23 SEP 1942: World War II and General Thomas Blamey is appointed Commander in Chief of Allied land forces in New Guinea. Blamey came into conflict with his commander, the American General MacArthur, who had become Prime Minister Curtin’s principal military advisor. The United States forces were kept out of the Australian land commanders hands […]
Military History
HMAS Australia In Action
23 SEP 1940: World War II and HMAS Australia begins action against the Vichy French at Dakar, West Africa. On 6 September 1940, HMAS Australia sailed from the UK for Sierra Leone to join the Dakar expeditionary and naval force, which had sailed for Freetown five days beforehand. The large British naval force intended to […]
The First ANZUS Meeting
22 SEP 1952: Post-World War II and today sees the first military ANZUS meeting at Pearl Harbor. ANZUS military representatives begin three day meeting at Pearl Harbor. ANZUS joined the nations of Australia, New Zealand and the United States in a defence security pact for the Pacific region. Representatives of the governments of the three […]
Battle of Nui Le, RVN
21 SEP 1971: Viet Nam and the Battle of Nui Le, takes place today. Soldiers of B Company and D Company, 4RAR/NZ, fought an intense battle against a large enemy force from 33 North Vietnamese Army Regiment in the north of Phuoc Tuy province. The enemy defended their well constructed bunker systems and then attacked […]
German New Guinea Surrenders
21 SEP 1914: World War I and German New Guinea surrenders. The former German New Guinea was placed under a military government until 1921, when Australia received a mandate from the League of Nations to govern the country. German New Guinea (German: Deutsch-Neuguinea) was the first part of the German colonial empire. It was a […]
CPL Reginald Inwood, VC
20–21 SEP 1917: World War I and Private (later Corporal) Reginald Roy Inwood, 10th Battalion, originally from North Adelaide, South Australia, earns the Victoria Cross at Polygon Wood, near Ypres. Roy Inwood was Born 14 July 1890 at North Adelaide, the eldest son of Edward Henry Inwood and his wife Mary Anne (Minney). The family […]
2LT Frederick Birks, VC, MM
20 SEP 1917: World War I and 2nd Lieutenant Frederick Birks MM, 6th Battalion, originally from Flintshire, United Kingdom, earns the Victoria Cross at Glencorse Woods, near Ypres. It was a posthumous award. Birks enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on 18 August 1914, a few weeks after the war started. He trained at a […]
Central Flying School Gets Nod
20 SEP 1912: Official approval is given for the establishment of a military Central Flying School. Official formation of the Australian Flying Corps. The AFC went on to serve in Mesopotamia, the Middle East, and the Western Front and was the branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft during World War I, and the […]
2/6th Independent Coy captures Kaiapit
19 SEP 1943: World War II and the 2/6th Independent Company captures Kaiapit, New Guinea. Kaiapit was needed for the airstrip that was to be constructed there once the Japanese had been driven from the area. Kaiapit became a base for the 7th Division’s advance up the Markham Valley. The Battle of Kaiapit was an […]
5th Light Horse Battle of Nablus
19 SEP 1918: World War I and the 5th Light Horse Brigade captures Nablus in Palestine some fifty kilometres north of Jerusalem. Nablus fell to the Australians during the final period of the war against Turkey. British Empire troops also made impressive advances and destroyed several Turkish armies between the Mediterranean coast and the Jordan […]
