The 70th anniversary of the Second World War events of 1942— ‘Australia’s perilous year’: April to December

Australian troops at Milne Bay, Papua, October 1942;
image source: Australian War Memorial

On 19 February 2012, the 70th anniversary of the first bombing of Darwin, Prime Minister Julia Gillard described 1942 as ‘the darkest year in Australia’s history’. Throughout 2012, 70th anniversary commemorations will be held for some of the most crucial events in Australian military history.

Following on from a previous post noting some of the important 70th anniversaries occurring in February and March, this post highlights important anniversaries from April to December 2012. Details of special 70th anniversary commemorative events are included where they are known, but all the incidents discussed below are commemorated in some way every year.

The 70th anniversary of the Second World War events of 1942— ‘Australia’s perilous year’: February and March



Image source: National Library of Australia

'For there can be no doubt that 1942 was for Australia—as a nation and as a people—the most important single year of all those two hundred [since White settlement].

It was the turning point in the making of modern Australia. In the fire of that tremendous crisis were forged all the elements which have shaped our national life and destiny, to this day.

...

Above all, 1942 was the year in which Australians first achieved a genuine sense of national identity and national unity.'

This is how Prime Minister Bob Hawke described the historical significance of 1942 for Australia in the Forward to a special 1988 edition of the Defence Force Journal entitled ‘Australia’s perilous year’.