WORLD War II came closer to reaching the South Coast than many people realise.
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One group of men, however, were armed and ready to fight if the enemy invaded.
At the opening of a new exhibit yesterday (Thursday) at the Berry Museum there was plenty of talk about evidence the Japanese landed at Seven Mile Beach in search of water.
The Japanese should have considered themselves lucky they didn’t run into the members of the Volunteer Defence Corps.
The exhibit titled What happened in Berry During WWII features many stories depicting a local perspective on the war.
Ray Ison from Jaspers Brush was one of the contributors to the exhibit. He said his father Stan was a member of the volunteer corps.
“They were to provide home defence if it came to the worst,” Mr Ison said.
He was only 10 years old at the time and said the volunteer corps members took their roles seriously.
“They wore uniforms and had rifle practice. It wasn’t a joke like Dad’s Army.”
Mr Ison’s father served in WWI but was too old to fight in WWII, however like many others Stan Ison still wanted to play a role in the conflict and the defence of the nation.
The corps used to meet each Wednesday and there were other groups around the area including one in Nowra.
Berry identity Gus Miller, who also has an exhibit, remembers a funny story when the corps one day startled the horse that used to pull the local milk cart.
“This Sunday we were coming along with the corps and there was quite a few of us really,” Mr Miller said.
“There was no sealed road then and we made a heck of a din on the road and this old horse looked up and away he went.
“First the cans jumped out, then the floor started jumping out and by the time the horse was caught there was only the frame of the cart and the wheels left.”
The exhibit, which was opened by Shoalhaven deputy mayor, Cr Garth Ward, features many interesting items.
There is information about rationing, what was showing at the movies at the time, photos of the old buildings and much more.
The display was put together by the museum’s volunteers and will be running until Anzac Day.
The Berry Museum, in Queen Street Berry, is open Saturday from 11am to 2pm and Sunday from 11am to 3pm.
