THE WAR YEARS.... GRANDFATHER

During the second World War Brisbane was host to thousands of American soldiers on R & R. General MacArthur made his Headquarters in the AMP Building in Queens Street, Brisbane in March 1942. By November tension between the Australian and American forces had reached a point when the Battle of Brisbane erupted with rioting between the two allied personnel.
The Americans had a huge camp in the area which is/was Doomben Racecourse.
Grandfather "Hell Bent" was employed to guard the camp at night. His main job was to keep Australian soldiers away from American soldiers who were here to "save" us. The cause of the fracture in cordial relations for the short period was over "women". Would you not know it. The Australian girls were quite taken with the American boys!!!
Of course old "Hell Bent" was in his element as thrived on controversy especially when he could ride around on his horse waving a gun......