Anniversary talks

A series of talks held beside the Memorial's Roll of Honour. The talks were initiated in 2002 to mark the anniversary of the many significant events of 1942. The successful series of talks continued throughout 2003.

• 2–4 March 1943, the battle of the Bismarck Sea
• 30 April 1915, Australian submarine, AE2
• 6 June 1944, D-Day
• 13 September 1943, Private Richard Kelliher: valour in the Markham Valley
• 15 September 1940, the battle of Britain

Remembering 1942

Sixty years ago Australia was at war: in North Africa, over Europe, in south-east Asia, on the seas across the world, and in Australia itself. 1942 was a decisive year for Australia and for the war. It began with the Axis powers triumphant in Russia and Asia. Then, in a series of battles in Stalingrad, Alamein, Papua, and Guadalcanal, the initiative shifted to the Allies. In 1942 Japan conquered south-east Asia and Australia came under attack, until its forces held and defeated the Japanese in Papua New Guinea.

Using documents and photographs drawn from its collection and introduced by its historians, the Memorial remembers Australia's war in 1942:

• 26 January 1942, the defence of the "Malay barrier": Rabaul and Ambon
• 15 February 1942, the fall of Singapore
• 19 February 1942, the bombing of Darwin
• 20-23 February 1942, the battles on Timor
• 1 March 1942, the loss of HMAS Perth
• 4 March 1942 , the loss of HMAS Yarra
• 9 April 1942, the sinking of HMAS Vampire
• 31 May 1942, Sydney under attack: Japanese Midget submarine
• 1 July 1942, the sinking of the Montevideo Maru
• 26–27 July 1942, Ruin Ridge
• 9 August 1942, the loss of HMAS Canberra
• 5 September 1942, Milne Bay
• 23 October 1942, the battle of El Alamein
• 1 November 1942, the end of the Kokoda campaign
• 1 December 1942, HMAS Armidale

For schools

Activities for students based on the events of 1942.

Australian Military History Conference, 2002

The Memorial's Remembering 1942 history conference was held on Friday 31 May and Saturday 1 June 2002.