1943 - Australian combat troops took part in the first successful airborne operation of the Pacific War, completing an airborne landing at Nadzab in Marobe Province, Papua New Guinea.

1942 — CPL J. French won VC at MILNE BAY

1942 — The Japanese evacuation of MILNE BAY began, marking the first defeat of a Japanese amphibious landing in World War 2

1942 — 9th Division AIF landed at LAE (New Guinea)

1975 — RAAF plane hijacked by armed soldiers fleeing civil war in Portuguese Timor

NATIONAL FLAG DAY

1918 — LT W. Dartnell won VC near MAKTAU, (East Africa)

1939 — World War Two began when Britain, France, Australia, and New Zealand DECLARED WAR ON GERMANY

1918 — CPL L. Weathers won VC at PERONNE, France

1943 — Australian Commando vessel KRAIT sailed from Exmouth Gulf carrying members of “Z Special Force” to attack Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour

1945 — GEN Blamey signed Japanese Instrument of Surrender for Australia onboard USS MISSOURI

2008 — TPR M. Donaldson won VC near Tarin Kowt AFGHANISTAN

1900 — LT G. Wylly and TPR J. Bisdee (Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen) won VCs in TRANSVAAL  (Boer War—South Africa)

1918 — LT E. Towner, SGT A. Lowerson, CPL A. Buckley, CPL A. Hall, PTE W. Currey, PTE R. Mactier won VCs at PERONNE, France

1939 — GERMANY INVADED POLAND

1942 — Coastwatchers LEUT A. Kyle DSC RANVR and SBLT G. Benham are believed to have been executed by Japanese soldiers. These Officers had reported shipping and aircraft movements and arranged the evacuation of civilians from enemy held territory

1918 — Battle of MONT ST QUENTIN, overlooking the town of PERONNE began.  Depleted Australian Divisions, led by Lt Gen Sir John Monash, won an impressive victory over the German troops and took 2,600 prisoners. This Battle is considered by many to be the crowning achievement of the AIF in WW1

1918 — PTE G. Cartwright won VC at Road Wood PERONNE, France

1937 — AC W.S. McAloney won Albert Medal for Gallantry. This was later converted to a George Cross. He was awarded an OBE in 1966

1951 — HMAS SYDNEY and HMAS TOBRUK sailed for service in KOREA

1915 — 2 LT H. THROSSELL won VC at HILL 60, GALLIPOLI - the first VC to be awarded to a Western Australian in the War and the only one to an Australian Light Horseman

1942 — Japanese advance halted at MILNE BAY. This marked the furthest point south achieved by Japanese land forces

1942 — Battle of Alam el Halfa (North Africa)

1942 — HMAS ARUNTA sank Japanese sub-marine RO-33

1968 — Death of C.E.W. Bean, historian, author/editor of  “Official History of Australia in the War of 1914—1918”

1919 — Sgt S.G. PEARSE won VC near EMTSA, Russia

1941 — RAAF 455 Squadron became the first Australian unit to bomb Germany

1942 — Pte B.S. KINGSBURY won VC at ISURAVA, Papua

1942 — HMAS ARUNTA sank Japanese sub-marine RO-33

1945— HMAS SHROPSHIRE, HOBART, NAPIER, NIZAM, WARRAMUNGA and, BATAAN sailed into TOKYO BAY

1970— HMAS PERTH awarded 2nd United States Navy commendation for service in VIETNAM

1915 — Royal Australian Navy Bridging Train landed at Gallipoli

1918 — LCPL B.S. Gordon (41 BN) won VC at Bray-sur-Somme, FRANCE