TORRES STRAIT FORCE

About 750 Torres Strait Islanders and 60 mainland Murri's defended the Torres Strait area during WW2. They served in various units of the Torres Strait Force. The Torres Strait was a vital shipping route connecting Darwin with the east coast cities.

The Islanders in the Torres Strait Force were only paid one third of the rate of their non indigenous companions. This unjust underpayment was finally corrected in 1983.

BOOK REFERENCES

"Torres Strait Force - Cape York, Thursday Island, Merauke, 1942 - 1945"
by Reg. A. Ball

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 9 March 2002

This page last updated 14 January 2020