ST. MARY'S CONVENT, COOKTOWN, QLD
COMMANDEERED BY THE MILITARY
DURING WW2

visits since 23 June 2002

St. Mary's Convent, Cooktown was acquired by Hirings Section, No. 1 Lines of Communication (No. 1 L of C) of the Australian Army during WW2.

It was considered unsafe for all of the sisters to return to the school after the summer holidays in early 1942. Only two sisters, Sr. Benignus McCormack and Sr. Anthony Gough, returned to the Convent to finalise the handover of the Convent to the American Army. Before they left these two sisters were able to witness the far off glow of the Battle of the Coral Sea. These 2 sisters supplied spare mattresses for the comfort of wounded personnel who returned to Australia after this battle had finished.

St. Mary's Convent never re-opened. The Americans stayed at the school until the end of the war. The buildings at the school were significantly damaged because of the military occupation.

REFERENCE BOOKS

"And all this shall be added"
Catholic Education in Queensland - Volume VI
by Susan Mary Tobin

Heaps of WW2 books available at Amazon.com

This page first produced 23 June 2002

This page last updated 23 June 2002