Group portrait of members of 2/1 North Australia Observer Unit (2/1 NAOU), an Australian Army ...

Group portrait of members of 2/1 North Australia Observer Unit (2/1 NAOU), an Australian Army reconnaissance unit formed on 11 May 1942. "Back row: Cupples; Payten; Frederickson; Stanmer; Rudkin; Don? Ray; Blumenkehl; Chapple; Beard; Pye; Johnson; Huckstepp; Hiller; Davies; Ayres; Cooper; Whitmore; McGrath; Clarke; Baylis; Freeman and Eldershaw. Fifth row: Maloney; Grieson; Kerr; Pepperil; Weaver; Parkinson; Graham; Howarth; Wallace; Pidsley; McAdam; Wilkinson; Oldner; Thomas; Saddler; Smith; Drinkwater; Richardson; Neaves; Kruckow and Sanky. Fourth row: Hockley; Zane; Devlin; Milner; Fletcher; Lamond; Wenban; Brand; Hoad; Peck; Ranger; Greenway; Agett; Bertram; Bradhurst; Wormall; Myres: Rogers; Vidler; Rowlings and Gooley. Third row: McIvor; Krick; Forbutt; Wilson; Shepley; Sattler; Bevan; Townsend; Williams; Thomas; Knight; Syme; Kearney; Allen; Flood; Lockhard; Woods; Hutchinson, Williamson and Ah Matt. Second row: Boles; Auld; Munro; Price; Mibus; Kennedy; Thickett; Armstrong; Scholes; Golding; Munro; Wyatt; Ford; Tilbrook; Davoren; Brunack; Kerr; Cannane; Conners; Markam; Edgley and McKenzie. Front row: O'Donahue; Pratt; McGlone; Mulcahy; Gale; Clarke; Low; Cummings; Morcome; Coleman; Templeton; Collier; Cook; Anderson; Marks; Ryan; Campbell; Millard; Murdock and Terrett." (Note names are as provided and the spelling of some may be incorrect.) The unit was known colloquially as the "Nackeroos" and "Curtin's cowboys". Its headquarters were in Katherine, Northern Territory. The unit patrolled remote areas of northern Australia observing and warning of Japanese activity. Other tasks included manning fixed coast watch stations and signals work. This image relates to the service of NX39535 Private Brian Fredrick Higganbotham, 2/1 NAOU.