24 OCT 1942: World War II at Eora Creek, on the Kokoda Trail. The 16th Brigade, 7th Division, continued to drive the Japanese back along the Trail but met heavy resistance at Eora Creek in late October. The 16th Brigade commanded by Brigadier John Lloyd made up of the 2/1, 2/2, 2/3 Battalion. The Japanese […]
WW2
SGT William Kibby, VC
23-31 OCT 1942: World War II and SX7089 Sergeant William Henry Kibby, 2/48th Battalion, originally from Durham in the United Kingdom, earns the Victoria Cross at the battle of El Alamein, Egypt. William Kibby arrived in Australia from Britain with his parents in 1914. He was a 37-year-old family man when he enlisted in 1940. […]
The Battle of El Alamein Begins
23 OCT 1942: World War II and the Battle of El Alamein begins. El Alamein, in Egypt, one of the turning point battles of the Second World War, began with a massive artillery bombardment preceding attacks by British and Australian divisions. On the night of 23 October 1942, a massive artillery barrage heralded the great […]
CPL James Ronald Sewell, GM
22 OCT 1946: Post World War II and NX73515 Corporal James Ronald Sewell, 10th Australian Bomb Disposal Platoon, British Commonwealth Occupation Force, was awarded the George Medal for his rescue of Japanese survivors after an explosion in a boat carrying high explosives. Australians were allocated the largely rural and severely devastated prefecture of Hiroshima. Huge […]
Damien Parer Killed
17 SEP 1944: World War II and cameraman Damien Parer is killed. Academy award-winning, Australian cameraman Damien Parer killed while filming American troops on Peleliu in the Pacific. Parer’s documentary, Front line Kokoda, won an Oscar for best documentary in 1943. Having filmed Australians in action during the early years of the war, Parer accepted […]
Japanese Abandon Lae
16 SEP 1943: World War II and the Japanese abandon Lae after heavy fighting. Lae was the focus of a major land, sea, and air operation by Australian and American forces. Fighting lasted until 16 September when the encircled Japanese garrison were either killed, captured, or escaped. The Wau–Salamaua campaign involved Militia, AIF and American […]
Australia Raises 2nd AIF
15 SEP 1939: World War II and the Australian Government announces mobilisation of the militia and the establishment of the second AIF for service abroad. Australia needed to raise a volunteer force for overseas service in the Second World War while the militia were initially only allowed to serve in Australian territories. Australia had a dilemma […]
Richard Kelliher, VC
13 SEP 1943: World War II and Private Richard Kelliher, 2/25th Battalion, originally from County Kerry, Ireland, earns the Victoria Cross at Nadzab, New Guinea. Kelliher was born in Ballybeggan, Tralee, County Kerry in Ireland, then part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. and emigrated to Queensland, Australia in 1929 with his […]
Treaty signed with Japan
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] 8 SEP 1951: Post World War II and the peace treaty is finally signed with Japan, marking the end of its involvement in World War II. The peace treaty signalled the formal end of hostilities with Japan, though the fighting had ceased some six years before. Most history books say the war ended on […]
Italy announces Surrender
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] 8 SEP 1943: World War II and Italy announces unconditional surrender to the Allies. Prior to this the Italians had been fighting with the Germans. Despite the Italian surrender the Allies faced more than a year of difficult fighting against the Germans in Italy. The Armistice of Cassibile was an armistice signed on 3 […]
