WWII Archives - CONTACT magazine

Lieutenant Colonel Leigh Partridge, commanding officer of the 16th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment, lays a wreath during a dawn service commemorating 80 years since the start of the Battle of Brigade Hill, along the Kokoda Track, in Papua New Guinea. Story and photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree.

Remembering Kokoda

23/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 558 Views 1 Comment 16th Battalion RWAR, 39th Operational Support Battalion, Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea, WWII

Several events have been organised to mark the 80th year since the Kokoda Track Campaign in Papua New Guinea during

Air Commodore Robert Lawson, Director-General of History and Heritage – Air Force, addresses family members and friends of Flight Sergeant Richard Hobbs, crew member of Catalina A24-50. Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Sergeant Gary Dixon.

ADF People Lest We Forget

Special Memorial for fallen airman’s family

07/09/202211/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 270 Views 1 Comment Aviation Heritage Centre, Catalina, WWII

A commemorative service was recently held at the Aviation Heritage Museum in Perth for the family members of Flight Sergeant

WW2 veterans Harold “Hiram” Ristrom and Margaret Hattersley receive handmade quilts from the Quilts of Valour Foundation during a lunch held at the Bentleigh RSL, Victoria. Story by Corporal Melina Young. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

History News Royal Australian Navy Veterans

WW2 veterans honoured for valour

26/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 312 Views 0 Comments HMAS Kanimbla, RSL, WWII

Three World War 2 Navy veterans instrumental in supporting General Douglas MacArthur’s return to the Philippines, cracking enemy codes, and

HMAS Canberra’s (III) Ships Company parade on the flight deck of during a commemorative service for 80th anniversary of the Battle of Savo Island. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

History Lest We Forget News Pacific Royal Australian Navy Videos

Sunset service for 80th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Canberra (I)

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 391 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, HMAS Canberra (I), HMAS Supply, HMAS Warramunga, WWII

Eighty years after HMAS Canberra (I) sank in the Battle of Savo Island, more than 500 members of HMAS Canberra (III)

Mr Des Jones commemorates the 80th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Canberra (I) as the last remaining survivor, held at the Naval Chapel, Garden Island, Sydney. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo: byLeading Seaman Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Commemorating the Battle of Savo Island

09/08/202209/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 277 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra (I), Solomon Islands, WWII

The last surviving crew member of HMAS Canberra (I), 99-year-old Des Jones, remembers how he narrowly escaped death when his

Australian Defence Force officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Warner lays a wreath during Fiji's Infantry Day commemoration service at Vilu War Memorial, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

ADF Lest We Forget News Pacific

Pacific family gathered in remembrance

01/07/202204/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 349 Views 0 Comments Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Solomon Islands, Victoria Cross, WWII

Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) personnel gathered for a memorial service to mark Fiji’s Infantry Day on June 23. CAPTION: Australian Defence

Lieutenant Kurt O’Neill and Sergeant Steven Banks, from the School of Armour, present WW2 veteran, 101-year-old Bertram (Bert) Sutton, with an Aussie Hero Quilt at his home in Numurkah, Victoria.

ADF People History Veterans

WW2 veteran honoured with hero quilt

29/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 613 Views 0 Comments Aussie Hero Quilts, School of Armour, WWI, WWII

World War 2 veteran, Private Bertram (Bert) Sutton, has been honoured with the presentation of a hero quilt by the

Commanding Officers of No. 460, 462 and 464 Squadrons, alongside World War Two veterans at the Bomber Command Commemorative Day Wreath Laying Ceremony held at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Story by Flight Lieutenant Marina Power.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

Modern Air Force pays respect to its heritage

08/06/202213/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 815 Views 0 Comments AWM, Bomber Command, WWII

Bomber Command was commemorated in ceremonies across the country where modern Royal Australian Air Force remembered the sacrifice made by

Squadron Leader Michael Veitch and President of the No. 30 Squadron RAAF Beaufighter Association Bruce Robertson at the No. 30 Squadron anniversary dinner. Story by By Flight Lieutenant Dee Irwin. Photo by Petty Officer Rick Prideaux.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Former Beaufighters squadron turns 80

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 652 Views 0 Comments No. 30 Squadron, RAAF East Sale, WWII

It has been 80 years since Air Force’s No. 30 Squadron was established at RAAF Base Richmond before deploying to

The Kuttabul ferry sinking in Sydney Harbour in May 1942. Story by Lieutenant Brendan Trembath.

History Japan Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

80th anniversary of submarine attack

03/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 736 Views 0 Comments HMAS Kuttabul, WWII

A memorial service at HMAS Kuttabul has commemorated the 27 lives lost in an Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarine attack

Japanese Ambassador to Australia, Yamagami Shingo, lays a wreath during the Battle of Coral Sea 80th anniversary commemorative service at Russell Offices in Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Gordon Carr-Gregg. Photo by Nicole Mankowski.

History Japan Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy USA

Battle of the Coral Sea 80th anniversary

17/05/202217/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 915 Views 0 Comments Battle of the Coral Sea, HMAS Coonawarra, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, US Army, US Navy, WWII

The 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea was commemorated across Australia early this month. CAPTION: Japanese Ambassador

Chief of Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld and Major General Mark Goina (right), Chief of Papua New Guinea Defence Force, shake hands after signing an aviation safety memorandum of understanding at Air Transport Wing in Port Moresby. Story by John Noble.

History News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Helping restore air capability in PNG

06/05/202212/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1120 Views 0 Comments PNGDF, WWII

Australia is lending a helping hand in getting the air arm of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) back

Air Force personnel who trained as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme in World War II have been depicted on murals commissioned as part of the Air Force 2021 Centenary at RAAF Base Wagga. Photo by Wing Commander Tony Wennerbom.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Wagga honours Empire Air Training role

18/03/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 961 Views 1 Comment RAAF Centenary, RAAF Wagga Wagga, WWII

A memorial honouring the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) is nearing completion at the entrance to RAAF Base Wagga, in

Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus Captain Ainsley Morthorpe, centre, and Chaplain Matthew Campbell salute as Able Seaman Luke Glasson sounds the Last Post during the HMAS Yarra II commemorative service. Story by Commander Helen Ward. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

History News Royal Australian Navy

Sinking of HMAS Yarra II remembered

10/03/202210/03/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 434 Views 0 Comments HMAS Cerberus, HMAS Yarra, WWII

Navy personnel recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of one of the darkest periods of WWII. CAPTION: Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus

Post Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12163, James Maughmer, lays a wreath during a service held in Fremantle commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Sunda Strait. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Loss of HMAS Perth I remembered

04/03/202204/03/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 397 Views 1 Comment HMAS Perth I, Thai-Burma railway, WWII

HMAS Perth III visited Fremantle recently for events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Perth I and

Soldiers re-enact the Bombing of Darwin during an 80th anniversary commemorative ceremony in the Northern Territory. Story by Paul McAlonan. Photo by Leading Seaman Shane Cameron.

ADF History News

The day WWII hit home

23/02/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 888 Views 0 Comments Bombing of Darwin, WWII

Ceremonies were held on February 19 to mark the 80th anniversary of the first attack on the Australian mainland. CAPTION:

Commanding Officer Naval Headquarters Tasmania Commander Andrew Wright and Commanding Officer HMAS Launceston Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Graney at the Teddy Sheean VC memorial in Ulverstone, Tasmania. Story by Petty Officer Ian McGiffen.

History News Royal Australian Navy Veterans

New plaque honours Teddy Sheean VC

21/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1086 Views 0 Comments HMAS Armidale I, Victoria Cross, WWII

A new memorial plaque honouring Ordinary Seaman Edward “Teddy” Sheean VC was unveiled in Shropshire Park in the Tasmanian town

(Australian War Memorial Director Mr Matt Anderson and Captain Anita Nemarich, RAN, with one of the donated red kangaroo funnel insignia from HMAS Parramatta at the Treloar Technology Centre, ACT. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

History News Royal Australian Navy

Red kangaroos donated to Australia War Memorial

07/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 911 Views 0 Comments AWM, HMAS Parramatta II, HMAS Parramatta IV, WWII

EIGHTY years to the day since HMAS Parramatta (II) was lost, the red kangaroo funnel insignia from successor ship Parramatta (IV)

Australian Army soldier Corporal A, from the 1st Commando Regiment, talks with Second World War British Army veteran Mr John Morris in the garden of his home in Merrylands, Sydney. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Cameron Martin.

ADF People History Veterans

World War II veteran joins Chelsea Pensioners

07/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 717 Views 0 Comments SAS, WWII

After decades living in Australia, a World War II Special Air Service (SAS) and Battle of Britain veteran was escorted home

Army Sergeant Paul Waples is shown unexploded demolition techniques by United States Marine Corps 1st Lieutenant Molly Mcgrath while observing Task Force Koa Moana in Palau. Story by Captain Michael Trainor.

Australian Army History News Pacific USA

Soldiers build partnerships in Palau

26/11/202101/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 826 Views 0 Comments Palau, USMC, WWII

Specialist observers from the Australian Army joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in Palau recently as part of the

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