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Camp Darra
In early 1942 Richlands, Inala and Forest Lake became host to one of the largest U.S. Army Ordnance Depots in the South West Pacific. The Depot was constructed south of Archerfield Rd, and to accommodate the personnel a camp was established in the vicinity of what is now known as McEwan Park.
Place information
Location
Place type
Military camp
History
Within the camp were four large wooden huts, fifty bell tents, a parade ground and an open air picture theatre. The Darra Ordnance Depot was manned predominately by units composed of African-American soldiers under the direction of white officers. There were several other U.S camps in the vicinity; these were Camp Freeman, Camp Columbia at Wacol, Camp Oxley and Redbank.
The Richlands residents were permitted to attend the open-air cinema held on Saturday nights in the camp. This not only helped with good relations between the Americans and locals but was also believed to boost morale in the soldiers. From the...
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