On Wednesday, September 2, 2020 we commemorate Battle for Australia Day — the first time Australia came under direct attack in its history since European arrival – and acknowledge the campaigns fought in the nation’s defence during the Second World War.
Following the fall of Singapore on February 15, 1942, and with the Japanese looking to advance further south, the then Prime Minister John Curtin remarked that the Battle for Australia had begun.
What followed were a series of actions during the Second World War that saw our service personnel fight in key campaigns to the north of Australia and on the home front in seeing this threat halted and contributing to the eventual defeat of Japan.
On February 19, 1942 the first air raids on Darwin took place, with some 250 people killed.
Japan would launch further air raids across the top end of Australia with devastating impacts, including many more lives tragically lost, with the last on November 12, 1943.
In May 1942, Sydney Harbour was attacked by Japanese midget submarines sinking the HMAS Kuttabul, killing 19 Australians and two British sailors.
In the waters to the north of Australia the Battle of the Coral Sea took place, which is often referred to as the battle that saved Australia.
While no Australian casualties resulted from this battle, the United States aircraft carrier USS Lexington was sunk and Australian ships played a vital role in blocking the potential advance of the Japanese invasion fleet through the Jomard Passage.
Australians fought in campaigns across Papua and New Guinea, including along the Kokoda track and other areas such as Milne Bay, Buna, Gona, Sanananda, Wau, the Huon Peninsula, Wewak, and Bougainville.
Each year on the Battle for Australia Day, marked on the first Wednesday in September, we pay tribute and honour those who served to protect our country.
Lest we forget.
Darren Chester, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel
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