Japan's entry into the Second World War (1939-45)
20 January 2012 - 3 June 2012

Anti-aircraft duty

Machine gun crew on anti-aircraft duty 1 July 1942
Darwin area
photographer, John Earl McNeil
Reproduced courtesy of the Australian War Memorial 012741

Banzai! 3

(Long live the Emperor!) Banzai! 16 February 1942
Singapore
photographer unknown
Reproduced courtesy of the Australian War Memorial 127905

Coming south 5

He's Coming South 1942
off-set lithograph on paper (reproduction)
Reproduced courtesy of the Australian War Memorial ARTV09225

crack an egg 4

'A sledgehammer to crack an egg' 19 February 1942
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
photographer, Royal Australian Navy Historical Collection
Reproduced courtesy of the Australian War Memorial 128108

Fortunes favorite

Fortune's favorite 28 August 1945
Bakli Bay, Hainan, China
photographer, Leonard Woods
Reproduced courtesy of the Australian War Memorial 030358/05

 

HMAS Perth

The crew of HMAS Perth c 1941
location unknown
photographer, Henry Porter
Reproduced courtesy of the Australian War Memorial P01915.020

In action 1

In action January 1942
Gemas, Jahor, Malaya (Malaysia)
photographer unknown
Reproduced courtesy of the Australian War Memorial 011304/18

Partners

Partners 18 June 1942
Melbourne, Victoria
photographer, Clifford Bottomley
Reproduced courtesy of the Australian War Memorial 012627

Radio Contact

Radio contact November 1942
2/2nd Independant Company, Sparrow Force
Portuguese Timor (Timor Leste)
photographer, Damian Parer
Reproduced courtesy of the Australian War Memorial 013764

Seek and strike

Seek and Strike 1942
no 75 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
Port Moresby, New Guinea
photographer, Damian Parer
Reproduced courtesy of the Australian War Memorial 150494

The ambush 2

The ambush at the bridge over the Gemenchech River, beyond Gemas, 14 January 1942 1946
by Murray Griffin
oil over pencil on hardboard (reproduction)
Reproduced courtesy of the Australian War Memorial ART24500

  • Anti-aircraft duty
  • Banzai! 3
  • Coming south 5
  • crack an egg 4
  • Fortunes favorite
  • HMAS Perth
  • In action 1
  • Partners
  • Radio Contact
  • Seek and strike
  • The ambush 2

Japan achieved a series of victories in Malaya, Singapore, Rabaul, Java, Ambon and Timor in the six month period following its declaration of war in December 1941. Thousands of Australian men and women died serving in these territories and many more became prisoners of war. 70 years have passed since these momentous events shocked Australia out of complacency and brought the war to our doorstep. The Shrine remembers these anniversaries in an exhibition which commemorates Australia’s darkest days - from Japan’s entry into the Second World War until the battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, when Japan suffered its first setback and the tide of the war in the Pacific began to turn.

Ex POW Walter Hicks speech from the launch of the exhibition

 

Free Admission 
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