Buried military myths

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

This maybe of interest to fellow Aussies, a website with a list of popular burial sites for Military stuff (fact and fiction)

http://www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/dumped.htm

Includes the tale of a tunnel at Bandiana that was supposedly used for vehicle storage, until it was emptied and everything crushed. (I have never heard of this one, and I am only 20 kms away)

Tunnels in the Dandenongs and other areas

Advert for the bonfire for 550 Kittyhawk/spitfires to be burnt at Oakey, 1947.

At least you will be able to see if there is anything of interest in your area.
Rich.

[matilda IIA]

i have seen the photos of the guns in the mines at peak hill.

all very intresting

kind regards

matt

[Private_collector]

Some months ago, I had a conversation with a gentleman who had been talking about an underground storage bunker that he had searched for (and found) in a northern Australia location. Please pardon me for not disclosing the exact site.

These stories pop up every now and then, and I have certainly heard my share of the proverbial 'buried WWII treasure'. Heard so many stories that I have become extremely doubtful, because they are often related by someone who knew someone who knew someone else who was 'there'. These myths promise vast supplies of goodies we would sell a grandparent to obtain, but there NEVER seems to be any hard proof to back up the attestations! So when the fellow I spoke of was telling the details of the find, well....I started to turn off & the words almost deteriorated to the sound of Charlie Brown's teacher, womp, womp, womp! The teller stated he had taken photos of the bunker entrance with a number of wooden boxes visible in the photo. Those boxes being part of the materials discovered. He said he didn't have the photos within reach right now, but he would look for them, and show me when I saw him next. No doubt those photos would never be found, and their absence would be put down to inadvertant disposal or some other cause which meant the 'proof' never appeared..................except that WASN'T THE CASE AT ALL.

I feel a little guilty for saying I never expected to see the photos, but the next time I saw the fellow, he produced several photographs proving his claims beyond doubt. The bunker entrance was obvious, there were a full half dozen wooden ammunition boxes visible, some with the lids off to show their cargo was still inside! I could not believe what I was seeing, but the proof was right there in front of me. I don't expect anyone to believe what I am about to say next, but I will swear on all that's sacred, I do not mislead you in any way. Clearly visible in two of the photographs, were a pair of large calibre machine guns, intact, and looking VERY usable. They had only just been unwrapped from their protective material, prior to being photographed.

To everyone else, this story is one of the 'myths', because you have not seen any proof to suggest otherwise. To me, I know it to be true. I have not asked my fellow to allow the photos to be reproduced. There are two main reasons why that is the case. First, I believe there could be serious consequences to the discoverers, and I don't want to be the cause of that.
Secondly, and quite frankly, I have a vested interest in keeping the location private. With provided instruction & GPS data, I hope to visit the site for myself.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Don't blame you Tony. don't think I would blab either.
Rich

[motto]

I saw some of the gear that was recovered from the Archerfield quarry for sale at an MJCQ swap meet many years ago at the Cooporoo football ground IIRC.
There were Japanese aircraft MGs and also Thompsons among others.
This was pre Port Arthur massacre/John Howard gun laws and no one seemed concerned. The only thing that turned me off buying something were the prices and the rascal selling the stuff. Part of the Kelly gang I think
I too have photos 'somewhere'.

David

[Marc Montgomery]

In some cases, the problem with finding items (often large) is the cost and difficulty of getting them out...far beyond the capacity of 99% of collectors.

The old DEW stations across northern Canada had lots of recoverable stuff for decades, just sitting there, restorable trucks and dozers, electronic equipment....but ridiculously remote.. alas all "cleaned" up now for "environmental" reasons..gone gone gone

[Darrell Zinck]

Hi

How about:

Farley Mowat's buried panzers in Petawawa? The truth is out there!!

regards
Darrell