Torres Strait Islander Women and the Pacific War

Torres Strait Islander women's experiences during the Pacific War, 1942 to 1945; pre-war life in theTorres Strait; living under the Torres Strait Islander Act 1939, and withdrawal of the Department's officers in March 1942; evacuation of women and children to mainland Australia, including Cherbourg; Thursday island wives of Japanese divers; evacuation of Hammond Island Mission women and children to Cooyar with Father Flynn; residents of the outer islands were not evacuated; the bombing of Nurapai; recruiting men for war service, account of recruiting men at gunpoint at Masig; discussion on recruitment and volunteering; rates of pay for men; discussion of civil defence; AIF signallers assisted the women left on the islands; Battle of the Coral Sea; living conditions during the war; receipt of child endowment in 1941 and withholding of moneys by the Department; council elections of 1944; teachers' training college on Mabuiag under Phillip Frith; education of children during the war; health services; proclamation of peace on 15 August 1945 and return of the men.