ADMIRAL WILLIAM "BULL" FREDERICK HALSEY, JR.
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

AWM Photo:- ID number 013638

Vice Admiral William Frederick Halsey, Jr.

Admiral Halsey took command of the South Pacific Area (COMSOPAC) on 18 October 1942 and held this command until 15 June 1944. He left the South Pacific in May 1944 and from September 1944 until January 1945 he commanded the US Third Fleet during the campaigns to take Palaus, Leyte and Luzon.

Admiral Halsey visited Brisbane on a number of occasions during WWII.

On Thursday 15 April 1943 Admiral Halsey, COMSOPAC met with General Douglas MacArthur and his Chief of Staff at 2:45pm in GHQ, SWPA in the AMP building.

MacArthur then held a conference at 4.00 pm with Admirals Halsey, Carpender and Jones and his Chief of Staff followed by dinner at 7.00 pm with Admirals Halsey, Carpender and Jones.

On Friday 16 April 1943, Admiral Halsey had a conference with General MacArthur at 1630 in GHQ, SWPA.

On Saturday 17 April 1943, Admiral Halsey made a personal visit to see General Macarthur at 5.00 pm.

Admiral Halsey left Brisbane on 19 April 1943 and made brief courtesy calls to Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney before returning to Noumea on 25 April 1943.

On Saturday 9 October 1943, Admiral Halsey and his Staff met with General Douglas MacArthur and his Chief of Staff at GHQ, SWPA at 1.15 pm at the sea-plane base at  Colmslie. General MacArthur had a conference with Admiral Halsey and his Staff later that day at 5.00 pm.

On Sunday, 10 October 1943, Admiral Halsey met with General MacArthur in Brisbane at 4.40 pm.

On Tuesday, 23 November 1943, Admirals Halsey, Carpender, Kinkaid and Carney met with General Douglas MacArthur at 4.30 pm in GHQ, SWPA.

On Wednesday, 24 November 1943, Admirals Halsey and Kinkaid met with General Douglas MacArthur at at 11.30 am. Admiral Halsey and Admiral Carney and Commander Moulton then met later that day with General MacArthur at 5.00 pm.

On Friday, 3 March 1944, General Douglas MacArthur met with Admirals Halsey, Carney and staff, Generals Marshall, Chamberlin, Whitlock and Fellers, and Admiral Kinkaid at 4.30 pm.

On Saturday, 4 March 1944, General MacArthur met with Admirals Halsey, Kinkaid and Carney at 11.45am. Admirals Halsey and Kinkaid met with MacArthur later that day at 4.30 pm.

On Sunday, 5 March 1944 Admiral Halsey met with General MacArthur at 7.00 pm.

On Saturday, 8 April 1944, Admiral Halsey, Lieutenant General Harmon, Lieutenant General Sutherland, Lieutenant General Kenney, Captain Felix Johnson and Brigadier General Dumas, USMC met with General MacArthur at 4.50pm.

On Monday, 10 April 1944, Admiral Halsey met with General MacArthur at 5.10 pm.

On Saturday, 20 May 1944, Admirals Halsey, Carney and Kinkaid, and Generals Kenney, Harmon, Marshall and Chamberlin met with MacArthur at 4.30 pm.

On Sunday, 21 May 1944, Admiral Halsey, Carney, Kinkaid and Captain Hudson, and Generals Sutherland, Harmon, Marshall, Chamberlin, Chambers and Kenney met with General Douglas MacArthur at 5.00 pm.

Robert Blaikie told me that Admiral Halsey visited Brisbane in April 1943 when he stayed at Lennons Hotel where MacArthur was living.

Robert Blaikie grew up during the war at Lower Bowen Terrace, New Farm, and the US submarines and the Americans were an important part of his life as a boy. Robert told me that a neighbour of theirs during WWII had told him:-

"It is interesting to note that during the second World War United States Navy officers took rooms in the flats and at one stage the USN commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral "Bull" Halsey, lived in the smaller of the two blocks, Osmaston."

He is referring to the two blocks of flats which were directly across Bowen Terrace from where Robert Blaikie lived. Can anyone confirm whether Admiral Halsey did in fact stay in one of the 6 flats in "Osmaston" at 598 Lower Bowen Terrace at New Farm? An Admiral staying in a small flat at New Farm seems a bit unusual.

State Library of Queensland:- Image number:195462

Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey and Commander W. J. Kitchell at the
Coral Sea Service, American Memorial, in Newstead Park, Brisbane, 1954.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Robert Blaikie for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 31 January 2010

This page last updated 15 January 2020