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Conscription introduced into Australia
At the outbreak of the First World War, the number of people volunteering to enlist for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was so high that recruitment officers were forced to turn people away. The nation was asked to grant the government the power to compel citizens to serve overseas during the current war. -
Australia declares on Germany
On 3 September 1939, Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies announced that Australia was at war with Germany. After Great Britain declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939, Australia raised a volunteer force, the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF), and sent the 6th, 7th and 9th Divisions of the AIF overseas to support Britain. -
HMAS Sydney sunk in Indian Ocean
On 19 November 1941, HMAS Sydney, a light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy with an impressive record of war service, was lost following a battle with the German raider HSK Kormoran in the Indian Ocean off the Western Australian coast. -
Australia declares war on Japan
One hour after Japanese bombers struck at Hawaii on the morning of December 7, 1941, Prime Minister John Curtin of Australia declared that "from one hour ago, Australia has been at war with the Japanese Empire."For the first time in the history of the Pacific, armed conflict stalks abroad. -
Japanese aircraft bomb Darwin
On 19 February 1942, 188 Japanese planes were launched against Darwin, whose harbour was full of Allied ships. It was the largest Japanese attack since Pearl Harbour, 7 December 1941, and followed a reconnaissance flight on 10 February 1942. On that day there were 27 Allied ships in the harbour and approximately 30 aircraft at the Darwin Civil and RAAF airfields. -
Battle of El Alamein
The Battle of El Alamein, fought in the deserts of North Africa, Itr is seen as one of the decisive victories of World War Two. The Allied victory at El Alamein lead to the retreat of the Afrika Korps and the German surrender in North Africa in May 1943. -
HMAS Canberra sunk in Battle of Savo Sea
In the darkness of the early hours of the morning of 9 August 1942 the RAN heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra was severely damaged off Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands) in a surprise attack by a powerful Japanese naval force in an action that became known as the Battle of Savo Island. -
Australians recapture Kokoda
In early March 1942, when the Japanese had seized various bases in northern New Guinea, Australian forces had been attempting to drive them out. Australian militia units C.M.F. disdainfully called 'chocolate soldiers' by the volunteers of the A.I.F., played a significant role in this action. -
Tobruk captured by the Allies
Tobruk remained in Axis hands until 11 November 1942, when the Allies captured it after the Second Battle of El Alamein. It remained in Allied hands thereafter. -
9th Division returns to Australia
The 9th division was a divison of the Australian Army. It was the fourth division raised for the Second Australian Imperial Force. The 9th division returned to Australia after the battles of El Alamein. -
Australians capture Brunei
The Borneo campaign of 1945 was one of the most complex operations involving Australian land, air and sea forces in the war. It was also the last Australian campaign to be planned and undertaken. Borneo had been captured by the Japanese in early 1942. During 1942 and 1943, many prisoners of war, including Australians, were sent to various locations on the island.
