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WW2 begins
German forces invade Poland causing Britan to declare war. As Australia is a British colony we declare war also. -
Hmas Sydney sinks Italian ship
While in the Mediterranean the Hmas Sydney is sent to intercept the Italian curiser Bartolomeo Colleoni. She destroyed the sihp with two other British ships. -
Australian forces in Tobruk
The seige of Tobruk lasted 241 with its end on the 27 November. Tobruk was an important part of the defence of Egypt and the holding of the Suez cannal. -
Australia declares war on Japan
One hour after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour Prime minister John Curtin declared "from one hour ago, Australia has been at war with the Japanese Empire." -
Singapore captured by Japanese
After months of fighting in Malay all the Allied forces had retreated to Singapore at make a final stand. The Japanese attacked on the 8th and after a week of fighting the leader of the Allied forces surrended. -
Darwin Bombed
The bombing is the largest attack on Australia by a country ever. It envolved 242 Japanese aircraft, 14 ships and three submarines. Darwin was porrly defended and casualties were high with over 200 killed comparied to the Japanese's 2 killed. -
Midget sub attack Sydney
3 Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour at to attack military ships in the harbour. The Japanese lost 2 of their subs with the 3rd scuttled and lost 6 lives. The Austrailan lost 1 depot ship and 21 dead. -
Second Battle of El Alamein
The battle was the turning point of the North African campigan for the allies. After this battle Axis foces were on a stead retreat until the allies had taken Italy. Casualties were high for both sides with 30,542 killed on the Axis side and 13,560 killed on the Allies. -
Allies retake Kokoda
After months of fighting in the Paupa and New Guinea Australian forces retook the airfield at Kokoda and then moved on to retaking the rest of New Guinea. The fighting in Kokoda was some of the hardest Allied troops had seen with the terain as much as an enemy as the Japanese. -
Australians capture Brunei
The capture of Brunei was not important to the defeat of the Japanese but was something the Americans used to keep the Australians out of the main battles. The Allies lost 114 men in the capture of Brunei and the Japanese lost 1234 troops with 130 captured. -
War with Japan ends
With the signing of the Japanese surrender World War 2 officially ended for all countries participating. The surrender was signed on the USS Missouri by the Japanese Foreign Minister and General Douglas MacArthur. It was also signed by representitves from China, UK, Australia, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, France and the Soviet Union.
