Category Archives: Historical Highlights

The Capture of German New Guinea – 1914

Last September, when discussing the loss of the AE1, we mentioned the expedition to capture the German New Guinea territory in 1914. We return now to look at this, the first Australian force deployment of World War 1, in more [¡K]

The Attack at Lone Pine

A year ago we considered the overall plan for the August Offensive at Gallipoli in 1915. That overview came with the promise to return to the individual actions of the offensive and this month, as we draw closer to the [¡K]

Raising the Team

This month we come forward in time and take a look at an Australian unit that became both the longest-serving and most highly decorated of the war in Vietnam. The Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) was the first Australian [¡K]

The Wilmansrust Incident

In the annual commemoration of the Anzac landing, it is often forgotten that Australia’s military history pre-dates the 25th of April 1915. The scope of the Great War and later conflicts overshadow earlier, smaller campaigns and battles, both by colonial [¡K]

Gaba Tepe – The Amphibious Raid

By early May 1915, efforts within the ANZAC beachhead were directed to consolidating the small area gained by the landing in April. The defended locality at Gaba Tepe had been one of the objectives of the 9th Infantry Battalion on [¡K]

Gallipoli – From Defeat at Sea to Defeat on Land

In the previous two monthly historical highlights we have traced the naval attempt to take Turkey out of the war and reopen the sea-route to Russia. We now turn to the land campaign, the outcome of which also failed to [¡K]

Gallipoli – The Naval Prelude

It’s easy for the casual visitor to Gallipoli, pressed for time and viewing things from a purely Australian perspective, to think that the campaign began as a deliberately planned amphibious operation at Anzac Cove. The ANZAC contribution was one part [¡K]

First Contact – The 2/30th Battalion Ambush at the Gemencheh River

At 4.00 PM on 14 January 1942 the long-awaited first clash between Australian troops and the Imperial Japanese Army occurred at the Gemencheh River, about twelve kilometres west of Gemas in Malaya. While this narrative does not allow a full [¡K]

Ordeal at Sea – The Loss of HMAS Armidale

For those who make the connection, the sinking of HMAS Armidale on 1 December 1942 is primarily remembered for the selfless heroism of a young Ordinary Seaman from Tasmania. However, the subsequent ordeal of the survivors as they hoped for [¡K]

Raising the Australian Regiment

A Regular Infantry Force for Australia November marks the anniversary of the formation of the Australian Regiment, a significant event in the history of the post World War II Australian Army. The raising of this new regiment was the first [¡K]