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Tom turned 14. He was allowed to not go to school and ha a few mates over after dinner for cake.
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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.
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With his dad working in Darwin, Tom and his mum decide to move up there and live with him.
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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
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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
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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.
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After spending the night in Sydney, Tom and his mum catch the boat out of Sydney.
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After being at sea for just over a week , the boat pulls into Brisbane harbour.
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after being out at sea for just over a week, the boat pulls into Brisbane
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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Tom and his mum won't have to evacuate as Tom's mum works in an essential job.
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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.
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Tom's mum was correct. The government has ordered an evacuation of Darwin. Only women in essential jobs are able to stay
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The first lot of women and kids are shipped south out of Darwin. This is because Darwin is now considered a war zone.
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The first wave of Ameican troops lands in Darwin. This is only the first lot of them.
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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
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in the morning tom and his family give each other presents. Afterwards they catch up with the neighbours for a barbeque
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Japan takes Hong Kong very easily
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Tom and his dad put together a picnic dinner for his mum
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first day of the new year. reports come in that a Japanese sub has been reported in the entrance to the harbour
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Japan capture Manila and trapped American troops on the Bataán Peninsula
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Tom finishes the slit trench in the backyard. Now if there is an air raid they can protect themsleves.
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Tom finishes the slit trench in the backyard of his home.
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For the first time on the Eastern front, Hilter's Forces get pushed back by the Russian forces
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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
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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.
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Australia shows the first signs of fight back against the Japanese by a bombing a place called Rabaul
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Tom's mum introduces him to a boy, about his own age, that works at the post office. They get along with him.
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William takes Tom around China town and tells Tom about Chinese new years, which is coming up.
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10 American Kitty Hawks land in Darwin
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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
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Australian and British soldiers surrender to the Japanese. Thousands of troops are taking prisoners .
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William and Tom go see the lion dance, a traditional dance that is performed at special events.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Tom spends another day being trucked south. This time he finds himself in Katherine
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Tom arrives in Alice spring after being bounced around on a back of a truck for 1,000 miles
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This time the Japanese target Broome. Broome is now getting evacuated
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Tom catches the train out of Alice Springs. This train will take him directly to Adelaide.
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After a few days on the train, Tom finally reaches Adelaide. He is met there by his Aunt, Uncle, and cousin.
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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.
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Tom starts school at the local school .
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Tom's dad arrives in Port Adelaide. Tom, Uncle Bert, Aunty Claria and rex all go to pick him up.
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Tom and his dad attend the dawn service.