — muck and slush everywhere. The snow then froze on the ground and lasted three days. For fully a week no man had warm feet. I had two pairs of warm socks and gum boots, but still my feet were frozen. A good many men had to go away with frostbite and swollen feet.” [1]

[1] 'The Inverell Times' (New South Wales), 11th February 1916.

Image courtesy of Robin Oxenbury.

06/09/2021

Anzac Street, East Nowra NSW is named after this ship.

22/08/2021

Hope you all stay safe

Calling all Shoalhaven residents! If lockdown has got you down in the dumps, this is something that should brighten your day 💡
Up for grabs is a $200 Bunnings voucher! All you have to do to go into the draw to WIN is Like our page and Share this post and don’t forget to comment “ Done “- local winner will be drawn next Sunday, 29th August 🎁🛒

21/05/2021

One of those killed was Sapper Collins of Nowra NSW actually aged 16 years, He lied about his age and his parents signed his consent form for him to enlist in the Army. RIP Lest We Forget

: Kapooka Tragedy

On the 21st of May 1945, 26 soldiers were killed in an explosion at the Engineer Training Centre in Kapooka. This event remains to this date the Australian Army’s largest loss of life in a training accident, and Australia’s largest mass military funeral on Australian soil.

The accident occurred at approximately 2:45pm on the 21st of May 1945 in an underground bunker on the demolitions range. The exact cause of the explosion remains unknown, however 24 men were killed instantly with two dying in hospital two hours later. Incredibly one man, Sapper Allan Bartlett survived the explosion and was found imbedded in the wall of the bunker.

Two days after the tragedy the 26 dead were buried at the Wagga Wagga war cemetery. An estimated crowd of 7,000 people attended the funeral, with the procession of vehicles, dignitaries and mourners taking some 45 minutes to pass.

Largely forgotten amongst the wider events of WWII, today we pause to remember the 26 men who died whilst preparing to serve their country.

Lest we forget.

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01/04/2021

Please share we may find out who this soldier is. Lest we forget

Even though the photograph of this unidentified Australian soldier of WW1 was widely used in the 100th Anniversary of WW1 (Anzac Centenary 2014 - 2018), he still remains unidentified.

It is highly likely that the photograph was taken in Australia, sometime between 1915 and 1918, before the soldier embarked overseas.

Apparently the Australian War Memorial has had a lot of responses from people but he still remains unidentified. Extraordinary really. Such a striking photograph.

So, if anyone thinks they know who this unidentified soldier is, it would be great to know.

Lest We Forget.

Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P06003.001.