Townsville Mutiny

The Townsville Mutiny was a mutiny by predominantly African American servicemen while serving in Townsville, Australia, in World War Two.

About 600 African-American troops from the 96th Battalion, US Army Corps of Engineers, were stationed at a base outside Townsville called Kelso Field. They were a labour battalion and their main job was to build bridges and barracks.

The troops had been the subject of regular racial abuse by some of their white officers. A rumour that a black sergeant had died at the hands of a white superior resulted in the troops of A and C company mutinying. Aiming to kill their commander, Captain Francis Williams of Columbus, Georgia, they machine gunned the tents of white officers. A siege of eight hours resulted.

At least one person was killed and dozens severely injured, and Australian troops were called in to roadblock the rioters.

US journalist Robert Sherrod wrote a report on the mutiny but it was suppressed. Lyndon B Johnson, then a senator, was visiting Townsville at the time.

The mutiny was revealed by a historian in 2012.