CAMP DOOMBEN
BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND
DURING WWII

 

Eagle Farm Airfield - Aircraft hangars at bottom end of open area, 
Eagle Farm Race Track (
Camp Ascot) at far left and Doomben Race Track (Camp Doomben) to its right.
The Gateway Motorway snakes upwards through the centre of the photo

 

 

 

1944 Photograph showing Camp Doomben and surrounding areas

 

There were two race tracks near Eagle Farm airfield in Brisbane during World War 2. They were both taken over and converted to Military Camps. One was known as Camp Doomben and the other was Camp Ascot. The only horse races held in Brisbane during World War 2 were at Albion Park race track.

Camp Doomben and Camp Ascot were located on either side of Nudgee Road. Camp Ascot is still a race track and is now called Eagle Farm Race Track.

During the war, the middle of both race tracks were filled with tents.

The 583rd Signal Air Warning Battalion, US Army left Camp Stoneman, San Francisco, USA on 25 July 1943 and after a voyage across the Pacific Ocean they arrived in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 16 August 1943 where they camped in Camp Doomben. They left Camp Doomben in August 1943 arriving in Port Moresby on 19 September 1943.

 

OCTOBER 1943

Commanding Officer:
    Lt. Col. Hendrick, W.L.

Executive Officer:
    Major Stout, G.W.

Adjutant:
    Capt. Braidwood, G.C.

Sergeant Major (Camp Headquarters

Personnel Section:
    Lt. Rogers, M.L.

Billeting Officer:
    Capt. Owen, S.S.
    Lt. Von Ellis

Casual Mess No. 1

Casual Mess No. 2
    Capt. Ingli, C.A.

Commander's and Staff Officers' Quarters

American Red Cross Representative

Dental Clinic:
    Capt. Hansen, R.T.

Dispatcher (Gate No. 1 Nudgee Rd.)

Dispensary:
    Major Sicherman, K.L. (Surgeon)
    Capt. DiNorcia, J. (Assistant Surgeon)
    Admitting Clerk

Duty Officer (1800 to 2300 hrs)
    Duty Clerk (1800 to 0800 hrs)

Entrance Gate:
    No. 1 Nudgee Road

Guard Tent (Gate No. 1)

Message Center

Orderly Room (Officers)

Post Exchange

Post Exchange Office:
    Major Holliday, D.D.
    Lt. Hanson, R.M.
    Chief Clerk
    Warehouse No. 1
    Warehouse No. 2

Special Service Office:
    Lt. Haslam, J.M.

3rd Camp Co.
    Capt. Proctor, C.M. (Commanding Officer)

Transient Camp

Troop Movement Office:
    Capt. Owen, S.S.

Officers' Mess:
    Capt.Baudoin, J.C.

 

In 1943 there were approximately 1,271 tents inside
the track with many more located outside the track

 

Note the tents to the north west of the track and
the aircraft lined up at the nearby Eagle Farm Airfield

 

Camp Doomben and Eagle Farm Airfield in 1943
The Stores buildings at Hendra can be seen at the bottom right of the photo.

 


Photo:- via Sharon Sperry

Chow line at Camp Doomben

 

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This page first produced 7 August 2000

This page last updated 24 January 2020