|
Letters
Trip through the Solomon Islands and the battle sites of the early years of WW2 Mr.Mackenzie, I plan to visit Sydney on March 29-30 as part of a trip through the Solomon Islands and the battle sites of the early years of WW2. I discovered your website and wonder if you could suggest places to visit in the Sydney area which contain infomation about the Coastwatcher organization, the Australian armed forces, or the US Marines. Are there bookstores in Sydney that specialize on military history? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Harry Miner, Brooklyn, New York.
Here is a good site on the Coast Watchers, its establishment etc, but I do not think there is a section you might visit. "Establishment of the Coastwatcher Organisation." The definitive book would be Eric A. Feldt's The Coast Watchers. which I am sure is still in print. A good book shop in Sydney is Dymock's in George Street. Upstairs is a fine Military section, just ask when you get there. The National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour is worth a visit, and entry is free. In the American Gallery the Ship's bell from USS Canberra is on display there. It so happens it was used as the font to christian my son, when the ship visited Melbourne in May of 1967. Then my wife and I were guests at the Washington Navy Yard on the 10th.of September 2001, when President George W. Bush presented this bell to the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard. of course the next day was Tuesday 9/11. At Garden Island a new Royal Australian Heritage Centre has been opened, you need to catch a Watson's Bay ferry from Circular Quay, and get off at the Garden Island stop, this centre is open from 10AM to 4 PM. I trust you have a happy and productive visit to Sydney. Incidentally my christian name is Mackenzie, and the surname is Gregory. Best Wishes. MacKenzie. Gregory. |
