BICKERTON ISLAND - MILYAKBURRA COMMUNITY

Milyakburra Community - Bicketon Island - Image courtesy Richard & Carolyn Green

The Japanese lugger Kushimoto - in the river at Bickerton Island. Having sailed from the Aru Islands - her crew was murdered at Woodah Island & the lugger was cut adrift. It was a pivotal event that resulted in the Peace Expedition - the killing of Constable McColl, creation of Yirrkala Mission & recruitment of Yolngu in WW2. Wynne Evans Col. NTL PH0063/0037

Presumably this is neither of the luggers from the Caledon Bay killing of 5 out of six Japanese crew because Fred Gray says he took those luggers to Milingimbi which is where the sole Japanese survivor, Kinjo, managed to reach with the help of Melville Islander crew. It is not Fegan & Traynor's boat which was not a lugger & was broken up at Woodah Island after they were killed. Perhaps Fred collected it from Bickerton as salvage before heading for Milingimbi. Both luggers were owned by Mr. J. Kepert of Darwin.

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Images Courtesy Paul Pini.

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