21 OCT 1916: The 5th Australian Division entered the western front line near Flers on the Somme. By October the Somme battlefield was a waste of mud-bound craters. The troops’ misery is depicted in the Somme Winter diorama in the Memorial’s galleries. The Division began to form in Egypt in February 1916, after a decision […]
2017
Deakin Opens Cairo Centre
21 OCT 1915: Australian Red Cross Missing and Wounded Enquiry Bureau is established on this day. Miss Vera Deakin, daughter of ex-Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, establishes the Australian Red Cross Missing and Wounded Enquiry Bureau in Cairo. The Missing and Wounded Enquiry Bureau handled many thousands of enquiries from Australian families seeking information on wounded […]
HMAS Australia Kamikaze Attack
21 OCT 1944: HMAS Australia is damaged by Kamikaze aircraft. The Japanese first used special air units (Tokkō-tai) to undertake suicide attacks on warships in the Allied fleet supporting the American landings on Leyte in the Phillipines. HMAS Australia was a battle-hardened heavy cruiser. She had fought in the North Atlantic campaign, West Africa, the Indian […]
NSW Contingent to China War
20 OCT 1900: The China Wars and the New South Wales naval contingent enters Peking. New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia sent naval contingents as part of a British empire force deployed against anti-western Chinese secret societies. During the nineteenth century the major European powers compelled the reluctant Chinese Empire to start trading with […]
War Widow’s Guild Founded
19 OCT 1945: The War Widow’s Guild of Australia was founded on this day. The guild’s first president was Mrs Jessie Vasey, widow of Major General G.A. Vasey. It is still an active organisation today. Major General Vasey was killed in an aircraft accident near Cairns while returning to operational service. The War Widows’ Guild […]
HMAS Perth Attacked
18 OCT 1967: Viet Nam and DDG 38 HMAS Perth is hit by a shore-based gun. Perth is struck by return fire near Cape Lai, Viet Nam, while on the United States 7th Fleet ‘gunline.’ This was the only occasion on which an Australian warship suffered casualties from enemy fire during the Viet Nam War. […]
HMAS Geelong Sunk
18 OCT 1944: World War II and HMAS Geelong is sunk. HMAS Geelong was one of four corvettes lost during the Second World War. Geelong was laid down by HMA Naval Dockyard at Williamstown, Victoria on 16 October 1940. She was launched on 22 April 1941 by the wife of Lord Winston Dugan, then Governor […]
Battle of Templeton’s Crossing
15 OCT 1942: World War II sees more fighting at Templeton’s crossing. Australia’s 25th Brigade, 7th Division, drive Japanese attackers back from Templeton’s crossing. Templeton’s Crossing was the name given to the first point where the Kokoda Track, outward bound from Port Moresby, crossed Eora Creek. It was named in remembrance of Captain Sam Templeton […]
Australia Commits to GWOT
17 OCT 2001: The Global War on Terror, and Prime Minister John Howard makes the announcement on Australia’s commitment to the War of Terrorism, as Operation Slipper. After the terrorist attacks against the United States on 11 September 2001, Australia joined the US-led International Coalition against Terrorism (the Coalition) by committing military assets and personnel […]
Battle of Sariwon, Korea
17 OCT 1950: Korea, and the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment is in action at Sariwon. In a bold bluff, the battalion’s second-in-command, Major Ferguson, convinces at least 1,500 North Korean soldiers to surrender at Sariwon during confused fighting. The Battle of Sariwon took place on 17 October 1950 during the United Nations (UN) […]
