| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART41048 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 400 x 540 x 285 cm |
| Object type | Diorama |
| Physical description | Figures: pewter (tin, antimony and zinc); Backgrounds: synthetic polymer paint on fibre glass; Modelling: painted plaster over wood and wire armature with tin, and wood |
| Location | Main Bld: World War 2 Gallery: Gallery 4: Borneo |
| Maker |
Ewers, Ray Jones, Vernon |
| Place made | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne |
| Date made | 1947 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Tarakan, Borneo
Description
This diorama depicts the landing at Tarakan, a small island off the east coast of Borneo, which was undertaken by the 26th Brigade Group, a component of the 9th Australian Division, on 1 May 1945. The principal object was to capture the airfield for development and use in future operations on the mainland. On P-day (the name given to the day of the landing), for an hour and a half, from first light, cruisers and destroyers poured shells into the beach area. Four flights of heavy bombers dropped their bombs along the foreshore to clear the way for the assault battalions. The diorama features the assault battalions, unopposed from the beach itself, moving in through the gaps in the obstacles. Burnt-out oil tanks litter the beach while heavy black smoke in the distance indicates the success of the preliminary bombardment.