Our War in the Pacific, 1942 - Memorial Box 6

Go back to 1942: a year of momentous air, land and sea battles fought close to Australia’s shores in a desperate attempt to curb the Japanese advance. In the Box you'll explore the fall of Singapore, the Battle of the Coral Sea, Kokoda, and Milne Bay, as well as the guerilla war on Timor and the fate of Australians who became prisoners of the Japanese.

What’s in the Box?

You'll find a treasure-trove of primary source materials including uniform items, badges and medals, photographs and period documents, as well as models and printed resources to help you get the most out of the Box.

Resource Book

Your Box contains a hard copy resource book with case studies and object backgrounders. You can also download a digital copy here:

Ideas for using this Box

• Classify the Box objects according to civilian or soldier use (or by size/weight/material);
• Try on the uniform items and roleplay someone from the time;
• Take turns choosing an object and describing it; others must identify it by the description;
• Plot the locations mentioned in the Box on a map to see where Australians at home were in danger.
• Take a pencil rubbing of the buttons and badges;
• Explore your own family experience of the war and share an item or story with the class;
• Relate the objects and uniforms to the photographs in the Box;
• Ask source analysis questions of the official documents and photos;
• Make up a story based on a photo and act it out;
• Develop a collage based on 'remembrance' using the photos as a stimulus;
• Sequence the photographs to tell a story;
• Take on the persona of someone from the Box, and write a letter to a loved one;

Video demonstration

This short video shows how Memorial staff might interpret Memorial Box items with young learners.

Before you start

• Read over the Memorial Box risk assessment.
• Check the contents of the Box against the enclosed inventory (and again after use). Report any damaged or missing items to your state agent.
• Wear the enclosed gloves when handling the objects and wash the gloves before the box is returned.

Where to get this Box

Memorial Boxes are held by various agents across Australia, and are free to borrow (though freight charges may apply if you have the Box sent to you). Check the list of agents and find the one closest to you.