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"BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA" OR "DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA"
"BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA" OR "DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA" SHAPING THE AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC'S VIEW.
These two terms, products of decades and generations separated by half a century, allude to the same set of circumstances. They highlight the differences between wartime and post-war public awareness.
By 1941, many in Australia shared the opinions of wise senior soldiers as to the inadequacy of assurances of British capacity to resist invasion in the Asia/Pacific area, inadequacies sadly manifested as the year closed.
1942 opened with agreement, approved by the Australian Government on 6 January, for the return of two Army divisions from the Middle East, to face the Japanese. February, seeing the loss of Malaya, Singapore and island defences from Timor to New Britain as well as the Darwin bombing, also witnessed the Prime Minister's "Battle for Australia public statement and the Government's appeal for American help. March brought General MacArthur and the placement of the Australian Army combat forces under his command. In April, a Japanese invasion of Australia was described by the Prime Minister to Parliament as a "constant and undiminished danger". The nation was not officially informed otherwise until mid-1943 and meantime it witnessed countless close clashes of war and it prepared for a battle of survival.
Post-war hindsight benefitted from greater knowledge. The Japanese Navy had held Australian invasion aims. General Yamashita, Commander of the Japanese 25th Army, had proposed plans for attacking Australia following his South-West Pacific successes. But Emperor Hirohito's aim had, by then, become one of pushing west from Japan's occupation of Burma (now Myanmar), into India, towards creating a link with the European Axis forces.
This Council, seeking to convey to today's Australians the most accurate perception of the nation in the 1940s, regards the terminology of "Battle for Australia" to be apropriate.
MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER FOR VETERANS' AFFAIRS
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA008 Thursday, 14 February 2008
REMEMBERING AUSTRALIA’S DARKEST HOURS
On the eve of the 66th anniversary of the fall of Singapore and the bombing of Darwin, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, today reaffirmed the Rudd Government’s intention to declare Battle for Australia Day as a national day of observance. Mr Griffin said it was important to commemorate those Australian men and women who fought and died protecting our nation.
“The Battle for Australia was a significant part of our military history when, during World War 2, our nation faced some of its darkest hours,” Mr Griffin said. “On 15 February 1942 at 8.30 pm, British commander Lieutenant General Percival ordered all British and Commonwealth troops in Singapore to lay down their arms. “In resisting the Japanese advance in Malaya and Singapore some 1800 Australians lost their lives. The surrender resulted in 15,000 Australians being taken prisoner.”
In a press statement on 16 February 1942, then Prime Minister John Curtin predicted the beginning of war on Australian soil:
The fall of Singapore opens the Battle for Australia … What the Battle for Britain required, so the Battle for Australia requires … Our honeymoon has finished.
“Four days after the fall of Singapore, war came to Australian shores when two air raids were launched on Darwin,” Mr Griffin said. “The attacks caused a massive amount of damage, with more than 250 people killed and hundreds more injured.”
Mr Griffin said work was underway for the Governor-General to issue a proclamation to observe Battle for Australia Day on the first Wednesday in September each year. It will not be a public holiday, nor an alternative to Anzac Day or Remembrance Day.
“We must honour our armed forces for their service in Australia and throughout the south-west Pacific area and those who served on the home front during those difficult times,” Mr Griffin said. “We owe a debt of gratitude to those who put their lives on the line for our country. 66 years on, we stop to reflect on these horrific events that helped shape our nation and remember those who lost their lives to protect our freedom and way of life.”
Media inquiries: Kym Connolly 0420 962 102
National Council Newsletter 1/08
The Battle for Australia Council recently reviewed its purpose and future.
In particular, it re-affirmed the need to ensure that the knowledge and understanding of the heroism and sacrifice of those Australians who took part in the immediate defence of their country in 1942 to 1943 is enshrined in our national memory. Of special note was the mood of the Australian community at the time and the way the people of Australia perceived the threat and responded with a determination that had not previously been called upon in the history of this country. It also acknowledges the subsequent hard fighting that led to the defeat of the Japanese.
The title “Battle for Australia” is derived from Prime Minister John Curtin’s announcement following the fall of Singapore that “It is now the Battle for Australia”. For the first and only time, Australians believed they would be attacked and invaded and prepared to defend their nation.
The Battle for Australia Commemoration, therefore, seeks to inform Australians of a most important event in their history and to commemorate the service and sacrifice of those who served. In so doing it acknowledges that:
Ø For the first and only time, Australians were forced to defend their own country.
Ø The country prepared for war in an unprecedented manner and every community was affected.
Ø The veterans of the Battle for Australia are rapidly declining in numbers and the opportunity to honour their service will soon be lost.
Ø The events surrounding the Battle for Australia are not well known, partly as a result of wartime censorship, partly because until recently little has been written about them.
Ø A single commemorative event, specifically relating to the Battle for Australia, which seeks to incorporate, but not replace, the recognition of events and campaigns of the Pacific war, including homeland defence, will ensure that the entire campaign is commemorated and not simply a particular battle or activity.
Ø The consequences were far-reaching. Increasingly independent, Australia would embark on a path of national development and enhanced international relationships that would result in a proud, confident and prosperous nation.
Ø Of the 557,000 Australians who served overseas during World War II, some three-quarters of this number served in the Pacific war and many of the 39,427 who died, did so in this theatre.
Ø The Federal Government and Opposition, the Returned and Services’ League of Australia, the Australian Veterans and Defence Services’ Council and other major ex-service organisations, support the initiative.
The immediate major objective of the Council is to raise public awareness of the Battle for Australia. To achieve this outcome, the Council set itself five major objectives some time ago. These involved:
Ø Holding annual commemorative services in national and state capitals and regional centres on the first Wednesday in September.
Ø Developing educational programs, covering all aspects of the Battle for Australia, for schools.
Ø Fostering a commemorative relationship with Papua New Guinea and our other allies.
Ø Establishing a memorial site in Canberra on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin at the end of Anzac Parade.
Ø Proclaiming the 1st Wednesday in September to be the Battle for Australia Commemoration Day. This day should be observed in a manner similar to Remembrance Day.
A further initiative is also under consideration. The Council intends to seek to have National Highway 1 declared a Memorial Highway.
This would see numerous rest stops and vantage points, with appropriate signage, naming a particular battle or operation or some other notable event or personage associated with the Battle for Australia. The VC Remembrance Driveway between Sydney and Canberra represents an approximate precedent.
The concept for this outcome is being developed and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs has agreed to receive a further briefing on a more detailed concept.
Of particular significance is the proposed involvement of local communities where signage will occur. Communities will be encouraged to identify sites, determine what is to be commemorated and contribute to the construction and maintenance of the site. The commissioning of the site will also be an event of local significance and ideally will attract local attendance and publicity.
This is the first of a series of newsletters that will seek to highlight the activities of the BFA Council.
The Hon Bob Baldwin MP
Federal Member for Paterson
Shadow Minister for Defence Science, Personnel and Assisting Shadow Minister for Defence
8 May 2008
BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA COMMEMORATION
The Shadow Minister for Defence Science, Personnel and Assisting Shadow Minister for Defence, Bob Baldwin, has encouraged all Australians to remember the largest naval battle ever fought off Australia’s shores.
“This week marks the 66th anniversary of The Battle of the Coral Sea which is regarded as a vital turning point in the Pacific in World War 2,” said Mr Baldwin who will attend a commemoration service in Canberra on Thursday 8 May 2008.
The Battle of the Coral Sea was a series of naval engagements off the north-east coast of Australia between 4 and 8 May 1942. It was fought by United States and Australians against the Japanese, pitting aircraft against four different major groups of warships.
“This battle has been marked on history’s pages as the first aircraft carrier battle ever fought - carried out in an era of poor communications, unpredictable weather conditions with the vulnerability and slowness of massive ships which compared to today’s standards had incredibly limited technology and equipment.”
“The battle was truly significant because it stopped the Japanese sea-borne invasion of Port Moresby. Today we remember the souls lost in the battle and the strong bond that was forged between Australia and the United States in the war, when our servicemen and women served alongside each other with courage.”
Bob Baldwin – 0419 694 620
Electorate: PO Box 156 Raymond Terrace NSW 2324, 35 Sturgeon Street Raymond Terrace. Phone (02) 4983 1330 Canberra: Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Phone (02) 6277 4200
Email: bob.baldwin.mp@aph.gov.au
Ceremony Guidelines
SUGGESTED COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY
FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS
Introduction
This ceremony has been designed to provide a form of commemoration of the Battle for Australia, that is suitable for school students. The intention is to educate school students through active participation in the ceremony.
Focal Point
The ceremony needs to have a focal point such as a flagpole, a dedication plaque or even a large stone. Assuming that the ceremony is to be held out of doors, the focal point for the ceremony needs to be located near a reasonably flat area of land large enough to accommodate the assembled students and others. Most schools would choose to use the normal assembly area/parade ground but some may use a special area; perhaps a garden that has been dedicated to Australia's Veterans. Whatever the choice of ground, the focal point should be readily accessible from the assembly area
Audio Equipment
The availability of audio equipment at some schools may be severely limited. However, if the school has a portable CD player the playing of the National Anthem, the 'Last Post' and the 'Rouse' can enhance the ceremony considerably. These musical pieces are available on a CD, titled 'Lest We Forget' that can be acquired through the Australian War Memorial souvenir shop for a 2003 price of $17.90. The CD also includes a recitation of the 'Ode of Remembrance' that is commonly incorporated in such ceremonies. Contact details for the souvenir shop are Telephone: 02 6243 4274, Fax 02 6243 4396 or
Australian Symbols
The Australian Flag and the Australian Coat-of-Arms should be incorporated into the ceremony if possible.
Sprigs of leaves and flowers to be laid by students during the ceremony can be obtained from typical Australian flora such as Gum Trees and Golden Wattle. Flowers from Golden Wattle are readily available throughout most of Australia on the first Wednesday in September, the day on which Battle for Australia is commemorated.
Preliminary Arrangement
If an Australian Flag and a flagpole are available, the Flag should be set at half-mast before the ceremony starts.
Floral Tributes should be positioned close at hand. To ensure that the ceremony proceeds smoothly arrangements should be made to hand them to the students as they come forward to lay the flowers at the designated point.
Form of Ceremony
1 Students assemble
2 Welcoming Address by the Master of Ceremonies (MC)
3 A Speaker informs the assembly of the significance of the occasion. The Speaker or Speakers can be students who read a short history of the Battle for Australia. Such a short history is shown below.
4 Students sing 'We are Australian'. The words of the song are shown below.
5 Floral Tributes are laid by students whilst other students recount the main events of the Battle for Australia. The main events are listed below.
6 Play the 'Last Post'
7 The 'Ode of Remembrance' is recited by a student
8 One Minute Silence
9 Play the 'Rouse'. The flag is raised to the masthead whilst the 'Rouse' is played
10 The National Anthem is sung, accompanied by played music.
11 The MC thanks the assembly for their attendance
12 Students Disperse
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA
Australian forces were involved in World War 2 from the declaration of war on 3 September 1939. The early years saw the Navy in action on all oceans, the Army fighting in the Middle East, in Greece, Crete and Syria, and the Air Force supporting those Army operations and also operating from bases in Britain. On 7-8 December 1941 the Japanese entered the war by attacking American, British Commonwealth and Dutch Forces in South East Asia and in the Pacific.
The Battle for Australia had begun.
The Japanese overwhelmed the Allied forces, capturing Rabaul, which was then Australian territory, on 23 January and Singapore on 15 February 1942. During the Japanese invasion of the island chain from Singapore across the north of Australia, the cruiser HMAS Perth was sunk (1 March) in the Battle of Sunda Strait, HMAS Yarra was sunk (4 March) defending a convoy south of Java and HMAS Vampire was sunk (9 April) in the Bay of Bengal.
Using Rabaul as their main base in May 1942 the Japanese sought to threaten and isolate Australia and attempted a direct sea-borne landing at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. They were turned back by a combined Australian and American naval force in the Battle of the Coral Sea. This battle was the first naval engagement in history where the opposing fleets, using carrier borne aircraft, were never in direct sight of each other.
The Japanese next attempted to occupy Port Moresby by landing troops on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea and by advancing over the Owen Stanley Range along the Kokoda Trail. After eight weeks of fighting (July-August 1942), with heavy casualties on both sides, the Japanese attempt was stopped by the Australians a mere 25 kilometers from Port Moresby. It took a further 18 weeks (to January 1943) for the Australians to drive the Japanese back over the Owen Stanley Range and, in conjunction with American forces, to defeat the enemy in a series of battles at Gona, Buna and Sanananda on the north coast of Papua. Throughout the battle over the Owen Stanley Range, the support of Papua New Guinea porters and stretcher-bearers, affectionately known as 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels', was invaluable.
To assist their forces attempting to capture Port Moresby, the Japanese made a sea-borne landing at Milne Bay on the eastern tip of Papua New Guinea in August 1942. In a fortnight's hard fighting, the defending Australian troops, supported by RAAF fighters, inflicted the war's first land defeat on the Japanese. During this and other campaigns, the Australians were supplied by ships of the Merchant Marine of several nations, the Dutch providing the largest number.
This period also saw Australia's northern towns of Broome, Darwin and Wyndham enduring enemy air attacks. Darwin was the main target, suffering repeated bombing attacks from 19 February 1942 to 12 November 1943. The city was defended by Australian, American and British fighter aircraft as well as by Australian anti-aircraft gunners and a flotilla of corvettes, one of which, HMAS Armidale, was sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Timor Sea on 1 December 1942. Australian, American and Dutch aircraft, flying from Australian bases, mounted counter strikes against the Japanese. Other attacks by Japanese aircraft and submarines were made on Sydney and Newcastle. Many merchant ships were torpedoed along the east coast of Australia.
In the meantime, in the Solomon Islands to the east of Papua New Guinea, Australian and American ships and aircraft were engaged in action. Many ships, including the Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (9 August 1942), were sunk in the fierce sea battles off Savo Island and Guadalcanal. American, New Zealand and Fijian forces cleared the enemy from Guadalcanal and surrounding islands.
In January 1943 the Japanese, having failed to capture Port Moresby, determined to render it useless as a base for Allied operations by intensive bombing. To make their bombing more effective they set out to capture the airfield at Wau which was much closer to Port Moresby than the base at Lae which they had been using. This was forestalled by flying in an Australian force in Dakota transport aircraft. In March 1943, a Japanese convoy of ships carrying reinforcements and supplies to their forces on the north coast of Papua New Guinea was almost totally destroyed by Australian and American aircraft in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. The Japanese no longer held the initiative.
Hard fighting followed for another two and a half years, in New Guinea, the Northern Solomons, the Pacific islands and the East Indies (now Indonesia). Coordinated with Allied strikes closer to Japan, this culminated in the Japanese surrender on 15 August 1945.
The Battle for Australia had been won.
MAIN EVENTS OF THE BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA
TO BE RECITED WHILST STUDENTS LAY FLORAL TRIBUTES
7/8 December 1941
The Japanese attack American, Dutch and British Commonwealth forces including Australian forces in the Pacific and South East Asia.
The Battle for Australia had begun.
10 December 1941
Japanese aircraft sink the British Battleship HMS Prince of Wales and the Battlecruiser HMS Repulse off the eastern coast of Malaya.
23 January 1942
Japanese forces capture the port of Rabaul in New Britain, now part of Papua New Guinea
15 February 1942
Malaya and Singapore fall to the Japanese. 130 000 Allied prisoners, including some 15 000 Australians became Prisoners of War
19 February 1942
Japanese aircraft bomb Darwin causing over 250 deaths
27 February 1942
A combined Dutch, American, British and Australian fleet fought the Battle of the Java Sea against a large Japanese force. Faced with superior numbers the Allied fleet suffered severe losses,
28 February 1942
The Australian Cruiser HMAS Perth and the American Cruiser USS Houston fought a large Japanese fleet in the Battle of the Sunda Strait, destroying four Japanese ships before being sunk themselves.
6-8 May 1942
A combined Australian and American fleet defeat a Japanese fleet at the Battle of the Coral Sea and repelled a Japanese troop convoy carrying an invasion force bound for Port Moresby.
Night of 31 May 1942
Japanese midget submarines attack Sydney Harbour, sinking HMAS Kuttabul.
22 July - 16 November 1942
Although repulsed at the Battle of the Coral Sea the Japanese are still determined to capture Port Moresby. Japanese forces land on the north coast of New Guinea and advance over the Kokoda Trail towards Port Moresby. Australian forces contest the Japanese advance; the Japanese are finally halted 25 km from Port Moresby. The Australians then pushed the Japanese back to their strongholds on the New Guinea north coast
Night of 8 August 1942
The Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra along with three American cruisers sunk in the Battle of Savo Island, off the coast of Guadalcanal
25 August - 5 September 1942
To support their advance along the Kokoda Trail to capture Port Moresby, the Japanese attempt to capture the airfields at Milne Bay. They are defeated in the attempt by Australian and American army forces, closely supported by RAAF aircraft.
16 November 1942 - 22 January 1943
Australian and American forces capture the Japanese strongholds of Buna, Gona and Sanananda on the north coast of New Guinea
29 January - 9 February 1943
The Japanese attempt to capture Wau but are stopped by Australian forces.
2 - 4 March 1943
RAAF and American aircraft destroy 12 ships in a Japanese convoy of 16 ships in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea
April - September 1943
The Wau-Salamaua campaign in New Guinea is fought, with the Australians defeating the Japanese
14 May 1943
A Japanese submarine sinks the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur off the south Queensland coast.
4 - 16 September 1943
Australian forces capture Lae
26 September 1943
A combined Navy and army special operations team mount a successful raid on the Japanese held port of Singapore
September - November 1943
Australians defeat Japanese forces on the Huon Peninsula, New Guinea
October 1943 - January 1944
Australian forces continue to defeat Japanese forces in the Markham and Ramu valleys
24 April 1944
Australians capture Madang, New Guinea
April 1944 - January 1945
Ships of the Royal Australian Navy supported American landings along the north coast of New Guinea, at Morotai, and were involved in naval actions in the American invasion of the Phillipines. During the Phillipine invasion, the Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Australia was heavily damaged by a Japanese kamikaze aircraft.
November 1944 - August 1945
Australian forces advanced on the island of New Britain and 'bottled up' Japanese forces at Rabaul
December 1944 - August 1945
Australians conducted operations against Japanese on Bougainville Island and advanced along the north coast and inland, of New Guinea from Aitape to Wewak
May - August 1945
Australian campaign against the Japanese in Borneo
6 and 9 August 1945
Atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
15 August
Japanese surrender unconditionally
I AM AUSTRALIAN
I came from the dreamtime
From the dusty red soil plains
I am the ancient heart, the keeper of the flame
I stood upon the rocky shore
I watched the tall ships come
For forty thousand years I'd been
The first Australian
I came upon the prison ship
Bowed down by iron chains
I cleared the land, endured the lash
And waited for the rains
I'm a settler, I'm a farmer's wife
On a dry and barren run
A convict, then a freeman
I became Australian
I'm the daughter of a digger
Who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman
On the long and dusty road
I'm a child of the depression
I saw the good times come
I'm a bushie, I'm a battler
I am Australian
I'm a teller of stories
I'm a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira
I paint the ghostly gums
I am Clancy on his horse
I'm Ned Kelly on the run
I'm the one who waltzed Matilda
I am Australian
I'm the hot wind from the desert
I'm the black soil of the plains
I'm the mountains and the valleys
I'm the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky
The rivers when they run
The spirit of this great lane
I am Australian
Chorus
We are one but we are many
From all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice
I am, You are, We are Australian
SUGGESTED COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY
FOR ADULT GROUPS
Introduction
This form of the Battle for Australia ceremony has been designed to cater for adult groups. However, it should be kept in mind that the primary aim of holding Battle for Australia ceremonies is to educate the youth of Australia in the events that occurred in the Pacific War. Accordingly, every opportunity should be taken to involve young people in the ceremony wherever possible.
Ceremonial Support
An assumption is made that some ceremonial support such as a band, a Guard of Honour and a catafalque party are available for this ceremony. If they are not, the reference to them in the form of ceremony can be ignored.
Audio Equipment
If a band is not available, recourse can be made to using a CD player and obtaining the CD 'Lest We Forget' from the Australian War Memorial souvenir shop for a 2003 price of $17.90. This CD contains the National Anthem, the Last Post, the Rouse and a recitation of the Ode of Remembrance. Contact details for the souvenir shop are Telephone: 02 6243 4274, Fax: 02 6243 4396 or Email: memorial.shop@awm.gov.au.
Preliminary Arrangements
If an Australian Flag and a flagpole are available, the Flag should be set at half-mast before the ceremony starts
Form of Ceremony
1 Participants in the Ceremony and the public seated by the designated time
2 The Master of Ceremonies (MC) welcomes all to the occasion and introduces the Host Officer
3 Guard of Honour and Band march onto the parade ground
4 Guest of Honour is greeted by the Host Officer and is escorted to the saluting dais where the Guest of Honour is accorded a salute appropriate to his rank
5 Guest of Honour may be invited to inspect the Guard of Honour
6 Guest of Honour is seated
7 Catafalque Party is posted
8 Welcoming remarks by the Host Officer
9 Address by the Guest of Honour or other nominated dignitary
10 Prayers by a Chaplain
11 Wreaths/floral tributes are laid in accordance with the specified precedence
12 The MC asks all to stand if they able to do so
13 Last Post is played
14 The Ode is recited
15 A one minute silence is observed
16 Rouse is played. (The Flag is raised to the masthead during the Rouse)
17 The National Anthem is played
18 The MC invites all to sit
19 Catafalque Party dismounts
20 Guest of Honour is escorted to the saluting dais by the Host Officer where the Guest of Honour is accorded a salute appropriate to his rank
21 Guest of Honour is escorted to his car by the Host Officer
22 Guest of Honour departs
23 Guard of Honour and Band march from the parade ground
24 Master of Ceremonies thanks all for attending
25 Ceremony concludes
NOTE: Young people can be readily involved in reciting the Ode of Remembrance and in the laying of floral tributes as well as in raising the Flag during the playing of the Rouse. Should more than one guest be accorded a salute, a young person can escort the guest to his seat after the guest receives his salute.
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