2001 History Conference - Remembering 1941
The Memorial's 2001 conference concentrated on the naval, air and land campaigns in which Australians fought in 1941. The conference was held on Saturday 8 December 2001in the Telstra Theatre, Australian War Memorial.
Background
On 3 January 1941 the 6th Australian Division went into action at Bardia on the border between Libya and Egypt. Australia had been at war for more than a year but this was the army's first battle and beginning of more than four years of fighting.
Throughout 1941 the army fought along the length of the Mediterranean, from the siege of Tobruk to the ill-fated campaigns in Greece and Crete and bloody success in Syria and Lebanon. While the army's service was confined to the Mediterranean, Australian airmen served more widely. Many flew in support of Australian units in Tobruk and the Middle East, but others flew with Coastal or Bomber Command from bases in Britain.
For the Royal Australian Navy 1941 was a difficult year which saw some successes, most notably in the battle of Matapan off Crete, but which ended in tragedy with the sinking of HMAS Sydney off Western Australia. The year that began with victory at Bardia ended in fear and uncertainty for Australians.
On the last day of 1941 Australian troops were deployed to the continent's north, from Singapore to Rabaul, where they prepared to face a new threat from Japan. The conference will take participants through the events of the year in which the war became truly global.
Conference Papers
| Speaker | Topic |
|---|---|
| Mr Alec Hill | Remembering 1941 |
| Prof. David Horner | Command and strategy |
| Mr Joe Straczek | Royal Australian Navy |
| Mr Ric Pelvin | Royal Australian Navy in the Mediterranean |
| Dr John Moremon | Preparing for battle - 6th Division |
| Mr Garth Pratten | Tobruk |
| Mr Brad Manera | Crete |
| Ms Kate Potter | Prisoners of the Germans and Italians |
| Dr Mark Johnston | Fighting the Vichy French |
| Dr Alan Stephens | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Alastair Cooper | Raiders and the Defence of Trade: The Royal Australian Navy in 1941 |
Notes on speakers
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