The Battle for Australia was a struggle never before envisaged in this country but yet much of it still remains unknown. It was a struggle that stretched our national resources to the limit; which saw the bombing of mainland Australia; the attack by midget submarines on Sydney Harbour; and raised the spectre of the threat of a possible invasion through Papua New Guinea.

Our sailors, soldiers and airmen and those of our allies fought, and many died in the defence of Singapore, the Battle of Sunda Strait, Timor, the Kokoda Track, Milne Bay, the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, in the Solomons and at Savo Island. The men of the Merchant Navy provided invaluable support throughout the island chain and suffered heavy casualties, as did the often unsung heroes, the Coastwatchers.