What's On - 15 March 2018

The war in the Pacific was essentially a naval struggle. Allied war aims hinged on the destruction of Japan’s powerful navy and the severing of sea communications between Japan and its far-flung Asian and Pacific conquests. Nerves and Steel explores the role played by the RAN in ultimate Allied victory and features items from the Shrine’s own collection as well as loans from the Australian War Memorial, the RAN Heritage Collection, veterans and their families.

While Australian infantry served in the grim trenches of the Western Front, their comrades in the Australian Light Horse were fighting dynamic campaign of manoeuvre against the Ottoman Turks in the desert wastes of Sinai, Palestine and Syria. This exhibition tells the story of the Sinai-Palestine campaign and explores how it has captured the imagination of Australians ever since.

In March, we commemorate the following important dates.

17 March 1917: Capture of Bapaume

29 March 1941: Battle of Matapan
This naval engagement, fought off the coast of Greece, involved HMA ships Perth, Vendetta and Stuart in a battle which saw the loss of five Italian ships and gave the Allies control of the seas surrounding Greece and Crete for several months.

21 March 1942 : Air Battle for Port Moresby
The air battle for Port Moresby began in March with Japanese forces attempting to sink Allied shipping and restrict supplies to Australian forces. Australian, Dutch and American aircraft fought a bitter battle in the skies over New Guinea for the next few months.