International conference brings renowned historian to Canberra

The Australian War Memorial is pleased to announce that the internationally renowned historian Antony Beevor will deliver the keynote address as the inaugural Australian War Memorial Boeing Visiting Fellow at the conferenceKokoda: beyond the legend.

Boeing Australia has joined with the Memorial by sponsoring Beevor as the inaugural Visiting Fellow.

“The Australian War Memorial celebrates all the values held high by Australians and the Australian Defence Force,” said Ian Thomas, President of Boeing Australia and South Pacific. “The Memorial tells the story of Australia's nationhood, interwoven with tales of heroism, mateship and commitment. It is Boeing's privilege to support such a worthy institution.”

Antony Beevor is known for his award winning historical works, most notably Stalingrad. Other works include D-Day and the recent The Second World War.

To mark the 70th anniversary of the Kokoda and Papuan campaigns in 1942, Kokoda: beyond the legend will seek to reassess the principal battles fought in Papua and discuss the campaign from both an Allied and a Japanese perspective.

“The conference will bring together internationally renowned Second World War military historians from the United States, Britain, and Australia. Speakers will include well-known authors such as Richard B. Frank Edward J. Drea and John B. Lundstrom,” said Karl James, Senior Historian, Australian War Memorial.

Kokoda: beyond the legendwill be held on 6–7 September at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.