Millman Battery Coastal Artillery Torres Strait, Millman Hill, Thursday Island, Seacoast Defence Site during WW2

MILMAN BATTERY
COASTAL ARTILLERY TORRES STRAIT
MILMAN HILL, THURSDAY ISLAND
SEACOAST DEFENCE SITE
DURING WWII

The Milman Battery on Milman Hill on Thursday Island had a Q.F. 4.7" Mk III gun, which had a range of 9,000 yards. It was operational there from July 1941 until December 1944. The 4.7" gun had been transferred from Victoria Barracks Square in Brisbane in December 1940.

The personnel manning the Milman Battery arrived on 20 March 1941 on board H.M.A.T. Zealandia. They had been transferred from Queensland L of C Area. Their Barracks at Milman Camp were built by the Department of Interior in July 1941. Their Mess was located at Links Camp.

A 6" searchlight was based on Milman Hill to support the 4.7" gun. A number of Beach Electric Lights powered by batteries were established. Thursday Island Fortress Headquarters was established at Milman Battery.

There was a Command Exchange located at Milman Battery.

"B" Detachment of the 104th Coastal Artillery (AA Separate) Battalion was based at Milman Hill on Thursday Island.

The 14th Australian Garrison Battalion (later became 62nd Australian Infantry Battalion) arrived on Thursday Island on 17 July 1942. The C.O. and the 2 I.C. made a recce patrol to Milman Hill on Thursday Island on 28 July 1942 to determine whether to station troops in that location.

Photo:- Trevor Costin July 2011