Welcome to the Military history of Australia portal!
The military history of Australia spans the nation's 230-year modern history, from the early
Australian frontier wars between
Aboriginal people and
Europeans to the ongoing conflicts in
Iraq and
Afghanistan in the early 21st century. Although this history is short when compared to that of many other nations, Australia has been involved in numerous conflicts and wars, and war and military service have been significant influences on Australian society and national identity, including the
Anzac spirit. The relationship between war and Australian society has also been shaped by the enduring themes of Australian strategic culture and the unique security challenges it faces.
The six British colonies in Australia participated in some of Britain's wars of the 19th century. In the early 20th century, as a federated dominion and later as an independent nation, Australia fought in the First World War and Second World War, as well as in the wars in
Korea,
Malaya,
Borneo and
Vietnam during the
Cold War. In the Post-Vietnam era Australian forces have been involved in numerous international
peacekeeping missions, through the
United Nations and other agencies, including in the
Sinai,
Persian Gulf,
Rwanda,
Somalia,
East Timor and the Solomon Islands, as well as many overseas humanitarian relief operations, while more recently they have also fought as part of multi-lateral forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. In total, nearly 103,000 Australians died during these conflicts. (Full article...)
Air Vice MarshalFrancis Hubert (Frank) McNamara, VC,CB,CBE (4 April 1894 – 2 November 1961) was an
Australian recipient of the
Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to a member of the British and
Commonwealth forces. Serving with the
Australian Flying Corps, he was honoured for his actions on 20 March 1917, when he rescued a fellow pilot who had been forced down behind enemy lines. McNamara was the first Australian aviator—and the only one in World War I—to receive the Victoria Cross. He later became a senior commander in the
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Born and educated in
Victoria, McNamara was a teacher when he joined the
militia prior to World War I. In 1915, he was selected for pilot training at
Central Flying School,
Point Cook, and transferred to the Australian Flying Corps the following year. He was based in the
Middle Eastern Theatre with
No. 1 Squadron when he earned the Victoria Cross. In 1921, McNamara enlisted as a
flying officer in the newly formed RAAF, rising to the rank of air vice marshal by 1942. He held senior posts in England and
Aden during World War II. Retiring from the Air Force in 1946, McNamara continued to live in Britain until his death from heart failure in 1961. (Full article...)
Alfred John Shout, VC,MC (8 August 1882 – 11 August 1915) was a New Zealand–born soldier and an
Australian recipient of the
Victoria Cross (VC), the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" awarded to members of the British and
Commonwealth armed forces. Shout was posthumously awarded the VC for his actions at
Lone Pine in August 1915, during the
Gallipoli campaign of the
First World War. After
Ottoman forces had counterattacked and seized a large stretch of the Australians' front line, Shout gathered a small party of men and charged down one trench throwing
bombs. He killed eight Turkish soldiers, and managed to clear others to retake the trench. In a similar action later that day, and supported by another officer, he recaptured further ground amid hard fighting. In the final push forward, Shout simultaneously lit three bombs to lob at the enemy. He successfully threw two, but just as the third left his hand it detonated. Shout was grievously wounded; he died two days later.
Born in
Wellington, Shout had served in the
Second Boer War as a teenager. He rose to
sergeant and was
mentioned in despatches for saving a wounded man before being discharged in 1902. He remained in South Africa for the next five years, serving as an artilleryman in the
Cape Colonial Forces from 1903. With his Australian-born wife and their daughter, Shout immigrated to
Sydney in 1907. The family settled in
Darlington, where Shout worked for
Resch's Brewery as a carpenter and
joiner. He was also active in the part-time
Citizens' Forces, being
commissioned just prior to the outbreak of the First World War. In August 1914, he joined in the
Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for active service overseas and was appointed a
lieutenant in the
1st Battalion. After training in Egypt, he took part in the
Anzac landings at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. For his leadership during the invasion and its immediate aftermath, Shout was awarded the
Military Cross and later mentioned in despatches. Shout's three gallantry awards at Gallipoli made him the most highly decorated member of the AIF for the campaign. (Full article...)
Image 5
Captain Stanley Savige of the Australian Imperial Force, 1918
In March 1915, after the outbreak of the First World War, Savige enlisted in the
First Australian Imperial Force. He served in the ranks during the
Gallipoli Campaign, and received a
commission. He later served on the
Western Front, where he was twice recommended for the Military Cross for bravery. In 1918, he joined
Dunsterforce and served in the
Caucasus Campaign, during which he was instrumental in protecting thousands of
Assyrian refugees. He subsequently wrote a book, Stalky's Forlorn Hope, about his experiences. After the war he played a key role in the establishment of
Legacy Australia, the war widows and orphans benefit fund. (Full article...)
The Battle of Morotai, part of the
Pacific War, began on 15 September 1944, and continued until the end of the war in August 1945. The fighting started when United States and Australian forces landed on the southwest corner of
Morotai, a small island in the
Netherlands East Indies (NEI), which the
Allies needed as a base to support the
liberation of the Philippines later that year. The invading forces greatly outnumbered the island's
Japanese defenders and secured their objectives in two weeks. Japanese reinforcements landed on the island between September and November, but lacked the supplies needed to effectively attack the Allied defensive perimeter. Intermittent fighting continued until the end of the war, with the Japanese troops suffering heavy loss of life from disease and starvation.
Morotai's development into an Allied base began shortly after the landing, and two major airfields were ready for use in October. These and other base facilities played an important role in the
Liberation of the Philippines during 1944 and 1945. Torpedo boats and aircraft based at Morotai also harassed Japanese positions in the NEI. The island's base facilities were further expanded in 1945 to support the Australian-led
Borneo Campaign, and Morotai remained an important logistical hub and command center until the Dutch reestablished their colonial rule in the NEI. (Full article...)
Born in
Benalla, Victoria, Waller entered the
Royal Australian Naval College aged thirteen. After graduating, he served with the
Royal Navy in the closing stages of World War I. Between the wars, he specialised in communications and was posted as signals officer to several British and Australian warships. He gained his first seagoing command in 1937, as captain of the destroyer
HMS Brazen. In September 1939, he took command of HMAS Stuart and four other obsolete destroyers that together became known as the "
Scrap Iron Flotilla". In 1940, these were augmented by other ships to form the
10th Destroyer Flotilla, supporting Allied troops in
North Africa. (Full article...)
Image 8
Major Harry Murray, November 1917
Henry William Murray, VC,CMG,DSO &
Bar,DCM (1 December 1880 – 7 January 1966) was an Australian
grazier, soldier, and
a recipient of the
Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and
Commonwealth armed forces. Decorated several times throughout his service in the First World War, Murray rose from the rank of
private to
lieutenant colonel in three and a half years. He is often described as the most highly decorated infantry soldier of the
British Empire during the First World War.
Born in
Tasmania, Murray worked as a farmer, courier and timber cutter before enlisting in September 1914. Assigned to a machine gun crew, he served during the
Gallipoli Campaign, where he was awarded the
Distinguished Conduct Medal before the withdrawal from the peninsula. He was later transferred along with the rest of his battalion to France for service on the
Western Front, where he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order during the
Battle of the Somme. In February 1917, Murray commanded a company during the battalion's attack on the German position of Stormy Trench. During the engagement, the company was able to capture the position and repulse three fierce counter-attacks, with Murray often leading bayonet and bombing charges himself. For his actions during the battle, Murray was awarded the Victoria Cross. Soon after his Victoria Cross action, he was promoted to major and earned a
Bar to his Distinguished Service Order during an attack on the
Hindenburg Line near
Bullecourt. Promoted to lieutenant colonel in early 1918, he assumed command of the
4th Machine Gun Battalion, where he would remain until the end of the war. (Full article...)
No. 79 Squadron is a
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
flight training unit that has been formed on four occasions since 1943. The
squadron was established in May 1943 as a
fighter unit equipped with
Supermarine Spitfires, and subsequently saw combat in the
South West Pacific theatre of World War II. Between June 1943 and the end of the war in August 1945 it flew air defence patrols to protect
Allied bases and ships, escorted Australian and United States aircraft, and attacked
Japanese positions. The squadron was disbanded in November 1945, but was re-formed between 1962 and 1968 to operate
CAC Sabres from
Ubon Air Base in Thailand. In this role it contributed to the
defence of Thailand against a feared attack from its neighbouring states and exercised with
United States Air Force units. No. 79 Squadron was active again at
RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaysia between 1986 and 1988 where it operated
Mirage III fighters and a single
DHC-4 Caribou transport during the period in which the RAAF's fighter squadrons were transitioning to new aircraft.
The squadron was re-formed in its present incarnation during 1998 and is currently stationed at
RAAF Base Pearce, where it has operated
Hawk 127 jet training aircraft since 2000. The unit's main role is to provide introductory jet aircraft training to RAAF pilots as well as refresher training on the Hawk for experienced pilots. No. 79 Squadron also supports
Australian Army and
Royal Australian Navy training exercises in
Western Australia and the
Northern Territory. (Full article...)
The first conflict took place several months after the landing of the
First Fleet in January 1788, and the last conflicts occurred in the early 20th century following the
federation of the Australian colonies in 1901, with some occurring as late as 1934. Conflicts occurred in a number of locations across Australia. (Full article...)
The New Guinea campaign of the
Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until the end of the war in August 1945. During the initial phase in early 1942, the
Empire of Japan invaded the
Territory of New Guinea on 23 January and
Territory of Papua on 21 July and overran western New Guinea (part of the
Netherlands East Indies) beginning on 29 March. During the second phase, lasting from late 1942 until the Japanese surrender, the
Allies—consisting primarily of Australian forces—cleared the Japanese first from Papua, then New Guinea, and finally from the Dutch colony.
The campaign resulted in a crushing defeat and heavy losses for the Empire of Japan. As in most Pacific War campaigns, disease and starvation claimed more Japanese lives than enemy action. Most Japanese troops never even came into contact with Allied forces and were instead simply cut off and subjected to an effective blockade by Allied naval forces. Garrisons were effectively besieged and denied shipments of food and medical supplies, and as a result some claim that 97% of Japanese deaths in this campaign were from non-combat causes. According to
John Laffin, the campaign "was arguably the most arduous fought by any Allied troops during
World War II." (Full article...)
The CAC Wackett Trainer was the first aircraft type designed in-house by the
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation of
Australia. The name was derived from its designer
Lawrence Wackett. "In acknowledgement of the CAC Manager's enormous contribution, the RAAF were to call the aircraft the Wackett Trainer" (although often referred to as simply the Wackett) (Full article...)
Image 6
The Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) is an
over-the-horizon radar (OHR) network operated by
Royal Australian Air Force that can monitor air and sea movements across 37,000 square kilometres (14,000 sq mi). It has a normal operating range of 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) to 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi). It is used in the defence of
Australia, and can also monitor maritime operations, wave heights and wind directions.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, an escalating conflict between the
British Empire and the Boer republics of southern Africa, led to the outbreak of the
Second Boer War, which lasted from 11 October 1899, until 31 May 1902. In a show of support for the empire, the governments of the self-governing British colonies of
Canada,
New Zealand,
Natal,
Cape Colony and the
six Australian colonies all offered men to participate in the conflict. The Australian contingents, numbering over 16,000 men, were the largest contribution from the Empire, and a further 7,000 Australian men served with other colonial or irregular units. At least 60 Australian women also served in the conflict as nurses. (Full article...)
After the
landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, Simpson used donkeys to provide first aid and carry wounded soldiers to the beach, from where they could be evacuated. He continued this work for three and a half weeks – often under fire – until he was killed by machine-gun fire during the
third attack on Anzac Cove. Simpson and his donkey have become part of the
Anzac legend. (Full article...)
The above map shows how the network of fortresses defended the approaches to Hobart. The shaded white areas show the effective range of the fort's gun positions.
The Hobart coastal defences are a network of now defunct
coastal batteries, some of which are inter-linked with
tunnels, that were designed and built by British
colonial authorities in the nineteenth century to protect the city of
Hobart,
Tasmania, from attack by enemy
warships. During the nineteenth century, the port of Hobart Town was a vital re-supply stop for international shipping and trade, and therefore a major freight hub for the
British Empire. As such, it was considered vital that the colony be protected. In all, between 1804 and 1942 there were 12 permanent defensive positions constructed in the Hobart region.
Prior to
Australian Federation, the island of Tasmania was a
colony of the British Empire, and as such was often at war with Britain's enemies and European rivals, such as France and later Russia. The British had already established the colony of Sydney at
Port Jackson in
New South Wales in 1788, but soon began to consider the island of Tasmania as the potential site of a useful second colony. It was an island, cut off from the mainland of Australia and isolated geographically, making it ideal for a
penal colony, and was rich in timber, a resource useful to the
Royal Navy. In 1803, the British authorities decided to
colonise Tasmania, and to establish a permanent settlement on the island that was at the time known as
Van Diemen's Land, primarily to prevent the French from doing so. During this period tensions between Great Britain and France remained high. The two nations had been fighting the
French Revolutionary Wars with each other through much of the 1790s, and would soon be engaging each other again in the
Napoleonic Wars. (Full article...)
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Good articles, which meet a core set of high editorial standards.
Image 1
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the
reserve units of the
Australian Army. Since the
Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the Australian Military Forces. In 1980, however, the current name—Australian Army Reserve—was officially adopted, and it now consists of a number of components based around the level of commitment and training obligation that its members are required to meet. (Full article...)
Image 2
A member of RAAF Transport Flight (Japan) on a visit to Australian forces serving on the
Korean Armistice line looks across the demilitarised zone towards Communist positions
The General Dynamics F-111C (nicknamed the "Pig") is a variant of the
F-111 Aardvark medium-range
interdictor and
tactical strike aircraft, developed by
General Dynamics to meet Australian requirements. The design was based on the F-111A model but included longer wings and strengthened undercarriage. The Australian government ordered 24 F-111Cs to equip the
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1963, but the aircraft were not delivered until 1973 because of long-running technical problems. During 1979 and 1980 four of these aircraft were converted to the RF-111C reconnaissance variant. Four ex–
United States Air Force (USAF) F-111As were purchased by Australia and converted to F-111C standard in 1982 to replace F-111Cs destroyed during accidents. Australia also operated 15 F-111Gs between 1993 and 2007, mainly for conversion training. The RAAF retired its remaining F-111Cs in December 2010. In Australian military and aviation circles, the F-111 Aardvark was affectionately known as the "Pig", due to its long snout and
terrain-following ability.
The F-111Cs gave the RAAF a powerful strike capability but were never used in combat. The aircraft went through modernization programs in the 1980s and 1990s, and the RAAF acquired improved weapons to maintain their ability to penetrate hostile airspace. Despite this, by the 2000s the F-111Cs were becoming outdated and expensive to maintain, leading to a decision to retire them in 2010 rather than 2020 as originally planned. The F-111s were replaced by 24
Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets pending delivery of
F-35 Lightning IIs in development. (Full article...)
Image 4
The demobilisation of the Australian military after World War II involved
discharging almost 600,000 men and women from the
military, supporting their transition to civilian life and reducing the three armed services to peacetime strengths. Planning for the demobilisation process began in 1942 and thousands of servicemen and women were discharged in the last years of the war in response to shortages of labour in the domestic war economy. The general demobilisation of the military began in October 1945 and was completed in February 1947. The demobilisation process was largely successful, but some military personnel stationed in the South West Pacific complained that their repatriation to Australia was too slow.
The disposal of surplus military equipment took place at the same time as the size of the services was being reduced. The disposal process was managed to limit its economic impact. Most equipment was transferred to other government agencies, sold or destroyed by the end of 1949. (Full article...)
In
Australia, the outbreak of
World War I was greeted with considerable enthusiasm. Even before
Britain declared war on
Germany on 4 August 1914, the nation pledged its support alongside other states of the
British Empire and almost immediately began preparations to send forces overseas to engage in the conflict. The first campaign that Australians were involved in was in
German New Guinea after a hastily raised force known as the
Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force was dispatched in September 1914 from Australia and seized and held German possessions in the Pacific. At the same time another expeditionary force, initially consisting of 20,000 men and known as the
First Australian Imperial Force (AIF), was raised for service overseas.
The AIF departed Australia in November 1914 and, after several delays due to the presence of German naval vessels in the Indian Ocean,
arrived in Egypt, where they were initially used to defend the
Suez Canal. In early 1915, it was decided to carry out an amphibious landing on the
Gallipoli peninsula with the goal of opening up a
second front and securing the passage of the
Dardanelles. The Australians and
New Zealanders, grouped together as the
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), went ashore on 25 April 1915 and for the next eight months the Anzacs, alongside their British, French and other allies, fought a costly and ultimately unsuccessful campaign against the
Turks. (Full article...)
Image 7
Damaged phosphate cantilever loading equipment following the German bombardment of Nauru on 27 December 1940
The German attacks on Nauru refers to the two attacks on Nauru in December 1940.
Nauru is an
island country in
Micronesia, a subregion of
Oceania, in the
Central Pacific. These attacks were conducted by
auxiliary cruisers between 6 and 8 December and on 27 December. The raiders sank five
Allied merchant ships and inflicted serious damage on
Nauru's economically important
phosphate-loading facilities. Despite the significance of the island to the
Australian and
New Zealand economies, Nauru was not defended and the German force did not suffer any losses.
The two attacks were the most effective operations conducted by German raiders in the
Pacific Ocean in
World War II. They disrupted supplies of phosphate to Australia, New Zealand and Japan, which reduced agricultural production in these countries. In response, Allied naval vessels were deployed to protect Nauru and nearby
Ocean Island and escort shipping in the South Pacific. Small garrisons were also established to protect the two islands. (Full article...)
Image 8
Australian soldiers from 6 RAR being picked up by helicopter during Operation Bribie, 17 February 1967.
Operation Bribie (17–18 February 1967), also known as the Battle of Ap My An, was fought during the
Vietnam War in
Phuoc Tuy province between
Australian forces from the
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) and two
companies of
Viet Cong from
D445 Battalion, likely reinforced by
North Vietnamese regulars. During the night of 16 February the Viet Cong attacked a
South Vietnamese Regional Force compound at Lang Phuoc Hai, before withdrawing the following morning after heavy fighting with South Vietnamese forces. Two hours later, a Viet Cong company was reported to have formed a tight perimeter in the rainforest 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of Lang Phuoc Hai, near the abandoned hamlet of Ap My An. In response, the Australians deployed a quick reaction force. Anticipating that the Viet Cong would attempt to withdraw, as they had during previous encounters, forces from the
1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) were inserted to block the likely withdrawal route in the hope of intercepting and destroying them.
On the afternoon of 17 February, American
UH-1 Iroquois helicopters and
M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) deployed 6 RAR into the area north-west of Hoi My. Following an airmobile assault into an unsecured landing zone at 13:45, A Company 6 RAR was surprised by a strong, well-sited and dug-in Viet Cong force – which, rather than withdrawing, had likely remained in location in an attempt to ambush any reaction force sent to the area. The Australians were soon contacted by heavy small arms fire, with a third of the lead platoon falling wounded in the initial volleys. A Company subsequently broke contact and withdrew under heavy fire from what appeared to be a Viet Cong base area. Initially believing they were opposed by only a company, 6 RAR subsequently launched a quick attack by two companies. However, unknown to the Australians, the Viet Cong had been reinforced and they now faced a
battalion-sized force in well prepared positions. (Full article...)
Image 9
Australian engineers move up the escarpment south of the Hongorai River in May 1945. Engineers played a vital part in the Australian advance.
The initial phase saw the Australians advance towards the
Hongorai River. Following the end of the early fighting, the Australian advance towards the main Japanese concentration at
Buin continued as they struck out towards the Hari and Mivo Rivers. This continued until torrential rain and flooding brought the advance to a halt short of the objective, washing away many bridges and roads upon which the Australians relied for supplies. As the Australian advance stalled, the Japanese began harassing the Australian
line of communications, and as the rain stopped and the flooding subsided in late-July and into August, the Australians began making preparations to resume the advance towards Buin again. Ultimately, though, the war came to an end before the final Australian advance began, bringing the campaign to an end. (Full article...)
Image 10
Colour Patch of HQ 1st Armoured Brigade
The 1st Armoured Brigade was a formation of the
Australian Army during
World War II. The brigade was formed in July 1941, at
Greta,
New South Wales from volunteers for the
Second Australian Imperial Force and was assigned to the
1st Armoured Division. Raised initially for service in the
Middle East, following
Japan's entry into the war, the brigade was assigned to the defence of Australia in case of an invasion. After garrison duties in New South Wales and
Western Australia, it was disbanded in November 1944 without seeing active service, although some of its former units saw action later with other formations.
It was re-raised in the postwar period, serving in the
Citizens Military Force between 1948 and 1957. During this period, the brigade was based in New South Wales and formed part of
Eastern Command. The brigade's headquarters was broken up when the Australian Army determined that there was no need for large-scale armoured formations as the focus shifted to jungle operations and close infantry-armoured cooperation. Its constituent units were subsequently dispersed to other formations. (Full article...)
Image 21Australian sailors take possession of a midget submarine at a Japanese naval base near Tokyo in September 1945. (from History of the Royal Australian Navy)
Image 31The light cruiser
HMAS Hobart showing torpedo damage inflicted by a Japanese submarine on 20 July 1943. Hobart did not return to service until December 1944. (from History of the Royal Australian Navy)
Image 73Women friends and family on the wharf waving farewell to the departing troop ship RMS Strathallan carrying the Advance Party of the 6th Division to service overseas. They include
George Alan Vasey's wife
Jessie Vasey (second from the left). The photograph is especially poignant because Vasey did not survive the war. (from Military history of Australia during World War II)
The 2/7th Armoured Regiment was an
Australian Army armoured regiment of
World War II. The Regiment was formed in August 1941 as part of the
1st Armoured Division. It was equipped with
Universal Carriers and wheeled vehicles in December 1941 and received its allocation of
M3 Grant tanks in June 1942. During January to March 1943 the 2/7th Armoured Regiment moved to Mingenew, West Australia with the rest of the 1st Armoured Division. The Regiment became part of the 1st Armoured Brigade Group when the Division was disbanded in September 1943 but was itself disbanded in January 1944 without seeing action.
Welcome to the Military history of Australia portal!
The military history of Australia spans the nation's 230-year modern history, from the early
Australian frontier wars between
Aboriginal people and
Europeans to the ongoing conflicts in
Iraq and
Afghanistan in the early 21st century. Although this history is short when compared to that of many other nations, Australia has been involved in numerous conflicts and wars, and war and military service have been significant influences on Australian society and national identity, including the
Anzac spirit. The relationship between war and Australian society has also been shaped by the enduring themes of Australian strategic culture and the unique security challenges it faces.
The six British colonies in Australia participated in some of Britain's wars of the 19th century. In the early 20th century, as a federated dominion and later as an independent nation, Australia fought in the First World War and Second World War, as well as in the wars in
Korea,
Malaya,
Borneo and
Vietnam during the
Cold War. In the Post-Vietnam era Australian forces have been involved in numerous international
peacekeeping missions, through the
United Nations and other agencies, including in the
Sinai,
Persian Gulf,
Rwanda,
Somalia,
East Timor and the Solomon Islands, as well as many overseas humanitarian relief operations, while more recently they have also fought as part of multi-lateral forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. In total, nearly 103,000 Australians died during these conflicts. (Full article...)
Air Vice MarshalFrancis Hubert (Frank) McNamara, VC,CB,CBE (4 April 1894 – 2 November 1961) was an
Australian recipient of the
Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to a member of the British and
Commonwealth forces. Serving with the
Australian Flying Corps, he was honoured for his actions on 20 March 1917, when he rescued a fellow pilot who had been forced down behind enemy lines. McNamara was the first Australian aviator—and the only one in World War I—to receive the Victoria Cross. He later became a senior commander in the
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Born and educated in
Victoria, McNamara was a teacher when he joined the
militia prior to World War I. In 1915, he was selected for pilot training at
Central Flying School,
Point Cook, and transferred to the Australian Flying Corps the following year. He was based in the
Middle Eastern Theatre with
No. 1 Squadron when he earned the Victoria Cross. In 1921, McNamara enlisted as a
flying officer in the newly formed RAAF, rising to the rank of air vice marshal by 1942. He held senior posts in England and
Aden during World War II. Retiring from the Air Force in 1946, McNamara continued to live in Britain until his death from heart failure in 1961. (Full article...)
Alfred John Shout, VC,MC (8 August 1882 – 11 August 1915) was a New Zealand–born soldier and an
Australian recipient of the
Victoria Cross (VC), the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" awarded to members of the British and
Commonwealth armed forces. Shout was posthumously awarded the VC for his actions at
Lone Pine in August 1915, during the
Gallipoli campaign of the
First World War. After
Ottoman forces had counterattacked and seized a large stretch of the Australians' front line, Shout gathered a small party of men and charged down one trench throwing
bombs. He killed eight Turkish soldiers, and managed to clear others to retake the trench. In a similar action later that day, and supported by another officer, he recaptured further ground amid hard fighting. In the final push forward, Shout simultaneously lit three bombs to lob at the enemy. He successfully threw two, but just as the third left his hand it detonated. Shout was grievously wounded; he died two days later.
Born in
Wellington, Shout had served in the
Second Boer War as a teenager. He rose to
sergeant and was
mentioned in despatches for saving a wounded man before being discharged in 1902. He remained in South Africa for the next five years, serving as an artilleryman in the
Cape Colonial Forces from 1903. With his Australian-born wife and their daughter, Shout immigrated to
Sydney in 1907. The family settled in
Darlington, where Shout worked for
Resch's Brewery as a carpenter and
joiner. He was also active in the part-time
Citizens' Forces, being
commissioned just prior to the outbreak of the First World War. In August 1914, he joined in the
Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for active service overseas and was appointed a
lieutenant in the
1st Battalion. After training in Egypt, he took part in the
Anzac landings at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. For his leadership during the invasion and its immediate aftermath, Shout was awarded the
Military Cross and later mentioned in despatches. Shout's three gallantry awards at Gallipoli made him the most highly decorated member of the AIF for the campaign. (Full article...)
Image 5
Captain Stanley Savige of the Australian Imperial Force, 1918
In March 1915, after the outbreak of the First World War, Savige enlisted in the
First Australian Imperial Force. He served in the ranks during the
Gallipoli Campaign, and received a
commission. He later served on the
Western Front, where he was twice recommended for the Military Cross for bravery. In 1918, he joined
Dunsterforce and served in the
Caucasus Campaign, during which he was instrumental in protecting thousands of
Assyrian refugees. He subsequently wrote a book, Stalky's Forlorn Hope, about his experiences. After the war he played a key role in the establishment of
Legacy Australia, the war widows and orphans benefit fund. (Full article...)
The Battle of Morotai, part of the
Pacific War, began on 15 September 1944, and continued until the end of the war in August 1945. The fighting started when United States and Australian forces landed on the southwest corner of
Morotai, a small island in the
Netherlands East Indies (NEI), which the
Allies needed as a base to support the
liberation of the Philippines later that year. The invading forces greatly outnumbered the island's
Japanese defenders and secured their objectives in two weeks. Japanese reinforcements landed on the island between September and November, but lacked the supplies needed to effectively attack the Allied defensive perimeter. Intermittent fighting continued until the end of the war, with the Japanese troops suffering heavy loss of life from disease and starvation.
Morotai's development into an Allied base began shortly after the landing, and two major airfields were ready for use in October. These and other base facilities played an important role in the
Liberation of the Philippines during 1944 and 1945. Torpedo boats and aircraft based at Morotai also harassed Japanese positions in the NEI. The island's base facilities were further expanded in 1945 to support the Australian-led
Borneo Campaign, and Morotai remained an important logistical hub and command center until the Dutch reestablished their colonial rule in the NEI. (Full article...)
Born in
Benalla, Victoria, Waller entered the
Royal Australian Naval College aged thirteen. After graduating, he served with the
Royal Navy in the closing stages of World War I. Between the wars, he specialised in communications and was posted as signals officer to several British and Australian warships. He gained his first seagoing command in 1937, as captain of the destroyer
HMS Brazen. In September 1939, he took command of HMAS Stuart and four other obsolete destroyers that together became known as the "
Scrap Iron Flotilla". In 1940, these were augmented by other ships to form the
10th Destroyer Flotilla, supporting Allied troops in
North Africa. (Full article...)
Image 8
Major Harry Murray, November 1917
Henry William Murray, VC,CMG,DSO &
Bar,DCM (1 December 1880 – 7 January 1966) was an Australian
grazier, soldier, and
a recipient of the
Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and
Commonwealth armed forces. Decorated several times throughout his service in the First World War, Murray rose from the rank of
private to
lieutenant colonel in three and a half years. He is often described as the most highly decorated infantry soldier of the
British Empire during the First World War.
Born in
Tasmania, Murray worked as a farmer, courier and timber cutter before enlisting in September 1914. Assigned to a machine gun crew, he served during the
Gallipoli Campaign, where he was awarded the
Distinguished Conduct Medal before the withdrawal from the peninsula. He was later transferred along with the rest of his battalion to France for service on the
Western Front, where he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order during the
Battle of the Somme. In February 1917, Murray commanded a company during the battalion's attack on the German position of Stormy Trench. During the engagement, the company was able to capture the position and repulse three fierce counter-attacks, with Murray often leading bayonet and bombing charges himself. For his actions during the battle, Murray was awarded the Victoria Cross. Soon after his Victoria Cross action, he was promoted to major and earned a
Bar to his Distinguished Service Order during an attack on the
Hindenburg Line near
Bullecourt. Promoted to lieutenant colonel in early 1918, he assumed command of the
4th Machine Gun Battalion, where he would remain until the end of the war. (Full article...)
No. 79 Squadron is a
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
flight training unit that has been formed on four occasions since 1943. The
squadron was established in May 1943 as a
fighter unit equipped with
Supermarine Spitfires, and subsequently saw combat in the
South West Pacific theatre of World War II. Between June 1943 and the end of the war in August 1945 it flew air defence patrols to protect
Allied bases and ships, escorted Australian and United States aircraft, and attacked
Japanese positions. The squadron was disbanded in November 1945, but was re-formed between 1962 and 1968 to operate
CAC Sabres from
Ubon Air Base in Thailand. In this role it contributed to the
defence of Thailand against a feared attack from its neighbouring states and exercised with
United States Air Force units. No. 79 Squadron was active again at
RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaysia between 1986 and 1988 where it operated
Mirage III fighters and a single
DHC-4 Caribou transport during the period in which the RAAF's fighter squadrons were transitioning to new aircraft.
The squadron was re-formed in its present incarnation during 1998 and is currently stationed at
RAAF Base Pearce, where it has operated
Hawk 127 jet training aircraft since 2000. The unit's main role is to provide introductory jet aircraft training to RAAF pilots as well as refresher training on the Hawk for experienced pilots. No. 79 Squadron also supports
Australian Army and
Royal Australian Navy training exercises in
Western Australia and the
Northern Territory. (Full article...)
The first conflict took place several months after the landing of the
First Fleet in January 1788, and the last conflicts occurred in the early 20th century following the
federation of the Australian colonies in 1901, with some occurring as late as 1934. Conflicts occurred in a number of locations across Australia. (Full article...)
The New Guinea campaign of the
Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until the end of the war in August 1945. During the initial phase in early 1942, the
Empire of Japan invaded the
Territory of New Guinea on 23 January and
Territory of Papua on 21 July and overran western New Guinea (part of the
Netherlands East Indies) beginning on 29 March. During the second phase, lasting from late 1942 until the Japanese surrender, the
Allies—consisting primarily of Australian forces—cleared the Japanese first from Papua, then New Guinea, and finally from the Dutch colony.
The campaign resulted in a crushing defeat and heavy losses for the Empire of Japan. As in most Pacific War campaigns, disease and starvation claimed more Japanese lives than enemy action. Most Japanese troops never even came into contact with Allied forces and were instead simply cut off and subjected to an effective blockade by Allied naval forces. Garrisons were effectively besieged and denied shipments of food and medical supplies, and as a result some claim that 97% of Japanese deaths in this campaign were from non-combat causes. According to
John Laffin, the campaign "was arguably the most arduous fought by any Allied troops during
World War II." (Full article...)
The CAC Wackett Trainer was the first aircraft type designed in-house by the
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation of
Australia. The name was derived from its designer
Lawrence Wackett. "In acknowledgement of the CAC Manager's enormous contribution, the RAAF were to call the aircraft the Wackett Trainer" (although often referred to as simply the Wackett) (Full article...)
Image 6
The Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) is an
over-the-horizon radar (OHR) network operated by
Royal Australian Air Force that can monitor air and sea movements across 37,000 square kilometres (14,000 sq mi). It has a normal operating range of 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) to 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi). It is used in the defence of
Australia, and can also monitor maritime operations, wave heights and wind directions.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, an escalating conflict between the
British Empire and the Boer republics of southern Africa, led to the outbreak of the
Second Boer War, which lasted from 11 October 1899, until 31 May 1902. In a show of support for the empire, the governments of the self-governing British colonies of
Canada,
New Zealand,
Natal,
Cape Colony and the
six Australian colonies all offered men to participate in the conflict. The Australian contingents, numbering over 16,000 men, were the largest contribution from the Empire, and a further 7,000 Australian men served with other colonial or irregular units. At least 60 Australian women also served in the conflict as nurses. (Full article...)
After the
landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, Simpson used donkeys to provide first aid and carry wounded soldiers to the beach, from where they could be evacuated. He continued this work for three and a half weeks – often under fire – until he was killed by machine-gun fire during the
third attack on Anzac Cove. Simpson and his donkey have become part of the
Anzac legend. (Full article...)
The above map shows how the network of fortresses defended the approaches to Hobart. The shaded white areas show the effective range of the fort's gun positions.
The Hobart coastal defences are a network of now defunct
coastal batteries, some of which are inter-linked with
tunnels, that were designed and built by British
colonial authorities in the nineteenth century to protect the city of
Hobart,
Tasmania, from attack by enemy
warships. During the nineteenth century, the port of Hobart Town was a vital re-supply stop for international shipping and trade, and therefore a major freight hub for the
British Empire. As such, it was considered vital that the colony be protected. In all, between 1804 and 1942 there were 12 permanent defensive positions constructed in the Hobart region.
Prior to
Australian Federation, the island of Tasmania was a
colony of the British Empire, and as such was often at war with Britain's enemies and European rivals, such as France and later Russia. The British had already established the colony of Sydney at
Port Jackson in
New South Wales in 1788, but soon began to consider the island of Tasmania as the potential site of a useful second colony. It was an island, cut off from the mainland of Australia and isolated geographically, making it ideal for a
penal colony, and was rich in timber, a resource useful to the
Royal Navy. In 1803, the British authorities decided to
colonise Tasmania, and to establish a permanent settlement on the island that was at the time known as
Van Diemen's Land, primarily to prevent the French from doing so. During this period tensions between Great Britain and France remained high. The two nations had been fighting the
French Revolutionary Wars with each other through much of the 1790s, and would soon be engaging each other again in the
Napoleonic Wars. (Full article...)
These are
Good articles, which meet a core set of high editorial standards.
Image 1
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the
reserve units of the
Australian Army. Since the
Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the Australian Military Forces. In 1980, however, the current name—Australian Army Reserve—was officially adopted, and it now consists of a number of components based around the level of commitment and training obligation that its members are required to meet. (Full article...)
Image 2
A member of RAAF Transport Flight (Japan) on a visit to Australian forces serving on the
Korean Armistice line looks across the demilitarised zone towards Communist positions
The General Dynamics F-111C (nicknamed the "Pig") is a variant of the
F-111 Aardvark medium-range
interdictor and
tactical strike aircraft, developed by
General Dynamics to meet Australian requirements. The design was based on the F-111A model but included longer wings and strengthened undercarriage. The Australian government ordered 24 F-111Cs to equip the
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1963, but the aircraft were not delivered until 1973 because of long-running technical problems. During 1979 and 1980 four of these aircraft were converted to the RF-111C reconnaissance variant. Four ex–
United States Air Force (USAF) F-111As were purchased by Australia and converted to F-111C standard in 1982 to replace F-111Cs destroyed during accidents. Australia also operated 15 F-111Gs between 1993 and 2007, mainly for conversion training. The RAAF retired its remaining F-111Cs in December 2010. In Australian military and aviation circles, the F-111 Aardvark was affectionately known as the "Pig", due to its long snout and
terrain-following ability.
The F-111Cs gave the RAAF a powerful strike capability but were never used in combat. The aircraft went through modernization programs in the 1980s and 1990s, and the RAAF acquired improved weapons to maintain their ability to penetrate hostile airspace. Despite this, by the 2000s the F-111Cs were becoming outdated and expensive to maintain, leading to a decision to retire them in 2010 rather than 2020 as originally planned. The F-111s were replaced by 24
Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets pending delivery of
F-35 Lightning IIs in development. (Full article...)
Image 4
The demobilisation of the Australian military after World War II involved
discharging almost 600,000 men and women from the
military, supporting their transition to civilian life and reducing the three armed services to peacetime strengths. Planning for the demobilisation process began in 1942 and thousands of servicemen and women were discharged in the last years of the war in response to shortages of labour in the domestic war economy. The general demobilisation of the military began in October 1945 and was completed in February 1947. The demobilisation process was largely successful, but some military personnel stationed in the South West Pacific complained that their repatriation to Australia was too slow.
The disposal of surplus military equipment took place at the same time as the size of the services was being reduced. The disposal process was managed to limit its economic impact. Most equipment was transferred to other government agencies, sold or destroyed by the end of 1949. (Full article...)
In
Australia, the outbreak of
World War I was greeted with considerable enthusiasm. Even before
Britain declared war on
Germany on 4 August 1914, the nation pledged its support alongside other states of the
British Empire and almost immediately began preparations to send forces overseas to engage in the conflict. The first campaign that Australians were involved in was in
German New Guinea after a hastily raised force known as the
Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force was dispatched in September 1914 from Australia and seized and held German possessions in the Pacific. At the same time another expeditionary force, initially consisting of 20,000 men and known as the
First Australian Imperial Force (AIF), was raised for service overseas.
The AIF departed Australia in November 1914 and, after several delays due to the presence of German naval vessels in the Indian Ocean,
arrived in Egypt, where they were initially used to defend the
Suez Canal. In early 1915, it was decided to carry out an amphibious landing on the
Gallipoli peninsula with the goal of opening up a
second front and securing the passage of the
Dardanelles. The Australians and
New Zealanders, grouped together as the
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), went ashore on 25 April 1915 and for the next eight months the Anzacs, alongside their British, French and other allies, fought a costly and ultimately unsuccessful campaign against the
Turks. (Full article...)
Image 7
Damaged phosphate cantilever loading equipment following the German bombardment of Nauru on 27 December 1940
The German attacks on Nauru refers to the two attacks on Nauru in December 1940.
Nauru is an
island country in
Micronesia, a subregion of
Oceania, in the
Central Pacific. These attacks were conducted by
auxiliary cruisers between 6 and 8 December and on 27 December. The raiders sank five
Allied merchant ships and inflicted serious damage on
Nauru's economically important
phosphate-loading facilities. Despite the significance of the island to the
Australian and
New Zealand economies, Nauru was not defended and the German force did not suffer any losses.
The two attacks were the most effective operations conducted by German raiders in the
Pacific Ocean in
World War II. They disrupted supplies of phosphate to Australia, New Zealand and Japan, which reduced agricultural production in these countries. In response, Allied naval vessels were deployed to protect Nauru and nearby
Ocean Island and escort shipping in the South Pacific. Small garrisons were also established to protect the two islands. (Full article...)
Image 8
Australian soldiers from 6 RAR being picked up by helicopter during Operation Bribie, 17 February 1967.
Operation Bribie (17–18 February 1967), also known as the Battle of Ap My An, was fought during the
Vietnam War in
Phuoc Tuy province between
Australian forces from the
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) and two
companies of
Viet Cong from
D445 Battalion, likely reinforced by
North Vietnamese regulars. During the night of 16 February the Viet Cong attacked a
South Vietnamese Regional Force compound at Lang Phuoc Hai, before withdrawing the following morning after heavy fighting with South Vietnamese forces. Two hours later, a Viet Cong company was reported to have formed a tight perimeter in the rainforest 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of Lang Phuoc Hai, near the abandoned hamlet of Ap My An. In response, the Australians deployed a quick reaction force. Anticipating that the Viet Cong would attempt to withdraw, as they had during previous encounters, forces from the
1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) were inserted to block the likely withdrawal route in the hope of intercepting and destroying them.
On the afternoon of 17 February, American
UH-1 Iroquois helicopters and
M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) deployed 6 RAR into the area north-west of Hoi My. Following an airmobile assault into an unsecured landing zone at 13:45, A Company 6 RAR was surprised by a strong, well-sited and dug-in Viet Cong force – which, rather than withdrawing, had likely remained in location in an attempt to ambush any reaction force sent to the area. The Australians were soon contacted by heavy small arms fire, with a third of the lead platoon falling wounded in the initial volleys. A Company subsequently broke contact and withdrew under heavy fire from what appeared to be a Viet Cong base area. Initially believing they were opposed by only a company, 6 RAR subsequently launched a quick attack by two companies. However, unknown to the Australians, the Viet Cong had been reinforced and they now faced a
battalion-sized force in well prepared positions. (Full article...)
Image 9
Australian engineers move up the escarpment south of the Hongorai River in May 1945. Engineers played a vital part in the Australian advance.
The initial phase saw the Australians advance towards the
Hongorai River. Following the end of the early fighting, the Australian advance towards the main Japanese concentration at
Buin continued as they struck out towards the Hari and Mivo Rivers. This continued until torrential rain and flooding brought the advance to a halt short of the objective, washing away many bridges and roads upon which the Australians relied for supplies. As the Australian advance stalled, the Japanese began harassing the Australian
line of communications, and as the rain stopped and the flooding subsided in late-July and into August, the Australians began making preparations to resume the advance towards Buin again. Ultimately, though, the war came to an end before the final Australian advance began, bringing the campaign to an end. (Full article...)
Image 10
Colour Patch of HQ 1st Armoured Brigade
The 1st Armoured Brigade was a formation of the
Australian Army during
World War II. The brigade was formed in July 1941, at
Greta,
New South Wales from volunteers for the
Second Australian Imperial Force and was assigned to the
1st Armoured Division. Raised initially for service in the
Middle East, following
Japan's entry into the war, the brigade was assigned to the defence of Australia in case of an invasion. After garrison duties in New South Wales and
Western Australia, it was disbanded in November 1944 without seeing active service, although some of its former units saw action later with other formations.
It was re-raised in the postwar period, serving in the
Citizens Military Force between 1948 and 1957. During this period, the brigade was based in New South Wales and formed part of
Eastern Command. The brigade's headquarters was broken up when the Australian Army determined that there was no need for large-scale armoured formations as the focus shifted to jungle operations and close infantry-armoured cooperation. Its constituent units were subsequently dispersed to other formations. (Full article...)
Image 21Australian sailors take possession of a midget submarine at a Japanese naval base near Tokyo in September 1945. (from History of the Royal Australian Navy)
Image 31The light cruiser
HMAS Hobart showing torpedo damage inflicted by a Japanese submarine on 20 July 1943. Hobart did not return to service until December 1944. (from History of the Royal Australian Navy)
Image 73Women friends and family on the wharf waving farewell to the departing troop ship RMS Strathallan carrying the Advance Party of the 6th Division to service overseas. They include
George Alan Vasey's wife
Jessie Vasey (second from the left). The photograph is especially poignant because Vasey did not survive the war. (from Military history of Australia during World War II)
The 2/7th Armoured Regiment was an
Australian Army armoured regiment of
World War II. The Regiment was formed in August 1941 as part of the
1st Armoured Division. It was equipped with
Universal Carriers and wheeled vehicles in December 1941 and received its allocation of
M3 Grant tanks in June 1942. During January to March 1943 the 2/7th Armoured Regiment moved to Mingenew, West Australia with the rest of the 1st Armoured Division. The Regiment became part of the 1st Armoured Brigade Group when the Division was disbanded in September 1943 but was itself disbanded in January 1944 without seeing action.