"25,000 Australians, Robin? News to me."

That figure has been all over the ABC National Radio Programs. Sounded rather high to me too. It's possible an ABC researcher slipped a decimal point and the mistake has kept on circulating... perhaps I should contact the ABC Media Watch team...

There were also Naval people there too.

There were also special officers from all services (I heard the figure of 14 the page referred to says 12) sent to oversee the planning - at that time it was thought that Australian troops would be taking their place alongside US troops in Pacific landings. It didn't turn out that way.

Don't forget Roger, that the reason the 'chocos' were sent to new Guinea was that a good number of our already trained troops were overseas (apart from the ones 'surrendered by British Officers'). There was a lot of fuss from some people who felt that the troops should be brought home before Christmas - now where have I heard that recently? ;-)

My father was (from memory) posted in Scotland as RAAF, and was there until VE day (was put on a court martial charge when a bunch of tanked aussies took an aircraft towing tractor and tried to drive to London that night), after when he was returned to Bundaberg and served there as WO. One of his exciting jobs while in Scotland was the 'safe' :-) task of towing drogues for fighter live round practice.... his plane was sometimes riddled... but luckily, usually at the other end from where he as a trained Multi-Engine pilot was sitting ... :-) There is no truth in the rumour that such towing flight crews were ISSUED with brown trousers... :-)

Robin