Australia in WW2 By 9102434 Dec 1, 1939 Arrival of Australian warships in the Mediterranean Period: Jul 1, 1940 to Dec 1, 1940 Australian fighter pilots participate in the Battle of Britain Period: Jan 3, 1941 to Jan 5, 1941 Australian troops capture Bardia, Libya, from the Italians Jan 31, 1941 Australian and British troops abandon Malayan Peninsula Feb 6, 1941 Australian troops enter Benghazi Apr 24, 1941 Fighting in Greece Many Australians taken prisoner Dec 9, 1941 Australia declares war on Japan Oct 23, 1942 Withdrawal of Australian troops in north Africa to Australia Battle of El Alamein, Egypt, starts. Nov 2, 1942 Australians recapture Kokoda Nov 9, 1942 Australians and Americans defeat the Japanese at Gona