26 DEC 1941: Japanese forces officially capture Hong Kong. The tiny British colony on the Chinese coast, withstood a three-week siege by the Japanese. The Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941), also known as the Defence of Hong Kong or the Fall of Hong Kong, was one of the first battles of the Pacific […]
Military History
Benghazi Recaptured
24 DEC 1941: Today, in World War II, Benghazi is recaptured. Benghazi changed hands five times as the North African campaign ebbed and flowed along the Mediterranean coast.
Battle of Magdhaba
23 DEC 1916: Following on El Arish a couple of days ago in World War I, today commemorates the Battle of Magdhaba, in northern Sinai. The capture of Magdhaba by Chauvel’s Mounted Brigade and the Imperial Camel Corps helped open the way for the successful Allied campaign in Palestine. This, from Australia’s Light Horse: On […]
US Troops Arrive
22 DEC 1941: The first United States troops arrive in Australia. In World War II as part of the Pacific push, Australia soon became a major base for US forces in the war against Japan. They were warmly welcomed as representing a defence for Australia. At the beginning of World War II, most Australians still […]
El Arish Captured
21 DEC 1916: The Light Horse captures El Arish, abandoned by the Turks. Originally intended as an outpost for the defence of the Suez Canal, El Arish became one of the first steps in the Allied advance on Palestine – in the lead-up to the Battle of Magdhaba. At dawn on 20 December 1916, the […]
Conscription Defeated, Again
20 DEC 1917: In World War I today, the Second conscription referendum was held in Australia. With the AIF further weakened by the losses of 1917, PM W.M. (Billy) Hughes again asked Australians to vote for conscription for overseas service. The proposal was again defeated. At the outbreak of the First World War, the number of […]
Last Troops Leave Gallipoli
20 DEC 1915: In World War I today, the last Australian troops are evacuated from Gallipoli. The evacuation of the peninsula, largely planned by Brigadier General C.B.B. White, was a triumph of careful planning and bold execution. More than 8,700 Australians lost their lives over the eight month campaign, with more than 2,000 on the […]
HMAS Sydney in Korea
19 DEC 1951: today in the Korean campaign, HMAS Sydney completes a tour of operations off Korea’s west coast. Aircraft from Sydney left no operable railway lines in its area of operations, significantly disrupting enemy supply routes. Sydney commenced operations on 5 October 1951 under command of Captain D. H. Harries. On 11 October she […]
Arty Hill Captured
18 DEC 1944: It’s the Pacific Campaign, OP Cherry Blossom and ‘Arty’ Hill, Bougainville, is captured. ‘Arty Hill’, as it was known, was captured by the Queensland 9th Battalion – the Moreton Regiment – and was a major Japanese position on the Numa Numa Trail leading across Bougainville. The Australians suffered just one defeat during […]
HMAS Perth Under Fire
HMAS Perth comes under fire off Dong Hoi, VietNam. During the mid-1960s, the United States government pressured Australia to increase the resources it was committing to the Vietnam War; one of the requests was for a combat vessel to help the USN meet the demand for naval gunfire support operations. The idea of deploying a […]
