Bombing of Darwin 71st Anniversary

Today (19 February 1942) is the 71st anniversary of the first raid of the bombing of Darwin. On 19 February 1942, 188 Japanese planes were launched against Darwin, whose harbour was full of Allied ships.

The first attack lasted approximately forty minutes and the land targets included the Post Office, Telegraph Office, Cable Office and the Postmaster's Residence, where postal workers were killed. The second attack began an hour after the first ended. Heavy bombers attacked the Royal Australian Air Force Base at Parap and lasted about 25 minutes. The two raids killed at least 243 Australians and allies. Almost 400 were wounded. Twenty military aircraft were destroyed, eight ships at anchor in the harbour were sunk and most civil and military facilities in Darwin were destroyed.

There is debate over the number of Japanese aircraft shot down during the air raid on 19 February 1942 - some sources report that two aircraft were shot down, while others state four aircraft were destroyed. From the first raid on 19 February 1942 until the last on 12 November 1943, Australia and its allies lost about 900 people, 77 aircraft and several ships. Many military and civilian facilities were destroyed.

This photograph shows bomb damage to the Darwin Post Office and surrounding buildings.

A memorial ceremony is held annually on 19 February at the Cenotaph in Darwin. It starts at 9:58am, the precise time of the first attack.

Adventure Travel Expo, Melbourne 23rd & 24th February 2013

We will be at the Adventure Travel Expo in Melbourne on the 23rd and 24th February at the Royal Exhibition Building.

We will have some exciting Show Specials on offer - come see us at stand AT65 to find out more!

View our Travel Talks at 11:20am and 3:40pm to find out more about the tours we are offering. You may be lucky and win one of our Spot Prizes!

Bruce McClean,  will be leading the Mount Macedon walk on behalf of the 39th Battalion Assocation on 10th June. The walkers will gather in Bawden Road, Mount Macedon and start upwards at 10:30am.

Walkers should be prepared for inclement weather and have good boots and carry a water bottle and time their arrival to park their cars for 1030am. The track itself is quite steep & exciting in places and is of course a dirt surface.

The walk is planned to be an enjoyable hour or so, to arrive at the Cross for a quick Memorial Service before substantial finger food, tea & coffee at the Top Of The Range Restaurant. $10 per head will get you in.

Kokoda Historical are helping to Light Up the Kokoda Track helping to sponsor an initiative driven by the

Kokoda Track Foundation distributing solar lights to communities along and around the Kokoda Track.

Rob and Allan Kenna, the sons of Ted Kenna VC, and their brother-in-law Ian Day are visiting the region where Ted Kenna won his Victoria Cross medal. Kokoda Historical are honoured to be chosen to operate this tailored tour of the Sepik region in PNG. On 15 May 1945 Ted Kenna singlehandledly engaged and took out two Japanese machine gun posts at Wirui Mission Hill.

On his own initiative Private Kenna stood up in full view of a Japanese machine gun crew who were less than 50 metres away, he continually fired upon the enemy gunner to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. The Japanese returned fire and bullets darted between his arms and his body, Private Kenna continued to fire and when his Bren machine gun ran empty called for a rifle to continue his assault. Kenna killed the gunner with the first round from the rifle. A second machine gun fired at Kenna from a different position and Kenna remained standing and took him out with the second round.

2011 Harry Bould Trek Underway!

Back Row-Liam Trigg, Lauren Harrison, Adele Clydesdale and Mary-Ann Murphy
Front Row Mr Alan 'Kanga' Moore and Mr Norm Joseph

This year’s winners of the 39^th Battalion’s Harry Bould Kokoda Award are setting off this Saturday to once again take the pilgrimage over the Kokoda Track. This year’s winners are Adele Clydesdale and Mary-Ann Murphy. They recently attended a farewell morning tea where they were joined by last year’s winners, Liam trigg and Lauren Harrison.

Harold Bould of “B” Company 39^th Battalion was killed in action on July 29^th 1942, only 3 days after Captain Sam Templeton went missing and only 8 days after the Japanese invasion of Papua New Guinea commenced.

Harry Bould

Harold Bould was a resident of Cardinia and one of 5 brothers, who served Australia in WW2. Harold’s remains were never found and neither were those of the other brother who didn’t come home. Brother Keith serving with the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion was taken prisoner by the Japanese. Keith was being transported from Singapore aboard the Kakuyo Maru, carrying 1317 prisoners back to work in factories in Japan. On the way it was sunk by a US submarine the USS Sea Lion on September 15th 1944.

Local MP Edward O’Donohue has been the driving force behind the success of the 2010/2011awards, his fundraising efforts and the generosity of Cardinia people have ensured that another two students from Cardinia can make the pilgrimage to Kokoda.

If you are a year 10 student in the Cardinia Shire then you too can have the chance to win a trek over the Kokoda Track, simply visit the 39th Battalion Website http://www.39battalion.org/BOULD%20AWARD.pdf