68th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin

[Bruce Gilbert]

Well - it wasn't so far away for the Japanese on the day they attacked!.

But, at the same time, Darwin was so 'so far away' from mainstream Australia that it took a while for news to reach the est of the country.

And now, it is a mere few hours flight from anywhere in Oz.

My father was stationed in Darwin with the Darwin Mobile Force (he left Darwin a few months before the attack). It took him several days by flying boat from Darwin to Sydney via Qld.

A note for Brent Shevlin - I happen to be reading the first edition of the 'Defence Force Journal' (Nov/Dec 1976), and in it I found an article entitled "A New Amphibious Capability for the Australian Services', written by Commander P J M Shevlin, AM, RAN. The article focussed on the introduction of HMAS Tobruk. Is this person any relation to you??

As you are, or were, a turret Head, the same journal also has an article "Put Your Head in the Sand - Here Comes their Armour." Reviews use of armour from WW2, Yom Kippur War through to our 106 RCL on short-base Rovers, Centurians and the impending intro of the Leopard 1 MBT.

Regards

Bruce Gilbert
Sydney.