The Battle of Brisbane in WWII Took Place Between Americans and Aussies
World War II saw combat on every continent; hence, the term. The Battle of Brisbane is one conflict that is frequently forgotten, though. The battle was fought in Brisbane, Australia, between Australian forces and their allies from the United States. Although it wasn't a true armed war, things did get out of hand. American troops who had been stationed in Brisbane for more than a year as part of the defense against Japan following Pearl Harbor outstayed their welcome for two days in November 1942.
Despite having a positive reputation at the outset of the conflict, American General Douglas MacArthur's insults soured things. There was increased anger since Americans had better supplies than native Australians, looked better, and were known to attract local women.
On November 26, a few Australian soldiers insulted an American. After becoming involved, an MP received a punch. Three thousand soldiers were engaged in street combat in less than fifteen minutes. An MP shot an Australian soldier, killing him and injuring several others. The argument quickly died down for the evening, but the next day it flared up again.
