mapping for the war in the north · topographical survey company . j.f. hunt, ex- 6. th. australian...

Mapping for the War

in the North Exhibition

Northern Territory Library

11 February to 17 March 2013

Surveying & Spatial Sciences Institute

Mapping for the War in the North This exhibition commemorates the contribution that Australia’s military mapmakers made to the defence of Australia’s north in the Second World War.

Maps are essential for the successful waging of war, enabling military leaders to plan and conduct operations on land, sea and in the air. However, on the eve of the Second World War there were no maps of northern Australia suitable for military purposes.

This exhibition tells the story of how the military mapmakers responded to this deficiency in the Nation’s military capability.

It is arranged in two parts:

Part one uses photographs, maps and charts to give a chronology of mapping activities undertaken by the Army, the RAN and the RAAF in the Northern Territory over the period from the defence build-up in the 1930s though to the end of the war.

Part two uses photographs of Army Survey Corps personnel at work near Adelaide River in 1942 to show how maps were made under the conditions at that time. The photographs are complemented with items of surveying and mapping equipment, and other memorabilia, from the period.

One of the soldiers, pictured on the front cover is Sapper Basil Stahl, then aged 19 and now one of the few surviving members of his unit. At the time of the bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942, Basil was working at Larrakeyah Barracks which was attacked and sustained damage. As a member of the Darwin Defenders Group he has attended every Bombing of Darwin Commemoration since the 50th anniversary event in 1992. He is planning to travel to Darwin from his home in Yandina, Queensland, to attend the commemoration in February 2013.

The exhibition was organised by the Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia, the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute, and the Northern Territory Library.

The exhibits are drawn largely from collections held by the Northern Territory Library, the Australian War Memorial and the Northern Territory Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment. The opening is scheduled to be held at 12.30pm on Tuesday 19 February in Parliament House following the Chief Ministers reception for the veterans.

Trevor Menzies

Heritage Program Manager, Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia

Trevor Menzies

Basil Stahl

1. Introduction to the Exhibition 2. HMAS Moresby at Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin, circa 1939

Northern Territory Library Doug Chapman

Collection Photo PH0443/0030

The navy survey ship HMAS Moresby was sent north in the 1930s to survey Darwin harbour and its approaches. Charts were needed for the safe navigation of naval and merchant ships during the defence build-up. Moresby was to spend most of the war years operating in northern Australian waters and became a familiar sight in Darwin Harbour.

3. Darwin Mobile Force arriving in Darwin 1939

Northern Territory Library John Watts Collection

Photo PH0476/0009

The Darwin Mobile Force comprising about 250 infantry and artillery personnel was raised in Sydney in 1938 for subsequent service in Darwin. However there were no suitable maps in existence to assist with their task to defend the area. Consequently the Army Survey Corps in Melbourne was called upon as a matter of urgency to map the port, town and hinterland.

4. Port Darwin Nautical Chart 1945

Northern Territory Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment Map 03807

This chart was compiled from surveys carried out by HMAS Moresby in 1937 and 1938. Prior to these surveys the only charts of northern waters in existence had been produced by Philip Parker King in HMS Mermaid from 1819 to 1822, and John Wickham and John Lort Stokes in HMS Beagle in 1839.

5. Sketch Map Darwin 1938

Northern Territory Department of Lands, Planning

and the Environment

This map was produced in 1938 by the Australian Army Survey Corps to meet the needs of the Darwin Mobile Force and the pre-war defence planners. The scale is 1 inch to 1 mile (1:63,360), which is the preferred scale for tactical operations in the field. It is called a sketch map because the urgent time frame meant that it could not be produced to standard map accuracy standards.

6. Sketch Map Darwin – Japanese Copy 1942


and the Environment

This map is a proof copy of a 1942 Japanese reprint of the 1938 Darwin Sketch Map that was found by American occupation forces in Japan at the end of the war. The legend and marginal notes are in Japanese, and English translations of the proof reader’s comments are shown in red.

7. Emergency Map Series – Darwin Sheet 1942


and the Environment Map 01533

At the outbreak of war the military chiefs were faced with the serious problem of a lack of maps in remote areas for planning defences and operations. State government mapping organisations were called upon to assist the Army implement an emergency mapping program. Sixty two map sheets at a scale of 8 miles to 1 inch (1:506,880), as shown in the index, were produced over unmapped areas considered important by defence planners. The maps were hastily compiled from existing sources and were regarded as interim coverage until more detailed and accurate maps could be produced.

8. Index to Emergency Map Series

Map scale: 8 miles to 1 inch

9. Survey Corps Unit sent to Darwin The 7th Military District Survey Section comprising 45 personnel was raised in Melbourne in March 1941 to undertake mapping over an area extending from the Adelaide River township north and west to the coast. An advanced party left Melbourne in June 1941 to travel overland to Darwin by road and rail. The remainder of the unit embarked on the troopship TSS Zealandia for a lengthy voyage to Darwin calling at ports in New South Wales, Queensland and New Guinea en route.

10. The Ghan in Central Australia 1941

Northern Territory Library Raymond Streeter


Troops and material were transported overland to the Top End during the war years by a combination of road and rail. This was due to the poor condition of the north-south road and because the railway from the south terminated at Alice Springs. The usual mode of transport was train to Alice Springs on the Ghan, road to Larrimah, and finally train on Leaping Lena to places north through to Darwin.

11. TSS Zealandia

Northern Territory Library Bill Nichol Collection

Photo PH0005/0003

The Zealandia was a frequent visitor to Port Darwin bringing troops and freight In the pre-war and early war years. After the declaration of war with Japan, Zealandia was one of six ships used to evacuate civilians from Darwin to southern ports. She was sunk in Darwin harbour by Japanese aircraft in the first Japanese bombing raid on 19 February 1942.

12. Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, 1942

Northern Territory Library Basil John Stahl


The Survey Section set up a base camp at Larrakeyah Barracks after arriving in Darwin in July 1941. Some of the personnel were immediately called upon to use their surveying skills to calibrate coastal and ant-aircraft guns. Others set to work on the mapping program.

13. Test firing of coastal gun at East Point

Northern Territory Library Peter Spillett Collection

Photo PH0238/0814

14. Test firing of anti-aircraft gun at Berrimah

Australian War Memorial Negative AWM 027793

15. Darwin Defence Area Situation Map 1941

National Library of Australia nla.map- vn1538150-v

This was one of the first maps produced by the Survey Section after arriving at Larrakeyah Barracks. It is an enlarged updated version of part of the 1938 Sketch Map and was produced for defence planning purposes.

16. Bombing of Darwin

Northern Territory Library B.C. Mettam Collection

Photo PH0429/0061

Japanese aircraft launched two raids on Darwin on 19 February 1942. In the first raid about 90 carrier-based aircraft dive bombed and strafed the town and port. In the second raid, 54 land based bombers attacked the RAAF airfield.

17. TSS Zealandia on fire

Northern Territory Library Alyson M Wheeler


Eight ships were sunk and 20 damaged in Darwin harbour during the first raid. One of the ships lost was the Zealandia – the troop ship on which many members of the 7th Survey Section had travelled to Darwin six months previous.

18. Bomb damaged building



The town and port area suffered extensive damage in the first raid. Overall the raids killed about 250 persons and injured hundreds of others.

19. Bomb damage map


and the Environment

From February 1942 until November 1943 the Top End was subject to another 64 raids by Japanese aircraft, but none were more devastating than the first. Subsequent raids were less effective due to improved air and ground defences with assistance from early warning radar.

20. Survey troops inspect bomb crater



Larrakeyah Barracks was bombed in the first raid. The 7th Military District HQ was relocated to a site in the bush at the 22-mile, and then weeks later to the 18-mile. The Survey Section ceased mapping work and went bush to defend HQ from enemy invasion which was then thought to be imminent.

21. Survey troops construct base camp at Adelaide River

Australian War Memorial Negative AWM027652A

After about six weeks on infantry duty defending HQ following the first raid, the Survey Section moved to a site near the Adelaide River township to establish a new base camp so that the mapping program could be resumed.

22. Adelaide River to Birdum Strip Map



The line of communication between Adelaide River and the railway terminus at Birdum, near Larrimah, was mapped to plan for the massive build-up of troops and equipment pouring into the Territory after the first raid. Detailed maps were also produced over Darwin town area and the main service towns of Adelaide River, Katherine and Larrimah.

23. Tactical Map Series - Daly River Sheet



In the 1942 Dry Season, survey work resumed on the 1 inch to 1 mile (1:63,360) scale tactical mapping program that had been suspended immediately after the first bombing raid. A total of 16 map sheets as shown in the index were produced.

24. Index to Tactical Map Series

Map scale: 1 inch to 1 mile

25. 7th Australian Field Survey Section (renamed in 1942 from 7th Military District Survey Section)



In April 1943 the 7th Survey Section moved to Queensland and was replaced by No.1 Section of the 6th Australian Army Topographical Survey Company. This photograph was taken soon after the 7th left the Territory. The 7th was subsequently absorbed into the larger 2/1st Topographical Survey Company and sent to Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea and then Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies to produce maps for the final campaigns of the war.

26. No.1 Section 6th Australian Army Topographical Survey Company

J.F. Hunt, ex- 6th Australian Army Topographical

Survey Company

Part of the 46 strong unit after arriving at the Adelaide River base camp in April 1943. The unit served in the NT until March 1945 when it relocated to Lae, New Guinea, to support the final campaigns of the war in New Guinea.

27. Australian Survey Corps Commemorative Plaque at Darwin Cenotaph

AUSTRALIAN SURVEY CORPS

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF N.T. BASED UNITS OF THE SURVEY CORPS TO

THE DEFENCE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA THROUGH THEIR COMMENDABLE SURVEYING

AND MAPPING ACHIEVEMENTS:

MAY 1941 TO APRIL 1943 – 7 MILITARY DISTRICT SURVEY SECTION

APRIL 1943 TO MARCH 1945 –

No 1 SECTION 6 AUSTRALIAN ARMY TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY COMPANY

28. Strategic Map Series – Pine Creek Sheet



As defence priorities changed the 6th Survey Company was given the task of producing strategic maps at a scale of 4 miles to 1 inch (1:253,440) around the poorly mapped coast and hinterland from the Kimberley to East Arnhem Land. The Pine Creek sheet was one of 16 sheets produced in this series as shown in the index.

29. Index to Strategic Map Series

Map scale: 4 miles to 1 inch Sheets published 1945.

1 Melville Island

2

Cobourg Peninsula

3 Junction Bay

4 Darwin 8 Pine Creek 13 Katherine 14 Urapunga

Field work completed, sheets published post war. 5 Alligator

River 6 Milingimbi 7 Cape

Scott 9 Mount

Evelyn 10 Cambridge

Gulf 11 Port

Keats 12 Fergusson

River 15 Auvergne 16 Delamere

30. Survey vehicle 1941

The motor vehicles that the 7th Military District Survey Section brought to the Territory in 1941 soon proved to be unsuitable for the off-road conditions that were the norm for survey operations in the Top End.

31. Ford Blitz trucks

J.F.Hunt, ex 6th Australian Army Topographical

Survey Company

The early vehicles were replaced by the superior 4WD Ford Blitz trucks when they became available in 1943.

32. Packhorses of the North Australia Observer Unit (The Nackeroos)

The bush soldiers of the Nackeroos assisted survey parties with packhorses for transport where the terrain limited vehicle access.

33. Army ketch Aroetta

J.F .Hunt, ex 6th Australian Army Topographical

Survey Company

The Aroetta was used by survey parties to access coastal areas, and islands off the Territory coast.

34. Radar Stations

During the war a network of radar stations to detect aircraft movements was established around the Kimberley and Arnhem coasts. Loran (long range navigation) stations were also constructed to aid ocean navigation. Many of these stations were located on very remote off-shore islands and coastal locations.

Radar Stations 1 Cape

Leveque 3 West

Montalivet Island

5 Drysdale

6 Port Keats 7 Peron Island North

9 Cape Van Diemen

10 Darwin (many locations)

11 Cape Don 12 North Goulburn Island

13 Milingimbi 14 Wessel Island

15 Cape Arnhem

Loran Stations 2 Champagny

Island 4 Sir Graham

Moore Island

8 Cape Fourcroy

35. Second World War Radar Station

Survey personnel were required to determine the precise latitude and longitude of radar and Loran stations so that the position of aircraft and ships could be accurately fixed.

36. RAAF Bristol Beaufighters


A number of RAAF and US Army Air force Squadrons flew missions from Top End bases against Japanese targets in the East Indies archipelago. One such unit was RAAF 31 Squadron that flew Beaufighter aircraft out of Coomalie airfield, near Batchelor, from 1942 to 1944.

37. Aeronautical Chart – Timor Island


and the Environment

Effective air operations depend upon good navigation. RAAF cartographers produced air navigation charts over Australia, New Guinea and the East Indies for this purpose.

38. Planning Series Maps – Lee Point Sheet



The tide of war began to change in 1944 with Japanese forces in retreat. The focus then turned to post-war reconstruction. The Lee Point Sheet was one of 8 sheets produced at 1:25,000 scale to plan for the transformation of Darwin from a military base back to a civilian town.

39. Index to Planning Map Series

Map scale: 1:25,000

40. How Maps were made in the Second World War

Topographic maps showing the lay of the land are needed for military strategic and tactical operations. They also provide the base data for producing other types of maps such as navigation charts. Four stages are involved in producing topographic maps: • Aerial photography • Surveying and computing • Map compilation and drafting • Map printing. These stages are described using photographs of the 7th Australian Field Survey Section personnel at work near Adelaide River in 1942. The mapping methods used during the Second World War were vastly different

to those used today where satellite GPS, electronic survey instruments and computers have greatly simplified all stages of the map production process.

41. Aerial Photo Flight Diagram

The acquisition of aerial photography is the starting point in the map production process. Aerial photographs are taken in a series of parallel runs over the area to be mapped. Adjacent photos overlap so that the common area of two photos (a stereo-pair) can be viewed in three dimensions under a stereoscope (Exhibit 68). 3D viewing greatly enhances the observer’s ability to interpret the terrain. The flight diagram shows the location of flight runs, and individual photos along the runs, over the Darwin town area and surrounds.

42. RAAF Avro Anson

Northern Territory Library Kathleen Fitzgerald

Cavanagh Yates Collection Photo PH0727/0090

Aerial photography for mapping in the early war years was flown by RAAF Avro Anson aircraft equipped with the 7 inch X 9 Inch format Williamson Eagle camera.

43. RAAF De Havilland Mosquito

Northern Territory Library Traini Collection Photo

PH0369/0001

In latter war years De Havilland Mosquito aircraft from 87 Photo-Reconnaissance Squadron, based at Coomalie Airfield, were used to acquire photography for mapping. They were equipped with the more advanced 9 inch X 9 inch format American Fairchild camera. However the Squadron’s principal role was to fly photo reconnaissance missions over enemy territory to the north.

44. Aerial photo run Pine Creek area 1941 – Williamson Eagle Camera

45. Aerial photo run RAAF Base Darwin 1945 – Fairchild Camera

46. Aerial photo mosaic 1941 photography


and the Environment

The production of maps from aerial photography is a time consuming process. For this reason photo mosaics are initially produced to provide interim cover until map sheets become available. Creating a mosaic involves cutting and pasting overlapping prints to produce an overall picture. This print is a photo-reduction of a mosaic of 1941 photography. Large photo mosaics of 1941 and 1945 aerial photography are exhibited on the ground floor near the Commemorative WW2 Wall Quilt.

47. Survey control for mapping

The geographic location, scale and orientation of aerial photographs need to be ascertained to produce accurate maps. Control points on the ground are identified on the photos and their latitude and longitude coordinates determined by ground survey. Control points are usually prominent features such as track, creek or fence intersections, trees, bushes or buildings. The methods of surveying were usually a mix of field astronomy, triangulation and traversing.

48. Sun observation using theodolite and radio time signals


The direction of true north is determined by taking observations to the sun or known star. This involves measuring the elevation of the sun or star above the horizon with a theodolite, and recording the precise time from radio time signals. Similar observations to known stars are taken to compute the latitude and longitude coordinates of primary ground control points.

49. Traversing with theodolite and chain


The coordinates of secondary ground control points are determined by the survey method of traversing. This involves measuring angles with a theodolite and distances with a chain (steel band) from a primary control point.

50. Pocket stereoscope

Used to identify ground control points on aerial photographs.

51. Theodolite Donated by Brian Eckersley

Used to measure horizontal and vertical angles.

52. Stop watch Used in conjunction with radio time signals or a chronometer to record the precise time of a sun or star observation.

53. Steel band or chain Used to measure distances. 54. Tension gauge

Used to control the amount of tension or pull applied to the chain when measuring.

55. Thermometer

Used to record the temperature so that a correction can be applied to the measured distance to allow for thermal expansion or contraction in the steel band.

56. Sapper Basil Stahl with theodolite on the north-south road (later named Stuart Highway)

Northern Territory Library Basil Stahl Collection

Photo PH0833/0010

57. Levelling party using spirit level and staff


Elevations of ground points are taken for plotting contour lines and to show spot heights on prominent hills. The spirit level and staff, and aneroid barometer, were used in the field.

58. Survey data computing


Mechanical calculators, slide rules, logarithms and star almanacs were used to calculate coordinates of control points from astronomical observations and traverse measurements. The control points are then plotted onto a base sheet and the map grid drawn.

59. Surveyors spirit level WA Central Institute of Technology

Used in conjunction with a levelling staff to determine ground elevations.

60. Aneroid barometer Determines approximate elevation by measuring atmospheric pressure.

61. Mechanical calculator

Used in conjunction with mathematical tables to perform survey computations.

62. Slide rule

Uses the principle of logarithms for less complex computations.

63. Logarithmic tables

Used for hand computations by logarithms.

64. Calculation sheet for latitude and longitude

Donated by Bronwyn Russell

Hand calculation using logarithms to determine the latitude and longitude of a control point by the astronomical surveying method of position lines.

65. Survey computing manual 66. Mapping from aerial photos using a stereoscope for 3D viewing

Australian War Memorial Negative AWM 027642A

Topographic detail is interpreted and marked in ink on the aerial photo prints. The parallax bar is used to measure elevations. The ink work is then traced onto the base compilation sheet by matching up the control points on the photos with their plotted positions on the base sheet.

67. Plane Table Surveying


Where aerial photography was not available the plane table was used to map the detail in the field. The sighting Indian clinometer is used to plot detail on the compilation sheet that is fixed on the table. A plane table and associated equipment is displayed at Exhibit 82.

68. Mirror stereoscope Allows overlapping photographs (stereo-pairs) to be viewed in three dimensions (stereoscopically). This greatly enhances the ability to interpret ground features, particularly hills and watercourses.

69. Parallax bar

Used in conjunction with a mirror stereoscope to measure elevations of features on stereo-pairs of aerial photographs.

70. Manual for surveying from air photographs

71. Draftsmen using a pantograph to change map scale


The pantograph is used to change the scale of the aerial photo compilation sheet to the required map scale for publication.

72. Draftsmen prepare fair drawing of map sheet


The drafting process is completed by overlaying the pantograph sheet with transparent material and tracing the detail in ink. Text is added to complete the fair drawing which now ready for printing. Colour printing in high volume was undertaken by the Army Cartographic Company in Bendigo, Victoria.

73. Set of drawing instruments 74. Parallel rule 75. Protractor 76. Scales and pens 77. Text Book of Topographical and Geographical Surveying

78. Aerial Reconnaissance Camera


and the Environment

During the war the RAAF operated photo reconnaissance aircraft in the NT from Hughes airfield until 1942, and then from Coomalie airfield until 1945. The unit was initially designated 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit and was equipped with Wirraway and Buffalo aircraft. These were subsequently replaced by Lightning and Mosquito aircraft. In 1944 the unit became 87 Photo Reconnaissance Squadron and continued to operate out of Coomalie until the end of the war. The photo reconnaissance units flew mapping aerial photography for the Army Survey Corps but their principal role was photo reconnaissance over the islands of the Netherlands East Indies to provide intelligence for allied bomber and ground attack fighter missions.

79. Sun printing


The sun frame was used to print maps in the field when needed at short notice. An original transparent drawing is placed in contact with light sensitive paper and exposed to sunlight. The result is a blue print copy of the original. Skill was required to regulate the amount of incident light to avoid wasting scarce blue print paper.

80. Blue print of plan of Katherine Area 1945

81. Theodolite

82. Plane Table and accessories

Used to map detail in the field when aerial photography was not available, particularly for updating existing maps. The Indian clinometer is used to plot detail and determine elevations for plotting contour lines. The trough compass is used to locate magnetic north. The plumbing fork is used to plumb the map position of the occupied control point over its ground location.

83. Indian clinometer

Used to plot detail on the plane table sheet.

84. Mosaics of 1941 and 1945 Aerial Photography of Darwin

Very large mosaics of 1941 and 1945 aerial photography are located in the Library on the ground floor near the WW2 Darwin Commemorative Wall Quilt. The Quilt contains the names of many members of the Survey Corps who served in the NT during the Second World War.

85. TV video presentation (duration 7 minutes)

This video compares aerial photographs taken over Darwin in 1941, 1944, 1945 and 2011.

86. 1942 Newspaper Article on Mapping the Territory

Copy of page 4 of the Melbourne Argus newspaper published on 12th October 1942 containing an article headed AIF has Modern Explorers – New Maps of NT. It was written by a war correspondent following a visit to Army Survey Corps personnel working in the Territory in 1942.

87. Souvenir Tea Towel

Members of the 7th Survey Section who travelled to Darwin on the TSS Zealandia in 1941 signed a souvenir tea towel during the voyage. After arriving in Darwin, those in the advance party who had travelled overland added their signatures, as did others who subsequently joined the unit as reinforcements. This exhibit is a print of the tea towel which is now held in the Army Engineer Museum in Moorebank, NSW. Of the 78 signatures only four persons are believed to be still alive and all are now over 90. One of these is Basil Stahl of Yandina, Queensland who regularly attends the annual Bombing of Darwin commemoration.

Northern Territory Library

The Library has created and contributed to many outstanding exhibitions, including:

Remembering Territory Families

30 Treasures: Northern Territory Library

Celebrating 30 Years

The Track: 1000 Miles to War

Darwin Harbour under Fire

Crossing the Continent: with

John McDouall Stuart and Charles Todd

Darwin1919

Raising the War: the Japanese salvage of

Darwin’s War Wrecks

A Hero Called Neighbour

From Monica to Tracy: Cyclones in the Top End

A Better Place to Live

Off the Beaten Track: A Journey across the

Nation

Online exhibitions:

Fallen ANZACs of the Northern Territory 1914-1918

"Roll of Honour" for the Bombing of Darwin, 19 February 1942 Territory ANZACs

Territory Women Goyder Survey Expedition

Cyclone Tracy

Photos used in these exhibitions came from the Library’s vast

photographic collection and can be viewed and purchased via

PictureNT www.ntl.nt.gov.au

http://www.ntl.nt.gov.au/

http://artsandmuseums.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/115092/NTL_30Years_Anniversary.pdf

http://artsandmuseums.nt.gov.au/northern-territory-library/the-territorys-story/cyclone_tracy

http://www.ntlexhibit.nt.gov.au/exhibits/show/bod

mapping for the war in the north · topographical survey company . j.f. hunt, ex- 6. th. australian...

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