Ted Cunningham, the owner of Strathmore Station near Collinsville, stated that his stockmen killed three Japanese commandos during WWII in the bush near today's Dingo Park Road near Calcium, about 50km west of Townsville. Calcium is located 5 kms south of the Woodstock WWII airfield.

Ted Cunningham was tragically killed in 1993 in a motor vehicle accident on his Strathmore Station.

Ted told his story to Townsville Bulletin reporter John Andersen a few years before he died.

Ted's stockmen were apparently mustering cattle near Calcium which is now located on the the Flinders Highway. They saw an aircraft fly over and three parachutists jump from the aircraft. The men rode over for a closer look and apparently realised that they were Japanese soldiers.

Ted Andersen told John Andersen that his stockmen killed the Japanese as each of them landed slitting their throats with their pocket knives before they could access their weapons.

Ted indicated that their mission was to blow up the bridges in the Burdekin area. Their bodies were apparently thrown in a nearby gully.

The War Diary for the 31st Battalion has the following entries:-

    21 Apr 42    1030    Message received from Bde concerning Enemy Parachutists. Orders given to "E" Coy
                                  to have emergency Platoon ready at all times.

    22 Apr 42                Conversations with Bde confirm report as to PARACHUTIST near GIRU. Parachutist was
                                   seen by man and his wife both of whom are reliable persons.

    23 Apr 42                Verbal reports from Bde show that there is Enemy Air Activity over GULF OF CARPENTARIA;
                                   also that local detectors picked up 2 unidentified planes on the 20 and 21 Apr. Further
                                   investigation into the parachutist incident seem to show that a parachutist did actually land.
                                   Another Bde Report shows that a Japanese plane flew very low over a large mob of cattle
                                   near BOBAWABA on the BOWEN LINE. This report has yet to be confirmed.

    9 May 42    1100     Advice from Bde re possibility of landing by enemy commando troops. C.O. immediately
                                  summons Coy. Comdrs to conference and issue warning order. Allots patrols for various
                                  coys, also areas to be guarded. Post and patrols to be manned on receipt of advice.