The 1945 Kapooka Tragedy remains the single largest training accident in Australian Army history.
Twenty six men lost their lives in this tragic accident that occurred during a training exercise at the Royal Australian Engineers Training Centre, Kapooka, near Wagga Wagga, on the 21st May 1945.
In 1992 ARTC Kapooka celebrated their 50th Anniversary, and as part of the formalities a plaque listing the names of the twenty six deceased engineers was installed on a large concrete block at the site of the tragedy. The plaque was unveiled by the Chief of the Australian Defence Force, General Peter Gration. Michael McCormack, who at that time worked for the Daily Advertiser wrote an article to commemorate the occasion, which can be viewed at the following link – Daily Advertiser 6th April 1992 [page 11]
An account of the event by Frank Simm who had been a Sergeant Instructor at the time of the tragedy, and who was present on the day, appeared in a subsequent edition of the Daily Advertiser. > click link > Daily Advertiser 7th April 1992 [page 9]
On the 50th Anniversary of the tragedy (21st May 1995), Mr Allan Bartlett, the only living survivor of the tragedy, travelled to Wagga Wagga to attend the memorial service commemorating the occasion. His story was reported in the Daily Advertiser on the following day. > click links > Daily Advertiser 22nd May 1945 [page 1], Daily Advertiser 22nd May 1995 [page 10], Daily Advertiser 22nd May 1995 [page 11]
ARTC Kapooka have established a Memorial to the sappers who lost their lives in the accident.
Kapooka Tragedy Memorial Site – June 2012
Every year on the 21st May a memorial service is held at this site, when descendants, and others, can honour the memory of those that lost their lives on that fateful day.
The Memorial site is located to the north of Kapooka, between the latter and San Isadore.
Courtesy Google Earth
In addition to the Kapooka Tragedy Memorial there is a headstone and grave for each of those who died, in the War Memorial Cemetery along Kooringal Road (at the southern end of the Wagga Wagga Memorial Cemetery].
A number of articles have been written on the subject and these can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
The Kapooka Tragedy:
