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1883
The German ship SMS Carola sailed from Sydney to claim eastern New Guinea and the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago for Germany. The Queensland Premier saw this as a threat and countered by sending a ship to Port Moresby. His action stopped Germany claiming all eastern New Guinea.
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1916
HMAS Pioneer intercepted and sank the German supply ship Tabora off Dar Es Salaam, East Africa.
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1943
Flight Lieutenant William Newton was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his fearless approach to operational flying, and the way he, after his aircraft became crippled from enemy fire, attempted to save his crew by piloting their burning aircraft as far from Japanese positions as possible, off Salamaua, New Guinea. Newton’s Victoria Cross was the only such award made to a member of the RAAF in the Pacific theatre.
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1992
Lieutenant Commander Peter Nelson RAN was awarded an Air Force Cross for gallantry in the First Gulf War. Lieutenant Commander Nelson was attached to a Royal Navy Sea King Squadron at the time.
