Content on World War II 1939-1945

This page lists content tagged with "World War II 1939-1945"

Coastal command

When war broke out on 3 September 1939, a party of Australian personnel who were already in England to take delivery of new Short Sunderland flying boats became No 10 Squadron RAAF attached to Roya

Coastal menace

During 1942, people in coastal areas considered the threat of attack to be very real.

Coastwatchers played a vital role in the Pacific war

Coastwatchers in the Pacific played an important role in the Allied victory in World War II. They defied the odds and constant danger of being caught by the Japanese, to feed vital information to the…

Colin Hamley - POW labour in the quarries (Oral history)

Colin Hamley - POW labour in the quarries (Video)

Colin Hamley enlisted in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in May 1940.

Coming home

We were very excited. Were looking out the heads and couldn't see anything, and then suddenly we saw this tiny little ship coming in, and then another one and another one.

Commemorating Indigenous service in the Second World War poster (Poster)

This commemorative poster honours the service of First Nations people in Australia and overseas during the Second World War. It shows buglers of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion during the…

Commemorating the Battles of Leyte Gulf and Lingayen Gulf poster (Poster)

Our 2024 commemorative poster acknowledges Australia's involvement in the battles of Leyte Gulf and Lingayen Gulf. Display our poster for Remembrance Day to help remember and recognise the…

Commemorating the Centenary of the RAAF 1921-2021 poster (Poster)

We've created this poster to commemorate 100 years of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Display our poster to help remember and recognise the contributions of all those who have served in the…

Commemorative poster - HMAS Sydney (Poster)

A commemorative poster was produced for the anniversary of the loss of the HMAS Sydney. The poster shows a group portrait of the ship’s company after the successful action against the Italian cruiser…

Connie entertained the troops during World War II

Connie Hobbs was a young Australian actress working in London when World War II broke out. As a member of J.C. Williamson's theatre productions, she had gone to England to further her stage career.

Constructing the railway

The Japanese will carry out [their] schedule and do not mind if the line is dotted with crosses.

Cooking for the Rats of Tobruk

Keeping the troops fed is never easy but when you have to dodge falling bombs and machine gun raids by enemy fighter planes, not to mention overcoming the shortage of water and food, then it is…

CORAL SEA BATTLE MAY DECIDE THE FATE OF AUSTRALIA (1942) newsclip (Image)

This article tells us about the battle in the Coral Sea during World War II.

Coral Sea, Kokoda and Milne Bay (May-September 1942)

The Japanese had no plans to invade Australia during the Second World War but they did plan to cut Australia's supply line with America by establishing bases in the south-west Pacific islands. In…

Cornelius 'Con' Page

By the end of March, Page was a dot in a Japanese-held ocean…[Eric Feldt, The Coastwatchers, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1946, p. 75]

Corvette HMAS Wollongong (Image)

Cowra Breakout in Australia during World War II

More than 1,000 Japanese men were interned at the 12th Australian Prisoner of War and Internees Camp in Cowra, NSW.

Crewmen on a corvette (Image)

Cutting cables

Maxwell 'Max' Shean was studying engineering at the University of Western Australia when the news of the evacuation of Dunkirk inspired him to join the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RAN

Cuttings

I was on the hammer and tap, drilling rock, as my comrades were … We started off having to drill 80 centimetres a day; we finished up having to do 3 metres …

Damascus (Video)

Damien Parer

Damien Parer is Australia's best known war cameraman...

Damien Parer: Stories of Service (Video), (Online lesson), (Student activity), (Educational)

In the 21st century, it's easier than ever to find media coverage of conflicts. Technology allows us to record skirmishes and make stories available to millions of people. In the Second World War,…

Damien Peter Parer

Damien Parer was one of Australia's best-known war correspondents and camera operators.

Darwin and the Northern Territory 1942–1945: Australia Under Attack (Book)

This publication is the first of a two-volume series, it focuses on the air attacks on Australia's northern coastline.

David Leicester - World War II veteran (Oral history)

David Leicester - World War II veteran (Video)

David Leicester enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in August 1942 at the age of 19.

David Mattingley - World War II veteran (Oral history)

David Mattingley - World War II veteran (Video)

David Mattingley enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in June 1942 at the age of 20.

David Mattiske - World War II veteran (Oral history)

David Mattiske - World War II veteran (Video)

David Mattiske enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 22 June 1943.

David Valentine Paul

This officer at all times displayed outstanding leadership, initiative and determination.

David Watt - World War II veteran (Oral history)

David Watt - World War II veteran (Video)

David Watt was working in a menswear store in Warwick, Queensland, when he decided to volunteer for service in World War II.

Death camp

...the greatest, yet most tragic experience of my life.In 1945, Sister Muriel Doherty resigned as Principal Matron of the RAAFNS to take up a position with the United Natio

Defence of Singapore map (Image)

Deniki to Isurava from the air (Video)

'The Isurava battlefield - where Bruce Kingsbury won the Victoria Cross.'

Dennis Davis - World War II veteran (Oral history)

Dennis Davis - World War II veteran (Video)

Dennis Davis was born in London, England, and migrated to Sydney with his family. He was living in Kogarah and working as a clerk when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1940.

Derek Holyoake - HMAS Hobart under fire (Oral history)

Derek Holyoake - Rescue at sea (Oral history)

Derek Holyoake - Rescue at sea (Video)

Derek Holyoake was three months old when his parents moved to Australia from England in 1924

Derek Holyoake - HMAS Hobart under fire (Video)

Derek Holyoake was three months old when his parents moved to Australia from England in 1924

Diane Melloy - World War I widow (Video)

Diane's husband Bob served in the Army during both world wars.

Disaster at Efogi

8 September 1942 Better known in Australia as the battle of Mission Ridge-Brigade Hill, Efogi was, following Isurava, the next attempt to halt the Japanese advance.

Distinguished Conduct medal (Image)

Distinquished Service Order medal (Image)

Dixie Lee - World War II veteran (RAN) (Oral history)

Dixie Lee - World War II veteran (RAN) (Video)

Dixie Lee's father and uncle both served in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during and after World War I.
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