State Records Home
Personal tools
You are here :: Home → The State Archives → Research topics → War and Australia
 

War and Australia

A selection of resources highlighting New South Wales' involvement in a number of military conflicts during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

This page will be updated progressively throughout the next few years leading up to the Gallipoli commemorations in 2015. State Records aims to highlight a selection of New South Wales State archives that reflect our involvement in a number of military conflicts including:

World War II:1942 The bombing of Darwin

Dept Main Roads, RNICG [6/17261, p.50, No. 1], Northern Territory Work, 1942, Photo by Mr James.On 19 February 1942 at 9.58am Japanese bombers began to arrive over Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia in the first of two attacks.  This first attack lasted approximately 40 minutes and bombs were dropped on the Allied warships and merchant vessels in Darwin Harbour, the RAAF Base and civilian airfield outside of town, along with the Army Barracks and oil store.  The second attack at about midday again concentrated the bombing on the RAAF Base.

It is estimated that approximately 683 bombs were dropped on Darwin over the two attacks. Between 250-320 people were killed and another 300-400 were wounded.  In Darwin Harbour 10 ships were sunk and another 25 ships were damaged while at the airfields 23 aircraft were destroyed.  Most of the military and civil facilities in the town were also destroyed.  Between 4 March 1942 and 12 November 1943 there were 62 more bombing raids in the Northern Territory and parts of Western Australia.

Helping Darwin - NSW Government and the Northern Territory, 1940-42

Early in World War II Darwin was considered an ideal location for an Allied base from which troops could be deployed to defend the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia) from the expected Japanese forces.  A major problem though, was the isolation of Darwin.  This meant that the town relied heavily on the sea for the transport of both goods and men for labour.  From mid-1940 roads, bridges, airfields and other infrastructure in the Northern Territory were built for the Commonwealth Government by various state governments, including NSW.  In particular, NSW helped to establish the Darwin Fire Brigade late in 1941.

Memo from HM Webb, the Secretary and Executive Officer to the NSW Board of Fire Commissioners, dated 17 September 1941. Efforts were being made to establish a Darwin Fire Brigade with two fire engines before the bombing. In this memo the NSW Board of Fire Commissioners is being asked to urgently supply hose, branches and nozzles for Darwin. NRS 476 [20/14783 file 599 Darwin] Air consignment note issued by QANTAS Empire Airways, 17 September 1941. This QANTAS Flying Boat left Rose Bay, Sydney with four parcels containing the hose, branches and nozzles for Darwin.NRS 476 [20/14783 file 599 Darwin] This is page one of a three page application for the position of the NSW Fire Commissioners Board's Inspectional Officer. Towards the bottom of the page Pye describes his roles during the War, including his time in Darwin. Pye was in Darwin from 14 October to 16 November 1941 and he was responsible for recruiting and training part-time fire fighters for Darwin's newly established Fire Brigade and lecturing on anti-air raid precautions. Pye retired in 1963. NRS 519 [14/1725], Personal file for Chief Officer HW Pye, 1949. Contingencies Department of the Interior to the NSW Board of Fire Commissioners outlining the expenses of sending Sub-Station Officer Horace Wentworth Pye to Darwin to train the local Darwin fire volunteers in 1941. NRS 476 [20/14783, file 599 Darwin] Thank you letter from HS Foll, Federal Minister of Interior to HM Webb, Secretary of Board of Fire Commissioners dated 1 October 1941. In the letter the NSW Board of Fire Commissioners is thanked for providing an officer (HW Pye), a fire engine (a Dennis 'Light 4', No 269) and equipment for the establishment of the Darwin Fire Brigade. The Board sent a second fire engine (also a Dennis 'Light 4' No 269A) in February 1942 to Darwin.NRS 476 [20/14783, file 599 Darwin, letter 41/5319]

Copy of a letter from John Dedman, Prime Minister's Dept to Premier of NSW, 23 Jan 1942, asking for a second fire engine to be supplied for Darwin. The letter reflects the growing concern of the Japanese push into the Pacific region following the bombing of Pearl Harbour in December 1941. Singapore was to fall to the Japanese on 15 February 1942. Dedman foreshadows what was to happen the next month when he writes List of fire equipment forwarded to Darwin, including a Dennis 'Light 4' Engine No 269A. This second fire engine was despatched from Sydney on the Memo from LG Guyer, Sub-station Officer to the Chief Officer of the NSW Fire Brigade, dated 25 April 1942. Guyer arrived in Darwin on 26 March 1942 and spent 10 days evaluating the types of bombs used and their effects on different materials, along with assessing existing anti-air raid plans for Eastern Australia alongside the actual Darwin experience (Guyer noted that he experienced seven air raids during his visit). Guyer recorded the effects of 500kg High Explosive and 60kg High Explosive bombs used during the first raid, along with incendiary, smoke and anti-personnel bombs. NRS 476 [20/14783 file 599 Darwin] page 1 of 5 These two pages from a four page article titled Memo by J Laws, Assistant Bridge Engineer from NSW Dept Main Roads, dated 9 March 1942. Laws arrived in Darwin on 13 February 1942 to survey sites for bridges. Initially Laws wanted to return to Darwin after the bombing but he ended up travelling from Larramar to Alice Springs with a number of Darwin evacuees. He comments on the lack of information available to him and the uncomfortable journey in the dirt to Alice Springs where everything of value was either broken or stolen. NRS 9771 [10/27336 file 41M837] page 9 of 12.

Further reading:

World War II: 1942 New South Wales prepares for War

Part 1 - Protecting NSW

In May 1935 the Australian Government asked each State to begin making plans to protect their citizens against chemical weapons, such as poison gas bombs, carried by aircraft flying from a ship offshore.  This was seen as a remote possibility but one with potentially disastrous results.  The Federal Government defined the most vulnerable area in NSW as Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and inland to Lithgow.  This area housed significant industries (including the manufacture of munitions), resources, infrastructure and population.  Explosive and incendiary bombs were later added as potential threats and the State's entire coast inland for 100 miles (161 kms) was defined as being at risk.  On 1 February 1939 the plans were put into place when National Emergency Services NSW began operations.

This letter, dated 30 December 1941, highlights one of the many roles the Police played in national defence. Roof spotters were part of a building's fire fighting capability. From 12 December 1941 NSW Government regulations required all government buildings and many industrial and business premises to be patrolled 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in case of air raids. Employees, usually volunteers, acted as fire wardens, first aiders and fire or roof spotters. NRS 10623 [10/2538] File 42-1E-7. The role of a roof spotter was to detect and report fires rather than look out for aircraft. Incendiary or fire bombs were designed to start small multiple fires from the one bomb, often using delayed action, making them difficult to put out. NRS 10623 [10/2538] file 42-1E-7. This letter is dated 5 February 1942, a fortnight before the bombing of Darwin. Both military and civil defence authorities needed to know what bombs the Japanese might use and the damage those bombs could cause. NRS 12061 [9/3916.2] File 44/4. This ad, in a magazine for National Emergency Services' volunteers, links national and personal protection to sell soap. Civilians played an important role in aircraft recognition. Members of the Volunteer Air Observers' Corps sent reports about aircraft in their area to the RAAF. By 1944 the Corps had 24,000 members from Cairns to Ceduna and inland for 150 miles. NRS 19987 [6/16010.4 Vol. 2 No. 4 Jan 1943]. Nock and Kirby's air raid precautions department offered all that the householder needed to protect their home and person from an air raid. Items sold included blackout curtains for the windows, backyard air raid shelters and fire fighting equipment. NRS 19987 [6/16010.4 Vol.1 No.3]

Private property and parklands were taken over by the Commonwealth for the duration of the war for a variety of war-related uses. In 1938 the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge had been inspected to find the best sites for fixing machine guns. From 13-15 November 1939 the No. 5 Section, 1st Anti-Aircraft Battery (Lewis Gun Section) held training exercises in all four pylons. This memo from 25 April 1942 describes an inspection of the Bridge pylons by the Army prior to them taking over control of all four pylons and guns being erected in two of them. The pylons were also used for troop accomodation. NRS 9771 [10/27345] File 42m457 In this secret memo, Major JA Robinson details plans for the lifting of the first gun to the north-western pylon on the SHB on 15-16 August 1942 by the 221 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery. The gun for the south-eastern pylon was lifted into place on 27-25 September 1942. NRS 9771 [10/27345] File 42m457 This view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, looking north from Top Chord, was taken on 13 April 1932. It shows the tops of the northern pylons ten years before the anti aircraft gun platforms were added. Compare this photo with the next picture taken from the same angle in 1949. NRS 12685 Sydney Harbour Bridge Photographic Albums. Digital id 12685_a007_a00704_8735000087. The gun platforms were added to the tops of Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons in 1942 can be clearly seen in the photo taken in January 1949. Compare this image with the previous picture. The addition to the pylons is not as noticeable when looking from the ground. Also of note in this photo is the crane used to maintain the bridge. From [6/17271]. This sketch, dated 12 August 1952, shows what the pylons might have looked like with the parapet wall removed but the gun platform left in place. NRS 9771 [10/27345] file 42m457.

Part 2 - NSW prepares for War

The National Emergency Services NSW (NES) helped to protect, educate and provide aid on the home front. The NES was established in 1939 and by the end of World War II 115,418 people had volunteered with the organisation.  Nearly half of these volunteers were enrolled as wardens.   During the War, from the Hunter to the Illawarra, there were 464 air raid sirens, 70,000 feet (21,336 m) of trench shelters, 36,000 ft (10,972 m) of covered trenches and 139 pillbox air raid shelters.

Throughout the War 115, 418 people acted as volunteers with National Emergency Services NSW and nearly half of these volunteers were enrolled as wardens. From the Hunter to the Illawarra, there were 464 air raid sirens, 70,000 feet (21,336 m) of trench shelters, 36,000 ft (10,972 m) of covered trenches and 139 pillbox air raid shelters. This Organisational Chart from October 1940 shows how the NES was set up to educate, protect, rescue, clothe, feed, render first aid, evacutate people, train and equip rescuers and report and repair damaged infrastructure. NSW Parliamentary Papers 1940-41, Vol 3, p.816. The NES offered a wide range of standarised courses to its volunteers, including gas identification, bomb reconnaissance and rescue work. By October 1940 18,725 people had received a First Aid certificate and 16,145 people an Air Raid precautions certificate. The NES used groups such as NSW Ambulance, St John Ambulance, the fire brigade and the military as its instructors. NRS 20008 [18/2796] File 5. As well as arranging courses, the NES held practical exercises to equip their volunteers to deal with the real thing. This article, from The Warden was the first responder in the event of an attack and the channel to the wider NES' organisation. This page from a Warden's book shows the instructions to the Warden, along with some information that they were required to know about their patrol area. A Warden's area could be a couple of blocks or a single building housing more than 30 people. NRS 20008 [18/2796] File 7. This Control Report form indicates the range of damage the NES was prepared to deal with and the type of actions they were ready to take. It would have been filled in by the female volunteers manning the Area Control Centre when they received a telephone call from an on the spot Warden. NRS 20008 [18/2796] File 7.

This photo, taken by Milton Kent, shows a NES ARP Section Duty Board on 13 April 1943. An Area Control Centre, based in a local government area, received damage reports from Wardens and co-ordinated with the fire brigade, the police and the gas and electricity companies. The Metropolitan Control Centre oversaw the wider Sydney area and liaised with hospitals and neighbouring area control centres to organise personnel and resources. The State Control Centre co-ordinated the state and communicated with the military. The centres were manned by volunteers 24 hours a day, seven days a week from December 1941 to early 1945. NRS 20008 [18/2796] File 7. The NSW State Government was responsible for providing air raid shelters for the travelling public from the Hunter to the Illawarra. Employers had to provide shelters for their employees and customers while families were meant to build shelters at home. The planning of air raid shelters for the travelling public began in June 1940. This map of the original scheme for Paddington in Sydney dates from August 1941. It shows more than 20 Pillbox shelters (blue circles), along with trench shelters (blue zig zags). Paddington had a high density population along with being the location of major bus and tram routes and the home of Victoria Barracks, an important military institution. However, only seven pillboxes were eventually built. NRS 10658 [10/4817] Paddington, 18/8/1941. This image is part of the NES leaflet for the public dated 20 September 1940. It shows designs for Pillbox air raid shelters for the backyard. It is a relatively small shelter, hence the name. NRS 20008 [18/2797] File 7. This image is part of a NES leaflet for the public dated 20 September 1940. It shows how to erect an Anderson type air raid shelter in the backyard. The Anderson air raid shelter was a pre-fabricated shelter, British designed and made in Australia. It was named after the British Home Secretary John Anderson. NRS 20008 [18/2797] File 7. First Aid posts were set up by the NES in schools and halls from the Hunter to the Illawarra to deal with the walking wounded. This plan is for the Unanderra Shire Hall in the Central Illawarra Shire, NSW. The Hall required strengthening before it could be used as a first aid post. NRS 10657 [AO Plan 2508].

Part 3 - NSW under attack

It was submarines, rather than aircraft carriers, that would arrive in NSW.  Between 16 May and 27 July 1942 Japanese I-Class submarines attacked fourteen merchant ships and a fishing trawler off south east Australia (from Port Macquarie NSW to Mallacoota Victoria).  Seven ships were sunk and 62 seamen killed.  Reconnaissance float planes carried by the submarines flew over Melbourne (26 February), Hobart (1 March) and Sydney (17 February, 23 May and 30 May).  Midget submarines, carried by three of the I-class submarines, entered Sydney Harbour on 31 May-1 June and attacked warships and torpedoed the Kuttabul, killing 19 Australian and 2 British naval personnel.  In the early hours of 8 June, submarine I-24 fired ten high explosive shells into Sydney's eastern suburbs for 10 minutes while submarine I-21 sent between 16 and 26 high explosive shells and four to eight star shells into Newcastle (intended for its shipyards) for 16 minutes.  Many of the shells that fell on Sydney and Newcastle failed to explode.

This is an early sketch of the proposed Sydney Harbour Protection Net (from December 1941) showing how the net would stop a surface vessel and a submarine. The net was designed by E Griffin of the Maritime Service Board. NRS 20011 [18/1716.2] This plan of the Harbour Protection Net, dated 22 April 1942, shows the arrangement of dolphins (piles) along with the opening and navigation signals. The central section of the net was built between 30 December 1941 and 13 March 1942. The intricacies of the gates and the question of how the net connected to the shore meant that the Navy did not accept the Maritime Services Board's plans for these until late April. Thus the protection net was not complete when the Japanese midget submarine from I-27 was caught up in it on 31 May 1942. NRS 20011 [18/1716.2] This is the log book page of the NES' Metropolitan Control Centre from 8 June 1942. Just after midnight Japanese submarines launched 10 shells over four minutes into the Eastern suburbs of Sydney. Nine of the ten shells exploded causing minor damage. This log book page details the actions of the Control Centre following the shelling. NRS 20003 [16/16016 p.33] This page is attached to the log book entry for 8 June 1942 from the NES' Control Centre. It details the damage caused by the shells of the Japanese submarine I-24. While the submarine fired 10 shells, the NES have only recorded eight incidents. The military authorities determined that only two shells exploded, while this list implies that most did. NRS 20003 [16/16016 p.33] This article from the July 1942 issue of

Further reading:

Research for the World War II sections presented on this page was completed by Jennifer Sloggett of State Records NSW.

World War I: Anzac spirit

This is the image on the other side of the postcard.NRS 13660, probate #4/74161 Anzac is the name given to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who landed on the beaches of the Gallipoli Peninsula in modern-day Turkey on 25 April 1915. The Gallipoli campaign has been described as the moment of birth of nationhood for both Australia and New Zealand.  The Anzac spirit which has survived Gallipoli included the ideals of mateship, endurance, courage, ingenuity and a larrikin sense of humour. Anzacs - from the trenches of Gallipoli is the first in a number of planned commemorations of the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli in 2015. It features the probate records of two soldiers who died at Gallipoli - Thomas Bann and Jacob Allan.

Boer War

Camp of Bushmen's contingent, Kensington Racecourse, Sydney, NSW, c.1900. Photo Investigator digital id 1254_a011_a011000019r.jpg The war between the British and the two Dutch South African republics - the Boer War - began on 11 October 1899 when the Boers declared war on the British. It lasted until 31 May 1902 when Lord Kitchener and General Botha signed the peace treaty, the Peace of Vereeniging, ending the war.  The first colonial contingents arrived in South Africa between November 1899 and March 1900; the second between December 1899 and February 1900; the third between April and May 1900 and the fourth between May and June 1900. The unification of Australia's defences began following Federation on 1 January 1901. After 1901 additional contingents of soldiers were sent to South Africa to form battalions with squadrons from each state.  These battalions were first numbered as units of the Commonwealth Contingent. Later the entire force was designated as the Australian Commonwealth Horse. The total Australian causalities numbered about 1,400. These included 251 who died in action or from wounds sustained in battle, 267 who died of disease and 43 who were reported missing.

Sudan

This photo dates from about 1870-90 and could well be soldiers departing for the Sudan (based on military uniform worn). Digital id 4481_a026_000695In the early 1880s the British-backed Egyptian regime in the Sudan came under threat from local supporters of Muhammed Ahmed, also known as the Mahdi. In 1883 the Egyptian government was sent south to crush the revolt, but instead of destroying the Mahdi's forces, the Egyptians were soundly defeated. On March 29, 1885 a NSW contingent arrived in Sudan, the first time Australian troops fought in an imperial war.

The NSW contingent consisted of an infantry battalion and an artillery battery, totalling 758 men. They left Sydney on March 3 and returned on June 19, 1885.  While the contingent did not fight in any major battles, there were three wounded soldiers and seven deaths from fever or dysentery.

Related content
Archives In Brief 115 - Coastal Fortifications
ANZACS in World War I