TREAT Newsletter Archive - Our Wooden Soldiers

Judy Fitzsimon

by Judy Fitzsimon

Judy Fitzsimon, local historian and TREAT member, gives a fascinating account of the contribution our NQ native trees made to the Australian war effort 50 years ago.

PART 1, TREAT NEWS July 1995

The 50th anniversary of the end of WWII is an appropriate time to acknowledge the wartime role of the forest industry, from timber cutting to science and technology, but most especially here, to recall the part played in our defence by our native trees.

Record log harvests were achieved throughout the war. Overall there was a 15% increase in production over pre-war figures from forests already battered by the years of white settlement. The state of Australian forests was such that even prior to the war, authorities were anticipating the need to turn to New Guinea to augment timber imports. After the war, the newly developed timber technology made possible the use of many more species than had previously been utilised and the demands on forests became even greater. But that is another story.

With a low level industrial base at the outbreak of hostilities, Australia relied entirely on imports of metals such as aluminium, and millions of super feet of timber annually. With supplies of both commodities suddenly curtained, Australia was forced to turn to her own resources for defence. On 7 March 1942, exactly three months after the attack on Pearl Harbour, Australia's forestry industry became the first to be declared a Protected Industry, and timber became a 'Munition of War'.

Wood was used wherever possible to conserve and divert metal supplies to other uses. The use of native species to replace imported timbers, in some instances to very specific requirements, was made possible chiefly through the work of CSIR (now CSIRO) and the NSW Forestry Commission.

Despite some previous advances in timber technology, particularly in kiln curing, there was a huge lack of knowledge. For instance, in the early 1940's there were no nails suitable for Australian timbers. By 1945 authorities were loud in their praise for 'the greater nail-holding ability of Australian hardwoods'.

With no suitable metal industry infrastructure, Australia utilised existing furniture manufacturing factories to produce aeroplanes. The story of wooden war planes, particular De Havilland's Australian-built Mosquito fighter-bombers and those of Townsville- born RAAF Squadron Leader (later Sir) LJ Wackett is fascinating, but the glamour of the 'flying timbers' of the war - Queensland Maple (Flindersia brayleyana) etc - is only part of a story that saw intensive research into Australian timbers to replace many imported materials other than wood itself, such as carbon (as a component of gunpowder) and Candlenut seeds as a substitute for linseed oil.

Kirrima Range held the only extensive original rainforest still standing in North Queensland. Wartime intrusion into the northern forests was somewhat restricted because of its distance from southern factories and through the lack of skilled manpower, poor communications and roads and the lack of fuel. There was also a policy to concentrate on recutting of cut-over land as a first priority in an attempt to protect remaining primary species. However, as the War Theatre swung south through the Pacific, proximity meant demand was focussed on North Queensland forests. Specific NQ timbers for aircraft and for marine use were already being utilised, but from 1942-43 there were tremendous demands for 'any sort' of timber for bridges, wharves or for buildings, any of which could be built and need to be rebuilt within days because of enemy action.

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PART 2, TREAT NEWS October 1995

"Many timber cutters in the forests must have wondered about the necessity for extreme and particular demands. They were not to know that a vital war vessel was lying supported on her hull timbers, her damaged keel being removed - and waiting for the hewn log.." HC Whibley, Cairns Post, 14 September 1946

The loss of Queensland to the Japanese was taken into account in the survey of Australia's forest resources. The loss of North Queensland's annual production of 30 million square feet of veneer would have halved the potential Australian production of six thousand 8000lb aircraft annually. The loss of timber for other defence purposes would have been equally severe.

Throughout the war years Cairns Local Wood Industries Adviser and War-time NQ Timber Control Officer, Harry C. Whibley, expanded on the work of EH Swain and CJJ Watson to produce a series of articles in the 'Cairns Post'. In these he detailed some of the ways in which North Queensland timbers were utilised in the war effort. Most of the following information is taken from those articles.

Yellow Siris (Archidendron xanthoxylon) -

Regarded as most desirable timber available for small boat planking and underwater sheeting of larger craft. Never becomes waterlogged.

Red Silkwood (Palaquium galactoxylum) -

A favoured alternative to Red Cedar which was scarce and in insufficient supply for essential war purposes. For some purposes superior to Red cedar. Reserved.

White Beech (Gmelina fasciculiflora) -

Reliable marine timber. All supplies reserved for "immediate and future action against the enemy". Critical war use: shipbuilding, butter churns, beer and spirit casks, pattern making. Barrels and vats for chemicals and pickles, butter factory boxes and electric light blocks.

Blue Quandong (Elaeocarpus angustifolius) -

Aircraft work including struts, spars and other components of Australian Mosquito aircraft.

Milky Pine (Alstonia scholaris) -

Probably most effective NQ timber for insulating purposes. Walls and doors of ice and cold rooms, milk and food storage buildings, bodies of vehicles handling food distribution, ice chests, boxes and refrigerators. As cork in bottles, jars and barrels.

Leichardt Pine (Nauclea orientalis) -

Recreational carving and inlay work by Australian troops in training and convalescent camps. Chemical and drug derivatives confirmed in a number of reports. "A remarkable timber, of exceptional usefulness and value - a North Queensland Timber Treasure".

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PART 3, TREAT NEWS January 1996

Rose Maple (Cryptocarya onoprienkoana) -

Flooring, internal woodwork, motor bodies, horse-drawn vehicles. "Wider use encouraged to assist conservation of species more valuable for critical and urgent national necessities."

Queensland Maple (Flindersia brayleyana) -

Highest quality boards used for aeroplane propellers. Lesser grades for aeroplane work, including framework of Mosquito bombers, rifle butts, building and general war-time purposes. 18 million super feet was taken from virgin forests north of Townsville to Kuranda during the War years. Only about 5-10 per cent of all logs were suitable for consideration as propellers.

Queensland Silver Ash (Flindersia bourjotiana) -

Reserved entirely for aircraft duty, including bent components in Australian Mosquito fighters and bombers.

Scented Maple (Flindersia laevicarpa) -

Because of strength, used for collapsible seats in Australian Army invasion landing craft. Sports goods for convalescing soldiers. Rail coach and carriage buildings. "immediately applied to important service".

Silver Silkwood (Flindersia acuminata) -

Aircraft work, oars, light boat planking, general building, churns, butter pats, moulds, cask staves. Available in moderate volumes in NQ for house building and furniture requirements during War.

Ghittoe (Jitta) (Halfordia scleroxyla) -

Underwater propeller shaft stern bearings in marine craft such as the Australian Army Water Transport Company barge fleet. (22 of these craft fitted with ghittoe bearings travelled under their own power between Cairns and Bougainville and after service on coral beach islands, returned to Townsville without failure of any of the original bearings). Used in pump glands and in over 35 patterns for bearings in speedboats, crash and work boats. Endeared itself to service personnel on the Tablelands because of its ability to burn even during the Wet Season.

Crater Silky Oak (Musgravea stenostachya) and Wheel of Fire (Stenocarpus sinuatus) -

Reinforcement of enemy-damaged wood ship structures and supporting elements of gun platforms on war vessels, railway services, critical building requirements. Absence of shattering under gunfire shock made both species popular with Allied Armed Forces.

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PART 4, TREAT NEWS April 1996

Rose Butternut (Blepharocarya involucrigera) -

Total availability reserved for meat casks and cases.

Satin Sycamore (Ceratopetalum succirubrum) and Pink Sycamore (Ceratopetalum virchowii) -

Good for laminating. Essential wood element in fighter aircraft and military weapons. Many uses in building.

Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera) -

Resistance to marine Cobra worm and Teredo borer. Wharf piles and poles, railway sleepers, exterior planking, barges, boats, lighter craft, wharf decking, heavy floors for railway trucks, motor vehicles, warehouses. An important timber.

Golden Penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus) -

Bridges, wharves, heavy construction, building, main supports, keels. Penda and maple off-cuts were used to fabricate the struts in the many igloo buildings erected on the Tableland, including Merrilands Hall. Circular pieces of penda were placed at the apex and embedded in concrete at the bases of each curved strut to allow expansion and contraction of the framework.

"Australian forests have helped to repel the invader and deny our lands to him. More forests are imperative to save our continent from the invasion of soil erosion - the heritage endowed on us by privation and the sweat of pioneers, protected and preserved by the wounds and lives of her noble sons. There can be no better monument to their valour than to save what has been so dearly bought - with blood, and tears, and sweat." HC Whibley, NQ Timber Control Officer, Cairns Post 1949.

A concise list of references

Whibley, HC 1942-1949. "Timber, Trees and Timber Uses." Cairns Post articles

Australian Forestry Journal, 1940-1946 issues

Empire Forestry Review, 1938-1946 issues

Sub-Department of Forestry, Atherton, 1937-1946 Annual Reports

Commonwealth of Australia Forestry and Timber Bureau, 1957, "Forest Trees of Australia". Govt Printing Office, Canberra

Jones, Bob, Mareeba - personal communication.

Thanks to Mr Sam Dansie and to CSIRO (especially Librarian Ms Jan Weaver) and to Department of Primary Industries (Forestry), Atherton, for their much- appreciated cooperation and assistance.


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