Difference between revisions 121772635 and 121772636 on dewiki

[[Image:Work fight or perish (RC02370).jpg|thumb|An Australian Government leaflet bearing the likeness and signature of Prime Minister [[John Curtin]], telling Australians that they must make sacrifices for the war effort.]]
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===Malaya and Singapore===
[[Image:Aust AT gun Singapore (012449).jpg|thumb|Australian anti-tank gunners overlooking the [[Johore Causeway]] between Singapore and Malaya in February 1942]]
{{see also|Battle of Malaya|Battle of Singapore}}

At the outbreak of war in the Pacific, the Australian forces in Malaya comprised the 8th Division (less 
one brigade at Darwinthe 23 Brigade who had detachments deployed to Darwin [headquarters], the Netherlands East Indies and Rabaul), four RAAF squadrons and eight warships.<ref>Coates (2006). Page 203.</ref> The RAAF became the first service to see action in the Pacific when Australian aircraft shadowing the Japanese invasion convoy bound for Malaya were fired at on 6 December 1941. Australian units participated the unsuccessful Commonwealth attempts to defeat the Japanese landings, with RAAF aircraft attacking the [[beachhead]]s and [[HMAS Vampire (D68)|HMAS ''Vampire'']] accompanying [[HMS Prince of W(contracted; show full)Singapore, small Australian forces were also deployed to defend several islands to the north of Australia. The role of these forces was to defend strategic airfields which could be used to launch attacks on the Australian mainland. These forces proved too small to resist the Japanese, however, and were swiftly defeated during the first months of the Pacific War.

At the start of the Pacific War the strategic port town of [[Rabaul]] in [[New Britain]] was defended by 'Lark Force', which comprised 
an AIF infantry battalion the 2/22nd Battalion of the 23 Brigade reinforced with coastal artillery and a poorly equipped RAAF bomber squadron. While Lark Force was regarded as inadequate by the Australian military,<ref>Hasluck (1970). Page 14.</ref> it was not possible to reinforce it before the Japanese [[South Seas Force]] landed at Rabaul on 23 January 1942. The outnumbered Australian force [[Battle of Rabaul (1942)|was swiftly defeated]] and most of the survivors surrendered in the weeks after the battle. Few members of Lark Force survived the war, as at least 130 were murdered by the Japanese on 4 February and 1057 Australian soldiers and civilian prisoners from Rabaul were killed when [[Montevideo Maru|the ship carrying them to Japan]] was sunk by a US submarine on 1 July 1942.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ajrp.awm.gov.au/ajrp/remember.nsf/pages/NT00002EBE?openDocument |title=Rabaul, 1942 |accessdate=2007-11-06 |last=Moremon |first=John |coauthors= |date=2003 |work=Remembering the War in New Guinea |publisher=Australia-Japan Research Project}}</ref>

Shortly after the outbreak of the Pacific War AIF troops were dispatched from Darwin to the [[Netherlands East Indies]]. Reinforced battalions were also sent to [[Koepang]] in [[Timor]] and the island of [[Ambon]] to defend these strategic locations from Japanese attack. A commando company was also sent to [[Dili]] in [[Portuguese Timor]].<ref>Hasluck (1970). Page 14.</ref> The force (made up mostly of the 2/21st Battalion, 8th Division artillery and support troops) at Ambon was defeated in the [[Battle of Ambon]] which was fought between January 30 and 3 February 1942. While the infantry battalion at Koepang was defeated, Australian commandos [[Battle of Timor (1942–43)|waged a guerrilla campaign]] against the Japanese in Portuguese Timor until February 1943.

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* {{cite web |url=http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/index.html |title=Australia's War 1939—1945 |accessdate= |author= |date= |work= |publisher=[[Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|Department of Veterans' Affairs]] }}


{{Australian Military History}}
{{WWIIHistory}}

[[Category:Military history of Australia during World War II| ]]