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 contributions of all Australians in World War II.
In October 1944, a large United States (US) and Allied fleet, including Royal Australian Navy vessels, launched an invasion of Japanese-occupied Leyte Island in the central Philippines. The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest naval battle of the Second World War. It involved the first attacks by Japanese kamikaze (suicide) aircraft. One aircraft struck HMAS Australia, killing 30 crewmen, including the ship’s captain. The Imperial Japanese Navy suffered a devastating defeat in the battle, failing to stop the invasion of Leyte island and losing almost 30 ships.
In January 1945, other Australian warships were involved in the US-led invasion of Luzon. Most of Japan's remaining warships were sent against the invasion force and suffered another heavy defeat in the Battle of Lingayen Gulf. Several Australian ships, including HMAS Australia, were damaged by kamikazes in the fighting, with the loss of almost 50 sailors’ lives.
The poster features the painting Kamikaze attack on HMAS Australia, Lingayen Gulf January 1945 by official war artist Frank Norton (AWM ART27552).
Wartime snapshot
Battle of Leyte Gulf
In July 1944, senior US military officers and politicians decided that their next objective in the war against Japan would be the liberation of the Philippines. It had been under Japanese occupation since early 1942.
Success would cut the Japanese Empire in Asia and the Pacific in 2 and provide staging bases for future Allied assaults on the islands closer to Japan. The effort to drive the Japanese from the Philippines began with a massive naval and amphibious assault in the Leyte Gulf-Surigao Strait area of the eastern Philippine island of Leyte. The invasion was a complex and risky undertaking. The main US staging areas were up to 500 nautical miles from the Philippines. Logistical support came from as far away as the west coast of the United States.
The US naval task force comprised more than 660 vessels, among them 11 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships. On 18 October, Australian sailors helped lay channel markers and shoal water buoys in San Pedro Bay at the head of Leyte Gulf. Two days later, 3 Australian ships helped land troops on the undefended Panaon Island to the south. Meanwhile, 4 RAN ships took part in the bombardment of the main landing beaches at Tacloban and Dulag on Leyte Gulf’s western shore. Japanese aircraft made sporadic attacks during the afternoon, but opposition was light.
On the following morning, 21 October, a lone Japanese dive-bomber crashed into HMAS Australia, killing 30 crewmen and wounding 64. The ship’s captain, Captain Emile Dechaineux DSC was one of the lives lost. They were the only Australian casualties of the battle.
The Japanese enacted their defence plan as soon as the Allied fleet was sighted on 17 October. It took days to fuel the ships and embark the carrier-borne aircraft. The Japanese fleet did not sail until 22 October. Their arrival off the Philippines marked the beginning of 3 major naval battles which formed the Battle for Leyte Gulf. Australian vessels were involved in Battles at Surigao Strait, Cape Engaño and Samar Island.
The battle ended in a decisive Allied victory. The Japanese surface fleet was crippled and unable to conduct further offensive action. The liberation of the Philippines was not complete until July 1945.
Battle of Lingayen Gulf
Japanese forces landed at Lingayen Gulf on the north coast of Luzon Island, Philippines, on 22 December 1941. Just two weeks after the raid on Pearl Harbor. By early April 1942, US and Filipino forces had been defeated. The Philippines fell under Japanese occupation.
More than 2 years passed before US forces, with the support of RAN vessels, began the liberation of the Philippines with landings on Leyte island. The Philippines was a key Allied objective. Victory there would sever Japanese communications and drive the enemy from this strategically vital island nation.
After battle of Leyte Gulf, the US’ next objective was the Philippines. Landings took place at Luzon island in the Lingayen Gulf in January 1945. The Lingayen landings were also supported by ships of the RAN, several of which came under attack by Japanese Kamikaze aircraft.
Within 2 months, US forces occupied most of Luzon. Small groups of Japanese troops hid in the island’s mountains until Japan’s surrender in August 1945.
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