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Tom's 14th Birthday
Tom turned 14. He was allowed to not go to school and ha a few mates over after dinner for cake. -
Tom and his mum leave Adelaide.
Tom's dad is working is in Darwin so Tom and his mum leave Adelaide via train and start the long journey up to Darwin. -
Tom and his mum leaves Adelaide
With his dad working in Darwin, Tom and his mum decide to move up there and live with him. -
Tom and his mum arrive in Sydney
After spending 3 days on a train, stopping at various places, Tom and his mum arrive in Sydney. From here they will take a boat up to Darwin -
Tom and his mum arrive in Sydney
After 3 days on the train and stopping at various points along the way, Tom and his mum find themselves in Sydney. From here they will catch a boat to Darwin -
Tom and his mum leave Sydney Harbour
after spending the night in Sydney, Tom and his mum leave Syndey. They are on a boat filled with soldiers heading for Darwin as well. -
Tom and his mum leave Sydney
After spending the night in Sydney, Tom and his mum catch the boat out of Sydney. -
Tom and his mum arrive in Brisbane
After being at sea for just over a week , the boat pulls into Brisbane harbour. -
Tom and his mum arrive in Brisbane
after being out at sea for just over a week, the boat pulls into Brisbane -
Tom and his mum arrive at Thursday Island
After another 8 days on the boat, Tom and his mum find themselves on Thursday Island. Will the troops on the ship do a long march, Tom and his mum go off and explore the island? -
Tom and his mum arrive in Darwin
After another 4 days at sea, Tom and his mum finally reach their destination. In, total the journey took them 24 days. Tom's dad was waiting for them on the wharf. -
Tom and his Family hold a barbecue to meet the neighbours.
Tom's dad invites the next door neighbours over for a barbecue and drink. One family was Herbie and Alice Laughton and their children Gwen and Des. The other one was Ernie and Doreen Elms. -
Pearl Harbour is bombed
Japanese bombers bomb the American fleet at Pearl Harbour, doing devastating damage on the fleet there. This causes America to declare war on Japan and shortly after Australia follow and declare war on Japan -
Tom's mum goes for her job interview at the post office
Tom's mum goes to the post office for a job interview. The manager Mr.Bald, gives her the job as the post office is getting busy because of the war -
Tom's mum starts training at the post office
After getting the job a day before, Tom's mum start training straight away. It goes well and once she gets the hang of the instruments she will start full-time work. -
Tom's mum comes home with news about a telegram that came through from Canberra ordering the evacuation of Women, Children, sick people and old people from Darwin.
Tom and his mum won't have to evacuate as Tom's mum works in an essential job. -
Tom and his dad go down to China town to see a bomb shelter, so Tom can get ideas on how to build his own. When they got back home, they started digging their own.
Tom and his dad go to Chinatown to check out one of the bomb shelters there. This is so Tom can get ideas on how to build his own shelter. When Tom gets home, he gets straight into work on his shelter. -
The evacuation of Darwin has been ordered.
Tom's mum was correct. The government has ordered an evacuation of Darwin. Only women in essential jobs are able to stay -
The first kids and Women are shipped south out of Darwin
The first lot of women and kids are shipped south out of Darwin. This is because Darwin is now considered a war zone. -
The first Yanks land in Darwin
The first wave of Ameican troops lands in Darwin. This is only the first lot of them. -
Christmas eve
Tom and his mum went on a massive Christmas shopping spree. Later the whole family go out to dinner at one of the local pubs -
Christmas Day
in the morning tom and his family give each other presents. Afterwards they catch up with the neighbours for a barbeque -
Japan capture Hong Kong
Japan takes Hong Kong very easily -
News Years's eve
Tom and his dad put together a picnic dinner for his mum -
New Year's day
first day of the new year. reports come in that a Japanese sub has been reported in the entrance to the harbour -
Japan capture Manila
Japan capture Manila and trapped American troops on the Bataán Peninsula -
Tom finishes his own slit trench
Tom finishes the slit trench in the backyard. Now if there is an air raid they can protect themsleves. -
Tom finishes his own slit trench
Tom finishes the slit trench in the backyard of his home. -
The Russian army begins to push back Hilter's forcecs
For the first time on the Eastern front, Hilter's Forces get pushed back by the Russian forces -
Tom gets sick with Dengue Fever
over the past week, Tom has been sick with Dengue fever. This is because he is not used to the tropical heat and he had been working hard to finish the trench -
Tom goes with Mr Horton to help him deliver his groceries
After Tom recovered from Dengue fever , Mr. Horton the man that owned the local grocery store , asked Tom if he wanted to help him deliver goods. -
Australia bomb the Japanese at a place called Rabaul
Australia shows the first signs of fight back against the Japanese by a bombing a place called Rabaul -
Tom's mum introduces him to a Chinese boy named William.
Tom's mum introduces him to a boy, about his own age, that works at the post office. They get along with him. -
William shows Tom around China Town
William takes Tom around China town and tells Tom about Chinese new years, which is coming up. -
10 American plans land in Darwin
10 American Kitty Hawks land in Darwin -
Chinese New Year
Tom goes over to William's place for lunch, to celebrate Chinese New Year. All of William's family is there and after lunch they play games -
Australian and British soldiers surrender in Singapore
Australian and British soldiers surrender to the Japanese. Thousands of troops are taking prisoners . -
William and Tom go and watch the Lion dance
William and Tom go see the lion dance, a traditional dance that is performed at special events. -
Darwin is bombed
Tom and his mum headed into town, to sort out evacuation papers. Tom left his mum there and went to the wharf to see his dad. As soon as he got to the wharf they were bombed. Tom's mum died in the bombing and his dad is missing. -
Tom sets off to Parap to get evacuated south
after spending a few more days in Darwin, Tom set off to Parap by bike. When he got there he went to the police station and was able to get accommodation for the night. -
Tom travels to Adelaide River
Tom is woken up at 3:00am and ordered to get ready in 10 minutes. He packs his stuff up and is put on a truck. At the end of the day, he reaches Adelaide River. -
Tom is trucked south to Katherine
Tom spends another day being trucked south. This time he finds himself in Katherine -
Tom arrives in Alice Spring
Tom arrives in Alice spring after being bounced around on a back of a truck for 1,000 miles -
Japan bomb Broome
This time the Japanese target Broome. Broome is now getting evacuated -
Tom catches the train out of Alice Springs.
Tom catches the train out of Alice Springs. This train will take him directly to Adelaide. -
Tom arrives in Adelaide
After a few days on the train, Tom finally reaches Adelaide. He is met there by his Aunt, Uncle, and cousin. -
Tom receives a letter from his father
Tom receives a letter from his father explaining what had happened to him. He has a serve burns, but that is about it. He will be back in Adelaide soon. This is the first type of contact Tom has had with his father since the day they where bombed. -
Tom goes back to school
Tom starts school at the local school . -
Tom's dad arrives in Port Adelaide
Tom's dad arrives in Port Adelaide. Tom, Uncle Bert, Aunty Claria and rex all go to pick him up. -
ANZAC Day
Tom and his dad attend the dawn service.