----- WHEN WAR CAME TO AUSTRALIA -----

Darwin 1942...

“Most of our food supplies were destroyed in the raid, and we were reduced to half rations for about two months. What with little food and the mossies sucking the life out of us, we led a pretty lousy existence.

Towards the end of March we were moved to the RAAF base on ground defences. We finally got our Bren Gun Carriers, but mine was destroyed by a bomb on Anzac day.

We copped 84 bombs that day. My carrier crew were in a slit trench; two daisy cutters dropped 16 yards apart; one 6 yards away, the other 10 yards the other way; we were in the middle. There wasn’t a blade of grass left in the area. My underwear was shredded; fortunately I wasn’t wearing it at the time. I had washed it and hung it out to dry.”

Recollections of Rex Ruwoldt. (It certainly helped to have a sense of humour in those dangerous days)

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(Last Update 31/1/2022)

When war came to Darwin

February 19th 1942...

Remembering those desperate days when the Japanese dropped 683 bombs on Darwin in the first ever attack on Australia by an enemy force, and the 62 other raids on Australia over the next 18 months. As told by those who were there.