Australians are encouraged to remember the day war came to our shores on the 68th anniversary of the Japanese attacks on Darwin, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, said today. Delivering the commemorative address at a service at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance Mr Griffin said the attacks on Darwin devastated Australia during the Second World War and marked the beginning of the Battle for Australia.

“When the Japanese entered the Second World War in December 1941, they advanced quickly across most of South East Asia and large areas of the Pacific. For Australia this meant the threat of war was suddenly on our doorstep,” Mr Griffin said. “A few months later at 9.58 am, February 19, 1942, the residents of Darwin were going about their day when aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy flew overhead launching an attack."

“Enemy aircraft swept over the town wreaking havoc – killing and injuring service personnel and civilians; destroying the harbour, hospital, post office, airfields and the RAAF base at Parap. Coming just days after the Fall of Singapore the attacks on Darwin and Northern Australia demonstrated the magnitude of the task of defending Australia against the threat of Japanese invasion. More than 240 Australians were killed and hundreds more injured in the initial attacks on Darwin. Twenty military aircraft were destroyed, eight ships beached and many more buildings reduced to rubble, leaving Darwin in ruins.”

Over the next 21 months, until 12 November 1943, Darwin and other areas of the Northern Territory endured more than 80 air raids. Other northern Australian towns suffered enemy attacks but none experienced the repeated air raids that Darwin endured.

“I encourage Australians to take the time today to remember the men and women who have served to protect our shores, those continuing to serve our nation and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in defence of Australia,” he said.

The bombing of Darwin is one of the many wartime events which are commemorated on Battle for Australia Day on the first Wednesday of September each year.