BLUF
Almost a million male and female Australians served in WW2. They served and fought in nearly every theatre of war, including Europe, Africa and the Pacific.Summary
This article from the Australian War Memorial makes the following points:
- Australia came under direct attack for the first time when Japanese aircraft bombed Darwin and WA, and midget submarines attacked Sydney shipping.
- The Royal Australian Navy fought in the Mediterranean, North Sea, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
- Up to 14,000 Australians held out against repeated German attacks in Tobruk, Libya.
- Nurses served in many theatres, and the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF), WRANS, AWAS and civilian Women's Land Army (WLA) were established.
- The most dangerous theatre for Australians during WW2 was RAAF members serving with RAF Bomber Command—nearly twenty per cent were killed in action.
References
- MILITARY HISTORY: INDEX of PAGES AND COLLECTIONS ON THE RAAF RUNWAY
- Australian Military History | The Cove (army.gov.au)
- Australians at war | Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au)
- NOV 2022 Last remaining NSW veteran of the Rats of Tobruk saluted in federal parliament after dying at age 106-ABC News
