THE 77TH CONSTRUCTION BATTALION "SEABEES" IN AUSTRALIA
A UNITED STATES NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION

 

The 77th Construction Battalion left America on 2 August 1943. They arrived at Guadalcanal on 3 September 1943. They moved to Vella Lavella on 25 September 1943 and then on to Bougainville on 10 December 1943. On 14 April 1944 they arrived in Emirau in the St. Matthias group, above New Ireland. The 77th Battalion's forward echelon of 27 officers and 80 men left Emirau on 16 December 1944 and arrived in Brisbane on 22 December. Two officers and 101 men remaining at Emirau. The forward echelon  transferred to Manila in March 1945.

 


"We Did" 77th Seabees

Sign erected by the 77th Seabees, possibly at Camp Seabee, Eagle Farm, Brisbane
"General Constructors - No Job Too Big - No Job Too Small - Don't Cuss Call us"

 


"We Did" 77th Seabees

The Electricians of the 77th Seabees at Camp Seabee

 

The following members of the 77th Construction Battalion sacrificed their lives in the line of duty during WW2:-

 

Name Initially buried during WW2
Warren Radcliff Clark Manila #2
Homer Gerald Cole  Finschaffen #5, New Guinea
Kenneth Downs Ipswich
Haden Joyce Finschaffen #5, New Guinea
Roy Chester Wymore Finschaffen #5, New Guinea

 

Kenneth Downs, CM3, #2451094, from New Jersey, of the 77th Construction Battalion, US Navy (Seabees), was buried at the Ipswich military cemetery during WW2.

 


"We Did" 77th Seabees

This may possibly be the funeral of Kenneth Downs, CM3, #2451094, from New Jersey, of the
77th Construction Battalion, US Navy (Seabees) (can anyone please confirm if this is at Ipswich?) 

 


"We Did" 77th Seabees

This may possibly be the funeral of Kenneth Downs, CM3, #2451094, from New Jersey, of the
77th Construction Battalion, US Navy (Seabees) (can anyone please confirm if this is at Ipswich?)  

 


"We Did" 77th Seabees

This may possibly be the funeral of Kenneth Downs, CM3, #2451094, from New Jersey, of the
77th Construction Battalion, US Navy (Seabees) (can anyone please confirm if this is at Ipswich?) 

 

Camp Seabee at Eagle Farm in Brisbane

 

The Seabees in Australia

 

REFERENCES

"We Did" 77th Seabees

 

Can anyone help me with more information?

 

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

I need your help

Copyright

©  Peter Dunn OAM 2020

Disclaimer

Please e-mail me
any information or photographs


"Australia @ War"
8GB USB Memory Stick

This page first produced 20 May 2000

This page last updated 19 February 2020