17 1/2 Mile Camp Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

Balayang: I am regretfully archiving this cache since unfortunately there has been no action to restore it, or any communication from the cache owner, NofishNT, requesting additional time.

An ample opportunity has been provided for the Cache Owner to respond, but since this opportunity has been ignored, I can only conclude that the cache has been abandoned.

Caches archived under these circumstances are unable to be Unarchived, and this location is now available for the placement of a new cache, by somebody else.

Balayang
Community Reviewer -Australia

More
Hidden : 2/24/2008
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

The total distance is just under a kilometre consisting of 3 legs. It can be done in half an hour but would allow an hour to complete and take in the surroundings.
Keep your eyes open along the first leg and last leg for other left overs from the war.
The caches are not difficult to locate, the purpose of this one is more of an educational tour.
This would be easy in the dry season but is overgrown. Long pants with reasonable footwear is recommended.

17 ½ Mile Camp is an historic WWII site located at the intersection of the Stuart Hwy and Lambrick Ave. The site is divided by Lambrick Ave. Most of the areas of interest lay north of Lambrick Ave.

The site was strategic fall-back position for troops retreating from Darwin as well as fortress for conducting defensive and counter attack actions. It was designed to defend from a variety of directions but mainly the west (from the harbour) and the North (from Darwin via the Northern Highway).

The site was first occupied in February 1942 by the 147 USA Field Artillery and were join in March by the 8th Infantry Battalion and HQ 23 Infantry Brigade. It is possible that this camp was occupied by over 1000 personnel at one time.
This camp was vital to a strategic defence not just a roadside camp for the following reasons;

1. Fortress Command Sector to operate within the Darwin Peninsula,

2. Covering Force in defence of beaches between Howard River and Ludmilla Creek, and

3. District Reserve Concentrated in the area of Howard Springs Rd to Elizabeth River for counter attack against the enemy when the direction of attack is known.
The camp was disbanded in May 1942 with most of the forces moving south to the Noonamah camp.

The area to the north consists of;

1. Cement Slabs for various buildings,
2. Gun pits,
3. Trenches,
4. Small fortifications built of local rocks,
5. 2 bottle dumps,
6. Latrines (aka Flaming Furies).

One of the trenches contains a broken bottle dated 1927.
The area to the south contains 10 cement slabs and a trailer. One of the slabs, due to its size, may be the remains of the Officers’ Mess.

Information obtain from ‘17 ½ Mile Camp Heritage Assessment Report’ compiled by the Heritage Conservation Services (August 2005)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gur svefg pnpur vf jurer gur rkunhfg irag bs gur synzvat shevrf fubhyq or.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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