Purdy Islands

[3] They were named after hydrographer John Purdy by his friend Captain Abraham Bristow on 16 February 1817.

[4] Bat Island was the site of RAAF radar station 340 RS between March 1944 and April 1944 during the Second World War.

The majority of the 30 or so strong unit succumbed to Scrub typhus and the station was abandoned after just over a month of service.

A contingent of survivors and reinforcements returned in May 1944 to collect the mobile LW-AW radar station and all the equipment that had been left behind.

About 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Mouse Island can be found Latent Reef.