The Last Explorer: Autobiography of Michael Terry

166 Pages·1987·17.235 MB·English

by  Michael Terry

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
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This book was published by ANU Press between 1965–1991.
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The Last Explorer
The Last Explorer
The autobiography of
MICHAEL TERRY, FRGS, FRGSA
Compiled by Charlotte Barnard
gg
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY PRESS
a division of Pergamon Press Australia
in association with
NORTH AUSTRALIA RESEARCH UNIT (DARWIN)
Australian National University
Canberra
Australian National University Press is a division of Pergamon Press Australia and a
member of the Pergamon Group of Companies.
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First Published 1987
Copyright © 1987 North Australia Research Unit
Cover design by ANU Graphic Design
Printed in Australia by ANU Printing
National Library of Australia Cataloguing in
Publication Data
Terry, Michael, 1899-1981
The last explorer
Bibliography
ISBN 0 08 034398 8 (ANU Press).
ISBN 0 08 034397 X (ANU Press: Pbk.).
ISBN 0 86784 965 7 (NARU).
ISBN 0 86784 966 5 (NARU: Pbk.).
1. Terry, Michael, 1899-1981. 2. Explorers — Australia
— Bibliography. 3. Australia — Discovery and
exploration. I. Barnard, Charlotte. II. Australian
National University North Australia Research Unit. III.
Title.
919.4'04'0924
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic
tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission in writing
from Pergamon Press (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Michael Terry, author of:
Across Unknown Australia
Herbert Jenkins, London, 1925
Through a Land of Promise
Herbert Jenkins, London [1927]
Hidden Wealth and Hiding People
Putnam, London [1930]
Untold Miles
Selwyn and Blount, London [1932]
Sand and Sun
Michael Joseph, London [1937]
Bulldozer
Frank Johnson, Sydney, 1945
The War of the Warramullas
Rigby, Adelaide, 1974
CONTENTS
Illustrations v
Dedication ix
Tribute to Michael Terry, from Jim Macdougall CBE xi
Foreword xiii
Acknowledgements xv
Map xvii
1. Kipper Country: Youth in England 1
2. Prelude to Ekaterinburg: Fighting in Russia 13
3. Below the Equator: Migrant to Australia 25
4. Demon Chauffeur: New State truck run 33
5. Reaching Out: Historic motor journey 39
6. Sky the Limit: Success in London 49
7. The Expedition Years: Exploration in Central Australia 57
8. Global Trot: England and outbreak of World War Two 77
9. Australia Menaced: Road making in Australia 83
10. Amid Tall Trees: Farming at Terrigal 87
11. Walkabout and Flyabout: Cleland Hills and Qantas 91
12. Peering Back and the Last Camp: Little Known Archaeological 95
Finds and Retirement in Sydney
Compiler’s Note: Place Names 101
Footnotes 105
Bibliography of M. Terry’s writings compiled by 109
P. France
References 115
Michael Terry
1937
IV
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Frontispiece: Michael Terry 1937 iv
Terry Family Arms granted 1426 ix
Michael Terry’s father, Major Arthur Michael Terry facing page 8
His sisters Frances and Charlotte, December 1918 8
His mother Mrs A M Terry 8
The family home, ’Dummer’ House, Hants 9
Preston House, where Michael Terry went to school 1908-13 9
The Chillingham wild cattle 12
Air Vice-Marshal Allan Perry-Keene CB, OBE 12
Letter’ from a Russian soldier 16
Petty officer Michael Terry of the Royal Naval Air Service
Armoured Cars 20
The medallion of the Armoured Car Unit 20
Rolls Royce Armoured Car of the RNAS 20
RNAS Model T Ford Armoured car 21
Farewell to Barishnas in national costume when the Armoured
Car Unit left Provari 21
Michael Terry, Perth, February 1919 26
Artesian bore, Warrara Station, Gascoyne River, WA, 1919 27
Pulling a vehicle across the Gascoyne River, WA, 1919 27
Camel team, Cardabia Station, WA 28
Terry’s AWU ticket 1919 facing page 28
Terry camped between South Grafton and Glen Innes 1921 36
The New State Transport Company’s truck, 1921. 36
Dick Yockney and Michael Terry with the 10 year old Ford which
they drove from Winton, Qld, to Broome, WA, in 1923 42
Two friends with Terry and the Ford at the start of the journey 42
The Racecourse Outcrop, looking Southeast, not long after Michael
Terry visited it 43
Arthur Watkin Wynne 48
Terry in bush hat, 1927 54
Lester Joseph Brain, AFC, FRGSA, RAAF 55
Bill Bird 58
Sam Hazlett jr with Michael Terry’s rifle, Halls Ck, 1980 58
Ben Nicker 59
Stan O’Grady and other expedition members, 1933 59
Camel train at Vaughan Springs 62
Riding saddle, mounted 63
Original style pack saddle for camels 63
Aboriginal group inspecting truck, Tonkinson Range 66
Musgrave Range, towards Jacky’s Pass 67
The page from Michael Terry’s field book recording his dream
about Vera 74
The Hidden Basin or Redcliff Pound 76
A Terry exploration party, Christmas 1930 76
Michael Terry and his riding camel, Dick 77
Michael Terry, in court dress, 1939 78
Wedding photograph, May 1940 78
Letter from St James’s Palace, Prince of Wales to attend film 79