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  5. Australia under attack: The end in sight

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Australia under attack: The end in sight

  • Introduction
  • Under attack
  • Mobilisation
  • The End in sight

 

The danger of invasion has passed.
Prime Minister John Curtin, 27 September 1943

The expanding Japanese empire had reached Australian shores in 1942. Japan’s navy had been defeated at sea, and its army on land. In 1943 the campaign to drive them back began.

Throughout the year there were occasional invasion scares, but attacks against northern Australia became less frequent. Many Australians were still serving overseas and their loved ones at home endured their absence and lived in dread of the telegrams that could mean injury or death. While the build-up of Allied personnel around the country added to the feeling of security, the signs of war were still part of daily life. But despite rationing, “brownout” and other austerity measures, the spirit of the community remained buoyant.

At home Australians maintained their maximum effort, no longer for survival, but for victory.

Collection Item C267965

Accession Number: 141905

Miles of munitions” parade, Melbourne, 1943

The end in sight

  • The battle for Australia
  • Love, loss & entertainment
    • Violet and Alan Glover
    • Cheer-Up Society
    • Entertaining the troops
  • The AIF returns
  • The Yanks are here
    • General Douglas MacArthur
    • US navy units in Western Australia
    • Lieutenant “Gus” Winckel
  • The tide turns
  • Remembering

Last updated: 27 November 2019

Explore the Collection

Explore the Collection

Our collection contains a wealth of material to help you research and find your connection with the wartime experiences of the brave men and women who served in Australia’s military forces.

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Your generous donation will be used to ensure the memory of our Defence Forces and what they have done for us, and what they continue to do for our freedom remains – today and into the future.

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The placesofpride

Places of Pride

Places of Pride, the National Register of War Memorials, is a new initiative designed to record the locations and photographs of every publicly accessible memorial across Australia.

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Visit the Australian War Memorial

Visit the Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial is open for visitors as we work to expand our galleries. All visitors require a free timed ticket to enter the Memorial Galleries and attend the Last Post Ceremony.

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Canberra Highlands in Grayscale

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TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS

The Australian War Memorial acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and waters. We pay our respects to elders past and present.
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The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent
Campbell ACT 2612
Australia
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The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent

Campbell ACT 2612

Australia

 

Opening Hours

10 am to 5 pm daily (except Christmas Day)

 

In preparation for the daily Last Post Ceremony,

galleries are progressively closed from 4 pm.

 

Public entrance via Fairbairn Avenue, Campbell ACT 2612

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