Graham Jenkinson
Graham Jenkinson served during World War Two and afterwards, remained in the service and was stationed at Kelvin Grove Army Barracks (later known as Gona Barracks).
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Transcript
Two Memories of Kelvin Grove Barracks
I have two vivid memories of the Kelvin Grove area. Whilst both have a military background, they are opposites. One, a classified hidden detention area, the other a very symbolic military parade for a war hero of the time. The Japanese prisoners of war were housed in the vicinity of and adjacent to the military police compound at the rear of the main drill hall, classified as top secret at that time owing to possible strong objections from local civilian residents in the Kelvin Grove area. The recent infamous breakout by Japanese prisoners of war at Cowra, New South Wales, and the killing of the Australian guards was fresh in all minds then.
The other memory was a visit of Field Marshall Viscount Bernard Montgomery of Alamein. “Monty” as he was affectionately known to all was a hero at that time and highly honoured in the Western World, following his brilliant battles in North Africa and his leadership as the commander of the land forces of the second front of the Allied invasion of Europe. Monty has been described as Britain’s greatest professional solder since Wellington. He came to Australia in 1947 and inspected assembled troops on the Kelvin Grove parade ground on the 17th of July, speaking personally with many of them, particularly those whose service ribbons indicated that they had served under his command in North Africa.