Bombing of Darwin, Battle of Timor remembered
![The bombing of the small northern Australian town of Darwin in 1942 was the first time the war directly affected the Australian continent. [ABC]](http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/3836370-3x2-285x207.jpg "The bombing of the small northern Australian town of Darwin in 1942 was the first time the war directly affected the Australian continent. [ABC]")
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The bombing of the small northern Australian town of Darwin in 1942 was the first time the war directly affected the Australian continent. [ABC]
Eric Tlozek
The 70th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin is being recognised as a national day of observance for the first time today.
The Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister Julia Gillard are attending bombing services in the northern Australian city, commemorating the attack which killed 243 people 70 years ago.
The bombing was the first attack on the Australian mainland, and the first of 100 raids across northern Australia.
The Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson says he's pleased the Federal Government has recognised their national significance.
"It's time to tell our story, Darwin's story, Australia's story about what happened here 70 years ago," Mr Henderson said.
Darwin resident Wendy James, who was evacuated in the war, says it's long overdue, "as everybody says in Darwin."
Veterans and survivors of the bombing have travelled from around Australia to mark Sunday's anniversary.
The US Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich, attended a commemorative service in Darwin to mark the 70th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Peary.
The destroyer was sunk with her guns still blazing, during the Japanese air attacks on Darwin on the 19th of February 1942.
It was the US Navy's greatest loss of life in Australian waters - 89 US sailors were killed.
Ambassador Bleich says he's in Darwin to honour his Australian mates and to honour the fight put up by Australia and the US.
"That was the day in which we really recognised in each other the special character that we have, that resilience and that toughness and also the willingness to stand by one another no matter how dire the circumstances," he said.
Meanwhile, a memorial service has been held in Sydney to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Timor.
East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao joined former and serving commandoes and their families for the memorial service.
On this day in 1942, Japanese forces invaded East Timor and fought against Allied soldiers, many from Australia. Forty Australian soldiers died, and thousands of East Timorese lost their lives helping the commandoes with food and intelligence.
Barry Grant from the Australian Commandoes Association told the service Australia owes a debt of gratitude to the people of East Timor.
Japanese forces invaded the island in 1942 and fought against Allied soldiers mainly from Australia.
The Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister Julia Gillard are attending bombing services in the northern Australian city, commemorating the attack which killed 243 people 70 years ago.
The bombing was the first attack on the Australian mainland, and the first of 100 raids across northern Australia.
The Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson says he's pleased the Federal Government has recognised their national significance.
"It's time to tell our story, Darwin's story, Australia's story about what happened here 70 years ago," Mr Henderson said.
Darwin resident Wendy James, who was evacuated in the war, says it's long overdue, "as everybody says in Darwin."
Veterans and survivors of the bombing have travelled from around Australia to mark Sunday's anniversary.
The US Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich, attended a commemorative service in Darwin to mark the 70th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Peary.
The destroyer was sunk with her guns still blazing, during the Japanese air attacks on Darwin on the 19th of February 1942.
It was the US Navy's greatest loss of life in Australian waters - 89 US sailors were killed.
Ambassador Bleich says he's in Darwin to honour his Australian mates and to honour the fight put up by Australia and the US.
"That was the day in which we really recognised in each other the special character that we have, that resilience and that toughness and also the willingness to stand by one another no matter how dire the circumstances," he said.
Meanwhile, a memorial service has been held in Sydney to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Timor.
East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao joined former and serving commandoes and their families for the memorial service.
On this day in 1942, Japanese forces invaded East Timor and fought against Allied soldiers, many from Australia. Forty Australian soldiers died, and thousands of East Timorese lost their lives helping the commandoes with food and intelligence.
Barry Grant from the Australian Commandoes Association told the service Australia owes a debt of gratitude to the people of East Timor.
Japanese forces invaded the island in 1942 and fought against Allied soldiers mainly from Australia.
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