19/2/1942 ... In Australia's Hisory

JayDee · Guru

19/2/1942 ... In Australia's Hisory

Possum3 · Guru

Check my Avatar - Bombing of Darwin & Broome.

Craig1 · Guru

We were never taught this at school, much more important to know the 22nd USA President, or 1066 etc in 50's & 60's

bilbo · Senior Member

Why is the 19 th February in 1942 such a significant date in Australia's past history?

Now c'mon play fair, and do not use Google to find out why.

Can I play Jaydee??

cheers Bilbo

erad · Guru

This is an important date in Australian history for sure. As a kid, I was never taught anything like that. English royalty - yes they taught us that but virtually nothing of Australian History at all. We never hear anything about the "choco soldiers" who stopped the Japanese on the Kokoda trail and turned them back - the first time the Japs had been turned back. Those guys were under equipped, had minimal training and were in incredibly hostile environs, yet they did a superb job. How did we benefit from all the men who served in Europe against the Germans? I can see vey little benefit that we got from that conflict and a lot of losses as well, but the Chocolate soldiers in New Guinea most certainly saved Australia.

And what of the POWs taken by the Japanese? They were treated very badly indeed. They tried to do their job in defending places like Singapore, but then a lot of them finished up building the Thailand - Burma railway. I have worked in the area where they were, and it is soul destroying to think of how they were treated and what they achieved. It wasn't only the railway - they built air fields, coal mines - all sorts of different works for the Japanese. Yet they suffered horribly and often for a long time after it was all over. Yet we were never taught a thing about these guys.

What about the early explorers who pioneered this country? Again, we were taught virtually nothing about them. Those guys walked the country, logging their treks as they went. Today, we do the same thing in air conditioned 4WDs and think that we are roughing it.

We owe every one of them our deepest gratitude for making Australia what it is today. Let us not spoilt it for future generations.

hako · Guru

I'm surprised - when I went to primary school 1949 - 55 at Canterbury Boys Primary School we were taught about all Australian explorers, our involvement in both wars, the Kokoda track, trade unions etc etc. Our teacher Mr Taylor, even organised excursions for us to visit statues of explorers and famous old buildings, war memorials, state and federal parliaments plus out to Camden to see where Farrar perfected his wheat strains. There was very little on English history except for 1066 and Nelson at Trafalgar....basically our (smart) teacher taught us what would interest us.

The book that assisted us is in the photo and it was standard issue for NSW state schools in the early/mid 50's - at least 50% of the content is to do with Australia, it's past, present and future.

Good Luck.

Santa · Guru

erad wrote:
How did we benefit from all the men who served in Europe against the Germans? I can see vey little benefit that we got from that conflict and a lot of losses as well, but the Chocolate soldiers in New Guinea most certainly saved Australia.

G'day Erad, Had the Axis powers been victorious in Europe you and I would probably be speaking a language other than English now, Australians certainly played an important part in their defeat i.e. the battle of El Alamein (not Europe but a major conflict during the Second Word War) involving our troops, and certainly a major turning point in the war.

This is a good link https://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_ii/ww2_axis_powers.php

DMaxer · Guru

Yes Hako. That is what we were taught. Quite a few of my primary school and high school teachers were returned men and women. They told us what a privilege it was to be an Australian and what our responsibilities were. Good blokes and several women whose words and advice I have never forgotten. Shame a few of our so called leaders didn't get an education from them.

JayDee · Guru

JayDee wrote:
Why is the 19 th February in 1942 such a significant date in Australia's past history?
Now c'mon play fair, and do not use Google to find out why.
Watch this space as you will be able to find out the answer.
Jay&Dee

Yes 19th February 1942 was indeed the bombing of Darwin.

Like many Australian school children back in the 40's and 50's and I guess the years that followed, I do not recall learning anything about this when I attended school from1944 to 1955.

I do recall something about a Jap mini sub in Sydney harbour.

So can one imagine, just how little Australian history is taught in the Schools of today.

I hear.... If they wish to know about Australia, the young Aussie can just google it.

Like I said "Watch this space as you will be able to find out the answer."

Well here is a great link re the Bombing of Darwin etc. It is well worth the read to catch up on what we did not learn at school.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Darwin.

One should always thank the Aussie troops and their "Fuzzy Wuzzies offsiders" for the victory on the Kokoda Trail.

Aussie Aussie Aussie.

Jay&Dee

Santa · Guru

This article explains a lot https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-19/curious-darwin-bombing-of-darwin-learn-history-books/10820858

Nothing about the attack was published at the time as the Australian government was of the opinion it was a precursor to a Japanese invasion of mainland Australia.

Craig1 · Guru

Thanks Santa

bgt · Guru

Keep in mind the censors back in those days. Much of the news about Darwin and Broome was kept quiet. They didn't want panic. But a bit of research will find many more 'events' other than Darwin and Broome.

Our kids and grandkids have no idea. Daughter and son inlaw are both high school teachers. They have no idea because it's not in the curriculum. Ask the kids who Major Mitchel is. Or Blacksland, Wentworth and Lawson. Did I spelum right? I asked my daughter if she would do the Kokoda Track with me. I got a 'duh what?' But ask about global warming and stand back.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I was amazed at the volume of vehicles heading up that way on a goat track.

Craig1 · Guru

Major Mitchell, " what a galah". Blaxland spelling. We did learn about all of these. But absolutely nothing about Darwin bombings.

Craig1 · Guru

We climbed The Nut at Stanley when 12 or 13 in spots marked. Reckoned we were Blaxland Wentworth and Lawson doing the Blue Mountains