-
War broke out in Europe
-
Aus. follows Britain into war
PM Robert Menzies radio speech -
Second Aus. Imperial Force (2AIF) formed
-
2AIF despatched to join war
-
Period: to
Aus was left essentially unprotected
-
Tripartite Pact
Signed by Japan, Germany and Italy - military alliance known as 'Axis' -
Curtin and Labor gov comes into power
-
Guam, Wake Island and Indo-China fell to Japanese
-
About 118 000 Aus troops were serving overseas
From AIF, while approx. 32 000 were in Aus. -
Japan launched aerial bombing raid on US Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor
Hawaii. Aus saw this as a major threat to own national security -
Aus PM John Curtin and US Pres Roosevelt declare war on Japan
-
2000 militia troops arrived in Port Moresby
-
1 full strength militia brigade (the 30th) was assembled in Port M
Contained 3 battalions (39th, 53rd and 49th) each with about 1000 men none who had experience in combat -
Darwin was bombed
-
North-eastern New Guinea was invaded
-
Jap. subs infiltrated Syd harbour
-
Period: to
Series of naval engagements off north-east coast of Aus
Between US + Aus vs. Japan for Port Moresby -
Philippines, the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore and Burma fell to Japanese
Thailand remained offically neutral although under Jap. control -
Jap. had reached height of its imperial expansion
-
AIF Officers were posted to 30th brigade
-
Gen. Blamey instructs Major-Gen Basil Morris to secure Kokoda and its airstrip
Basil Morris: Commander of operations in PNG -
Aus. troops left Port Moresby and made way along Kokoda Trail
-
Maroubra Force set off for Kokoda
Without any sense of urgency of advice on any Jap. plans for invasion -
Maroubra Force reached Kokoda
8 days after they left Port Moresby -
Maroubra Force arrived at Gona
Some troops who had cont. to Gona to collect supplies -
Aus. and Jap. troops clashed on Kokoda Trail
@ Awala.
Aus. troops began a fighting withdrawl along track to Kokoda village -
Jap. troops took village of Kokoda
Aus. troops withdrew to Deniki village -
1st Battle of Kokoda
Ended in Aus defeat and retreat to Deniki. Light casualties on both sides -
AIF arrived in PNG
A full month after the Jap invasion -
Period: to
Aus. troops retake Kokoda
Village taken from Jap. Only held for 3 days before withdrawing again -
Men of 39th Battalion recaptured Kokoda
Heavier losses, forced out after 2 and 1/2 days -
Aus. reinforcements begin to arrive at Port Moresby
-
Aus. troops battled Jap. troops
At Isurava Village -
7000 Jap. troops arrived at Buna and Gona bases on northern coast
-
Period: to
Aus. troops fight series of battles as they withdrew from Kokoda trail
-
Jap. troops are defeated at Milne Bay
-
Period: to
Jap. advance was 20km from Port Moresby. Jap troops began to withdraw along Kokoda trail
-
Period: to
Aus. troops drove Jap. troops back to Buna and Gona
Aus. troops took Gona and US troops took Buna -
Aus. troops retook Kokoda village
Us forces had crossed mountains to he west of Aus. troops and were putting pressure on Jap. base at Buna. More US had landed on northern coast and were adding to pressure on Jap base. Allied aircraft strikes took huge toll on Jap supply lines -
War in Pacific ends
Japan surrenders
