Martin, Keith James (Warrant Officer Class 1, b.1908 - d.1964)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX66988 Warrant Officer Class 1 Keith James Martin, 2/14 Field Regiment, Darwin, 1942.

Wallet 1 of 1 - Collection consists of three copies of a manuscript titled “Air Raid Red, Darwin, 19 February 1942” by Warrant Officer Class 1 Martin. One copy of the manuscript is handwritten, and two are typed with handwritten annotations.

In his manuscript, Warrant Officer Martin gives an account of the bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942. He discusses the precarious tactical situation, with Singapore having fallen to the Japanese. He writes that, while they were expecting an attack at some point, they were not well equipped for one, with only a few anti-aircraft guns and Lewis guns. He recalls the sight and sound of a Kittyhawk aircraft crashing into the sea after being attacked by two Japanese Zero aircraft, and recounts that a large number of Japanese aircraft flew to Darwin undetected from the south. The aircraft bombed the town, focussing on the ships anchored in the harbour. Warrant Officer Martin describes the destruction, and the death of many servicemen who were not able to escape the wreckages of their ships. He says that while the Japanese destroyed Darwin, they did not destroy the morale of its troops.