Significant Dates

Please find below a list of dates that are significant to both the veteran community and to the wider Australian public

8-Jan

1958

Last Australian servicemen returned from Korea

Open combat in Korea ended with the armistice of 27 July 1953, but Australians continued to serve in post‑war duties, including with the Military Armistice Commission and United Nations activities along the Demilitarised Zone. Their work helped supervise the ceasefire, manage incidents, and support a fragile stability while the peninsula remained divided. The Korean experience also shaped Australia’s Cold War posture and later peacekeeping habits: small, specialised detachments working within multinational frameworks. Remembering the final drawdown in the late 1950s acknowledges those who served after the guns fell silent and the continuing, unfinished nature of the Korean conflict.

11-Jan

1973

Official cessation of hostilities in Vietnam by Australian forces

Australia’s participation in the Vietnam War was formally declared at an end on 11 January 1973, when the Governor‑General issued the proclamation ending hostilities. Most combat units had already withdrawn, but small guard and advisory elements remained until mid‑1973. The decision capped a decade‑long involvement by Army, RAAF and RAN personnel, and opened a new phase focused on repatriation, veteran welfare and national reflection on conscription and alliance policy. Commemoration now recognises the service of all who deployed, regardless of political debates at the time, and the long tail of health and family impacts that followed their return.

17-Jan

1991

Operation Desert Storm commenced

In the early hours of 17 January 1991, coalition forces launched a sustained air campaign to expel Iraq from Kuwait. Australia’s contributions—small in number but tightly integrated—included RAN ships enforcing UN sanctions in the Gulf, clearance divers, medical staff and embedded air and intelligence personnel. For Australia, the conflict underlined the value of interoperability and niche capabilities within coalitions, while demonstrating the scale and precision of modern air power. It also raised enduring questions about post‑war stabilisation that would echo into the 2003 Iraq commitment and beyond.

3-Feb

1942

Fall of Ambon: Gull Force captured

The 2/21st Battalion (“Gull Force”), with supporting units, was sent to Ambon in December 1941 and faced a rapid Japanese assault in January–February 1942. Cut off, short of heavy weapons and air cover, the defenders fought hard before surrender became unavoidable. Hundreds of Australians became prisoners; many later died through disease, starvation, forced labour and brutality in camps on Ambon and elsewhere. Ambon’s story sits within the wider collapse of the Netherlands East Indies in early 1942 and remains central to Australian memory of captivity in the Pacific War.

10-Feb

1964

HMAS Melbourne / HMAS Voyager collision

During night flying operations off Jervis Bay, the destroyer Voyager crossed ahead of the aircraft carrier Melbourne and was struck, breaking in two. Eighty‑two sailors from Voyager died. The disaster prompted two Royal Commissions and major changes to RAN procedures, from bridge management and communications to the conduct of carrier aviation exercises. Survivors, rescuers and families carried the toll for decades, and the incident remains one of the most scrutinised episodes in Australian naval history, studied as much for seamanship and command lessons as for its human cost.

14-Feb

National Servicemen’s Day

This day draws attention to the generations called up under Australia’s national service schemes, notably 1951–59 and 1965–72. Conscription was contentious, shaping politics and public protest, yet thousands of “Nashos” served at home and abroad—some in combat, many in demanding support roles. Their experiences ranged from interrupted studies and apprenticeships to enduring mateship and continuing identity as veterans. Reflection now centres on acknowledging varied service, ensuring health and welfare support, and understanding how compulsory service influenced the ADF and Australian society.

15-Feb

1942

Fall of Singapore

The surrender of Singapore to Japan on 15 February 1942 was a strategic shock. Around 130,000 Allied troops became prisoners, including approximately 15,000 Australians, after a rapid campaign down the Malayan peninsula and a week of bitter fighting on the island. The defeat exposed weaknesses in imperial defence assumptions and reshaped Australian strategy toward closer cooperation with the United States. For families, it ushered in years of uncertainty as news from prison camps filtered through. Commemoration balances the scale of the disaster with the endurance of those who survived captivity.

16-Feb

1942

Bangka Island massacre

After the hospital ship SS Vyner Brooke was bombed and sunk during the fall of Singapore, survivors—including Australian Army nurses—reached Radji Beach, Bangka Island. There, Japanese troops killed wounded men and forced the nurses into the sea before machine‑gunning them. Vivian Bullwinkel survived and later testified, ensuring the truth was recorded. The massacre is a defining episode in Australia’s wartime nursing story and a stark reminder of the need to protect medical personnel. It is remembered alongside the sinking of Vyner Brooke and years of subsequent internment for the surviving nurses.

19-Feb

1942

First bombing of Darwin

On the morning of 19 February 1942, Darwin suffered two major air raids. Carrier‑borne aircraft launched the first strike; a second came from bases in the Netherlands East Indies. Contemporary inquiries tallied 243 dead and more than 300 wounded; ships were sunk or damaged and vital facilities destroyed. The raids—the largest on Australian soil—exposed northern vulnerabilities and prompted rapid reinforcement, dispersal of assets and tighter civil defence. They also transformed public understanding of the war’s proximity, embedding Darwin in national memory of the home front.

20-Feb

1942

Battles for Timor, Koepang

Elements of Sparrow Force—notably the 2/40th Battalion—fought around Koepang in Dutch Timor as Japanese forces advanced. Overwhelmed after determined resistance, many were captured; others evaded and moved east to join the 2/2nd Independent Company, which sustained a guerrilla campaign from Portuguese Timor with vital local support. The fighting forced Japan to divert resources and left a legacy of sacrifice, including the fate of prisoners. Timor’s story binds Australian soldiers and Timorese communities who risked their lives to help them.

24-Feb

National Day for War Animals

Observed each year on 24 February, this day recognises animals’ roles in Australia’s military history—transport, communications, detection, protection and companionship. Horses, mules, donkeys, camels and pigeons served alongside people; dogs and other animals continue to work with contemporary forces. The purple poppy has become a symbol for many commemorations of animal service. Marking the day broadens remembrance beyond human stories and invites reflection on logistics, endurance, loyalty and care in war and peace.

28-Feb

1942

Sinking of HMAS Perth in the Battle of Sunda Strait

After the Java Sea battle, HMAS Perth and USS Houston attempted to break south via the Sunda Strait but encountered a superior Japanese force. Short of ammunition yet fighting hard, both cruisers were sunk in the night action. Many sailors died; survivors endured captivity and forced labour, with further losses. Perth’s story—service, battle, wreck, and remembrance—remains central to RAN history and is interpreted through objects, artworks and research at the Memorial.

1-Mar

1901

Formation of the Australian Navy

With Federation, the colonial naval forces were amalgamated into the Commonwealth Naval Forces—the forerunner of today’s Royal Australian Navy. Through the 1900s the young Commonwealth funded and developed its own capability even as Britain’s Australia Station continued to protect local waters; in 1911 the title “Royal Australian Navy” was granted. Marking 1901 highlights the administrative unification that enabled coherent policy, ship acquisition and training, setting the foundations for an independent national navy.

1-Mar

1901

Formation of the Australian Army

Also in March 1901, the new Commonwealth assumed responsibility for defence and merged colonial forces as the Commonwealth Military Forces (later the Australian Military Forces). This structure underpinned Australia’s ability to raise large expeditionary forces in 1914 and 1939, while maintaining citizen‑soldier traditions at home. The Army’s history since has encompassed home defence, expeditionary operations, peacekeeping and disaster relief—roles built on that original federating act.

2-Mar

1943

Battle of the Bismarck Sea

Allied air power intercepted a Japanese convoy reinforcing Lae, employing coordinated medium‑altitude bombing, low‑level attacks and fighter sweeps refined in New Guinea operations. RAAF and USAAF aircraft destroyed transports and escorts, inflicting heavy losses and frustrating Japanese plans on the Huon‑Markham front. For the RAAF, the battle validated intelligence‑led planning, joint execution and tactical innovation such as skip‑bombing—at significant cost in strain and risk. It marked a turning point in the air‑sea campaign for New Guinea.

3-Mar

1942

Attacks on Broome

Broome had become a crowded evacuation hub as refugees and aircrews fled the Netherlands East Indies. On the morning of 3 March 1942, ten Japanese fighters swept over the town, destroying 16 flying boats in Roebuck Bay and six aircraft at the airfield; a DC‑3 carrying refugees and a Liberator with wounded US servicemen were also shot down. Dozens were killed, including women and children. The raid exposed western and northern vulnerabilities and forced rapid changes to dispersal and early‑warning arrangements along the coast.

20-Mar

2003

Iraq War commenced

On 20 March 2003, the United States, Britain and Australia led an invasion of Iraq, initially to remove Saddam Hussein’s regime and eliminate suspected weapons of mass destruction. Australian forces contributed Special Forces, air and naval elements; after the major combat phase they shifted to headquarters, training and reconstruction tasks, with about 1,000 Australians remaining in the Middle East at one point. The campaign generated intense political debate at home and long‑term commitments for veterans and families.

31-Mar

1921

Formation of the Royal Australian Air Force

Australia created an independent air arm when the Royal Australian Air Force was established on 31 March 1921, evolving from the Australian Flying Corps via the short‑lived Australian Air Corps. Over the century since, the RAAF has developed capabilities in combat, maritime patrol, airlift, surveillance, rescue and humanitarian relief, serving across the world and the region. The date is marked for its institutional significance and for the people—aircrew, ground crews, engineers and controllers—who sustain air power.

2-Apr

2005

Crash of RAN Sea King helicopter 'Shark 02'

On 2 April 2005, Royal Australian Navy Sea King helicopter ‘Shark 02’ crashed on Nias Island, Indonesia, while flying humanitarian relief in the wake of the earthquake there. Nine Australian Defence Force personnel were killed. The Sea King detachment had been moving medical teams and supplies as part of Australia’s disaster-response effort. The loss, recorded in the Memorial’s collections and education resources, highlights the hazards faced by Australian personnel on peacekeeping and relief operations, where difficult terrain, high tempo flying and austere conditions combine to raise risk even in non-combat roles.

10-Apr

1941

Siege of Tobruk commences, North Africa

German forces cut Tobruk’s landward routes on 10–11 April 1941, besieging the 9th Australian Division and the attached 18th Brigade. Over the following months Australians mounted aggressive patrols and defeated major attacks such as the ‘Easter Battle’ of 13–14 April. Holding the port forced the enemy to lengthen its supply lines across the desert and denied a springboard into Egypt. The siege became a defining episode for the ‘Rats of Tobruk’, whose endurance and tactics under Major General Leslie Morshead shaped Australia’s reputation in the North African campaign.

11-Apr

1917

Battles for Bullecourt begin

The first battle of Bullecourt on 11 April 1917 saw the 4th Australian Division attack the Hindenburg Line without adequate preparation. Tanks meant to lead the assault failed, and the infantry fought into the German defences before being forced back with heavy losses. Bullecourt sat on a fortified switch of the Hindenburg Line; the failure of the first attack set the stage for renewed fighting in May. Across the two battles the AIF endured grievous casualties for little strategic gain, and Bullecourt became emblematic of the costly attrition on the Western Front.

24-Apr

Kapyong Day (Korean War)

Kapyong Day marks the battle fought on 23–24 April 1951, when 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, with Canadian, New Zealand and British troops, blocked the Chinese spring offensive north of Seoul. Over two days of close combat on steep hillsides, 3 RAR’s defence helped halt a major breakthrough and earned the unit a United States Presidential Unit Citation. The action is regarded as the most significant fought by Australians in Korea and is commemorated each year for its example of discipline, small‑unit leadership and coalition cooperation.

25-Apr

1915

Gallipoli Landing, Türkiye (Anzac Day)

At dawn on 25 April 1915 Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli’s rugged coast as part of an Allied attempt to force the Dardanelles. Quickly pinned on steep ridges, the Anzacs dug in and endured months of hardship before the campaign ended in evacuation. The landing became central to national memory, commemorated annually as Anzac Day, honouring sacrifice and service in all wars. Gallipoli’s mixed results—courage amid failure—continue to frame discussions of strategy, leadership and the experience of citizen soldiers in the First World War.

30-Apr

1975

End of the Vietnam War

The fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975 brought the Vietnam War to an end. Nearly 60,000 Australians had served in the conflict between 1962 and 1975, a commitment that grew controversial at home as the war dragged on. Australia’s withdrawal preceded the final collapse, but the war’s legacy continued in veterans’ experiences and in the arrival of Vietnamese refugees. The Memorial’s Vietnam galleries interpret the conflict’s course and consequences, from major battles and airmobile operations to the social divisions and post‑war commemoration.

3-May

1917

Battles for Bullecourt (Second battle)

On 3–17 May 1917 the AIF’s 2nd Division, alongside the British 62nd Division, fought through Bullecourt’s fortified sector of the Hindenburg Line. Initial penetrations on 3 May were followed by fierce German counter‑attacks and renewed Allied efforts that eventually linked the fronts, but at heavy cost. Australian casualties across the May fighting alone totalled in the thousands, and the locality yielded little strategic reward. The struggle at Bullecourt illustrates the deadly interplay of machine‑guns, artillery and stubborn fieldworks that characterised the Western Front.

4-May

1942

Battle of the Coral Sea commences

From 4–8 May 1942 Allied and Japanese forces fought the Battle of the Coral Sea, the first naval clash in which aircraft carriers played the decisive role. Australian and US ships and aircraft helped turn back a seaborne advance toward Port Moresby. Although both sides suffered losses, the battle checked Japanese plans in the South Pacific and set conditions for later Allied successes. The Memorial’s resources explain how Australian cruisers and aircrews operated alongside US carrier groups in this pivotal engagement.

8-May

1945

Victory in Europe (VE Day)

On 8 May 1945 Germany surrendered, ending the war in Europe. Australians serving with RAF Bomber Command and other Allied units had contributed to the long air and ground campaigns that preceded victory. VE Day brought celebrations tempered by grief and by the knowledge that fighting in the Pacific continued. The Memorial reflects both the relief of victory and the scale of sacrifice, including Bomber Command’s heavy losses and the impact on families at home.

12-May

1968

First attack on Fire Support Base Coral

As part of operations to disrupt enemy units moving toward Saigon during the 1968 offensive, Australian forces established Fire Support Base Coral north‑east of Saigon. In the early hours of 12 May the base came under heavy mortar and ground attack, triggering intense actions that continued over subsequent nights. Artillerymen and infantry fought at close quarters to hold the position. The fighting at Coral, followed later by Balmoral, became Australia’s largest unit battles of the Vietnam War and demonstrated the adaptability of combined arms under pressure.

13-May

1943

End of the North Africa campaign

On 13 May 1943 Axis forces in Tunisia surrendered, ending the North African campaign. Australians had already left the theatre, but earlier fought from Bardia and Tobruk through to Syria and the Western Desert, experiences that shaped the AIF before later deployments to New Guinea. North Africa’s conclusion freed Allied resources for the invasions of Sicily and Italy and cemented the reputation of Australian formations forged in Libya and Egypt.

14-May

1943

Hospital Ship Centaur sunk

Before dawn on 14 May 1943 the Australian hospital ship Centaur was torpedoed off the Queensland coast by a Japanese submarine. Marked and illuminated as a protected vessel, Centaur sank quickly; only 64 of the 332 people on board survived. Among the dead were many members of the medical staff. The attack caused national outrage and remains one of the gravest maritime losses in Australian waters. The Memorial preserves records and personal stories that convey the scale and shock of the tragedy.

25-May

2006

Operation ASTUTE, East Timor

In May 2006 Australia led a rapid deployment to Timor‑Leste, codenamed Operation ASTUTE, to help restore security amid internal unrest. Working with Timorese authorities and regional partners, Australian troops, police and support elements stabilised key sites in Dili and assisted with humanitarian needs. The deployment drew on experience from earlier missions and formed part of a longer Australian commitment to East Timor’s security and nation‑building efforts.

26-May

1968

First attack on Fire Support Base Balmoral

After Coral, 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment established Fire Support Base Balmoral farther north. In the early hours of 26 May 1968 North Vietnamese forces launched the first of two major assaults. Supported by Centurion tanks and artillery, the defenders held firm. A second attack followed on 28–29 May. The actions at Balmoral, paired with Coral, became defining battles for the Australian Task Force in Vietnam and underscored the effectiveness of armour–infantry–artillery cooperation.

29-May

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

Observed each year on 29 May, the International Day of UN Peacekeepers honours military, police and civilian personnel who serve in complex and often dangerous missions. Australians have contributed to peacekeeping since 1947, deploying to more than 50 operations worldwide in roles from unarmed observers to formed units and specialists. The Memorial’s collections and official histories trace this record, commemorating individuals and explaining how peacekeepers help create the conditions for peace.

31-May

1942

Japanese submarines attack Sydney Harbour

On the night of 31 May–1 June 1942 three Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour. One torpedo struck the depot ship HMAS Kuttabul alongside Garden Island, killing 21 sailors. Although the attackers failed to hit their primary targets, the raid brought the war dramatically to Australia’s east coast and spurred improvements in harbour defence and civil preparedness. The Memorial’s exhibitions and research interpret the raid’s planning, execution and consequences.

31-May

1902

Boer War ends

The South African War (Boer War) ended on 31 May 1902 with the Treaty of Vereeniging. Tens of thousands of Australians had served in mounted units raised in the colonies and, later, the Commonwealth, fighting in conventional and guerrilla phases across the veld. The conflict forged military traditions carried into the First World War and is memorialised across Australia in local monuments and in the national collection.

1-Jun

Bomber Command Day (Australia)

Held in early June, Bomber Command commemorations in Australia honour the roughly 10,000 Australians who served in RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War, more than 4,000 of whom were killed. Ceremonies at the Memorial and elsewhere remember crews who flew arduous night raids over occupied Europe. The story is embodied by ‘G for George’, a 460 Squadron Lancaster preserved by the Memorial, and by the testimonies of veterans and families.

6-Jun

1944

D‑Day, Normandy landings

On 6 June 1944 Allied forces landed in Normandy to begin the liberation of Western Europe. Australians served chiefly in the air and at sea—flying with RAF and RAAF squadrons, crewing ships that escorted the invasion armada, and supporting the vast logistics effort. D‑Day marked a turning point in the European war and showcased the scale of Allied planning and cooperation, to which Australians contributed across many specialties.

6–7 Jun

1971

Battle of Long Khánh (Operation Overlord)

During Operation Overlord in early June 1971, 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, supported by Centurion tanks and artillery, attacked well‑prepared North Vietnamese bunker systems in Long Khánh Province. Fierce fighting on 6–7 June broke up enemy concentrations threatening the task force area. Across the nine‑day operation Australian forces suffered significant casualties, including 12 killed, but seized and destroyed major bases. Photographs, unit histories and veterans’ accounts at the Memorial document the action and its impact.

7-Jun

Military Working Dog Day (commemoration)

Military working dogs have served with Australians for more than a century—as messengers, trackers, explosive detection dogs and companions in places from France to Afghanistan. The Memorial’s sculpture Circling into sleep and related collections honour the bond between handlers and dogs, and the skill and courage these teams display in both war and humanitarian operations. Their story illustrates how animals have saved lives and sustained morale across generations of service.

10-Jun

2010

Battle of Shah Wali Kot begins, Afghanistan

In June 2010 Australian Special Operations Task Group elements fought a series of engagements against insurgent strongholds in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar. A helicopter assault near Tizak on 11 June saw intense close combat, actions later associated with awards including the Victoria Cross for Australia to Corporal Ben Roberts‑Smith. The operations disrupted insurgent networks and became one of the most significant Australian actions of the Afghanistan war.

12-Jun

1996

Black Hawk helicopter tragedy

On the night of 12 June 1996 two Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters collided during a training exercise near Townsville. Eighteen soldiers were killed—fifteen from the SAS Regiment and three from 5th Aviation Regiment—and many others were injured. The disaster prompted changes to tactics and procedures and is remembered in unit and national commemorations. The Memorial holds interviews, images and publications that preserve accounts of the event and those who served.

18-Jun

1948

Malayan Emergency declared

Following escalating violence in Malaya, a state of emergency was declared across the country on 18 June 1948, marking the start of the long campaign against the Malayan Communist Party. Australia’s military commitment began with RAAF support from 1950 and expanded to include Army and Navy units. Operations combined military force with civil measures in difficult jungle terrain, shaping later Australian experience in Southeast Asia.

19-Jun

1941

Battle of Wadi Zeini (Syria–Lebanon campaign)

On 19 June 1941 Australian troops fought actions around the Wadi Zeini in western Lebanon during the Syria–Lebanon campaign against Vichy French forces. The fighting formed part of a wider Allied advance by the 7th Division toward Beirut, through rugged country cut by deep wadis and defended positions. Wadi Zeini is remembered among the campaign’s battle honours that reflect Australia’s demanding Middle Eastern operations of 1941.

25-Jun

International Day of the Seafarer

The International Day of the Seafarer recognises those who carry the world’s trade and, in wartime, sustain national survival. Australia’s Merchant Navy kept supply lines open in both world wars while facing submarines, aircraft and mines—suffering heavy losses in the process. The Memorial’s collections and exhibitions on the Merchant Navy explain their hazardous work, including coastal convoys and oceanic voyages that were vital to Australia’s war effort.

1-Jul

1942

Sinking of the Montevideo Maru

On 1 July 1942 the Japanese transport Montevideo Maru, carrying Australian prisoners of war and civilians captured at Rabaul, was torpedoed by USS Sturgeon off the Philippines. The ship sank within minutes; more than a thousand captives perished, making it the deadliest maritime disaster in Australian history. Long after the war families struggled for confirmed lists of the dead; investigations in Tokyo in 1945 helped clarify the loss. In April 2023 the wreck was located in the South China Sea, deepening public awareness of the tragedy while providing no closure for those lost without trace.

1-Jul

1902

Formation of the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps

Federation-era reforms consolidated colonial logistics services into a national ordnance organisation. The Army’s ordnance corps evolved to raise, equip and sustain forces at home and abroad, managing stores, weapons, ammunition and later complex supply chains. Its soldiers supported every major operation, from the world wars through Korea, Vietnam and contemporary deployments, keeping units effective in the field. Histories and collections at the Memorial trace the corps’ growth from small workshops to a sophisticated logistics enterprise, showing how ordnance specialists adapted to mechanisation, mass production and the demands of expeditionary warfare.

1-Jul

1902

Formation of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps

With the creation of the Commonwealth Military Forces, Australian medical services were brought together as a national corps. Doctors, nurses, orderlies and stretcher-bearers supported campaigns from South Africa and the First World War through to today, developing field hospitals, evacuation chains and preventive medicine. The Memorial’s collections and scholarship chart the corps’ evolution as battlefield injuries, disease control and rehabilitation changed with technology and tactics, while its personnel carried a distinctive ethos of service to the wounded, wherever they were found.

1-Jul

1902

Formation of the Royal Australian Engineers

Australia’s engineers inherited colonial traditions of military engineering and, after Federation, formed a corps responsible for mobility, counter‑mobility and survivability. Sappers bridged rivers, cleared mines, built fortifications, roads and airstrips, and delivered essential water, power and construction. From the Western Front to the Pacific, Korea and later operations, engineers enabled manoeuvre and defence while taking heavy risks. Memorial holdings—including unit histories—show how the corps adapted with mechanisation, explosives, and engineers’ growing role in reconstruction and humanitarian tasks.

1-Jul

1903

Formation of the Australian Army Nursing Service (later RAANC)

The Australian Army Nursing Service was created in July 1903 within the Army Medical Corps. In wartime and peace it provided skilled care in hospitals, hospital ships and forward areas. Nurses served from the Dardanelles and the Western Front to the Pacific and later conflicts, often under fire or in captivity. The Memorial’s exhibitions interpret their clinical work, leadership and resilience, and how military nursing opened careers for Australian women while demanding courage, professionalism and sacrifice.

4-Jul

1918

Battle of Hamel

On 4 July 1918 the Australian Corps under Lieutenant General John Monash executed a meticulously planned combined‑arms attack near Le Hamel. Tanks, artillery, aircraft and infantry were synchronised to seize objectives in just over the planned 90 minutes, with American companies attached to gain combat experience. Hamel demonstrated a mature, methodical style of warfare that informed later advances. The Memorial’s interpretations highlight the planning conferences, rehearsals and coordination that produced a textbook victory at relatively modest cost.

11-Jul

2021

All ADF departed Afghanistan

Australia’s two‑decade commitment in Afghanistan wound down in 2021. Across the war, ADF contributions included Special Forces operations, training Afghan units, airlift and surveillance, medical and logistics support, and a long headquarters presence. The Memorial’s Afghanistan resource guides outline how to research service, honours and unit deployments, and record those who died. The end of the mission shifted national attention to veteran welfare, remembrance and interpretation of a complex, often difficult campaign.

12-Jul

Remembering Prisoners of War

Australian experience of captivity spans the Boer War, two world wars and Korea. More than 36,000 Australians were held prisoner; many endured starvation, disease, forced labour and brutality, while others were rescued or repatriated late in the war. The Memorial’s collections and exhibitions preserve letters, artworks and testimony that reveal resilience, humour and grief. Commemorations honour those who did not return and those who rebuilt lives after captivity, linking communities to stories from camps across Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

14-Jul

Bastille Day – Franco‑Australian remembrance

France’s national day often prompts reflection on the bonds forged between Australians and the French on the Western Front. At Villers‑Bretonneux, the Australian National Memorial lists the names of more than 11,000 missing. Ceremonies and education programs sustain these connections and help new generations understand why Australians served so far from home. The Memorial’s resources and galleries interpret the battles, losses and legacies that underwrite Franco‑Australian friendship.

19-Jul

1916

Battle of Fromelles

On 19 July 1916 the 5th Australian Division attacked near Fromelles with the British 61st Division in an operation intended to divert German reserves from the Somme. The assault struck a strongly prepared position and failed at terrible cost—about 5,500 Australian casualties in 24 hours. The Memorial’s articles and displays explain the battle’s planning, the flat, waterlogged terrain, and the lessons drawn by the AIF as it adjusted to the industrial scale of the Western Front.

21-Jul

1942

First Battle of El Alamein (North Africa)

In July 1942 Axis forces pushed east toward Egypt before being halted on the El Alamein line. The 9th Australian Division fought stubborn actions that helped stabilise the front and set conditions for later offensives. El Alamein became a byword for attrition, fieldcraft and artillery duels in the desert. Memorial resources and talks examine the division’s role across the 1942 battles and how these actions shaped the later, decisive offensive in October–November.

23-Jul to 3-Sep

1916

Battle of Pozières

From late July into early September 1916, three Australian divisions fought for Pozières and the neighbouring ridges on the Somme. The village fell on 23 July, but German artillery exacted a fearful toll as the AIF pushed on toward Mouquet Farm. Charles Bean’s work at Pozières helped shape the idea of a national memorial. Today the battle is interpreted through photographs, dioramas and classroom resources that convey both achievement and loss.

24-Jul

2003

Arrival of RAMSI forces in the Solomon Islands

On 24 July 2003 the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) deployed to restore security and support governance after years of unrest. Australia led with police and ADF elements under Operation Anode, working alongside regional partners. The Memorial’s collection records the mission’s multinational character and the tasks—from stabilising key sites to rebuilding institutions—that marked one of Australia’s most sustained regional commitments.

27-Jul

1953

Korean Veterans’ Day (Armistice signed)

The Korean Armistice was signed on 27 July 1953, ending open hostilities while leaving the peninsula divided. More than 17,000 Australians served; 340 were killed and over 1,200 wounded, with 30 taken prisoner. Commemorations on this date honour those who fought in a UN coalition and those who continued with armistice duties. The Memorial marks the service of veterans across sea, air and land campaigns.

28-Jul

2023

‘Bushman 83’ MRH‑90 crash during Exercise Talisman Sabre

The loss of an Army MRH‑90 Taipan and its crew during training in 2023 is remembered alongside earlier peacetime and operational fatalities. The Memorial’s Roll of Honour recognises those who die in warlike, non‑warlike and certain peacetime operations, and its collection includes material related to the MRH‑90 platform. Such incidents underline the risks inherent in service, whether on operations, humanitarian tasks or training.

2-Aug

1990

Iraq invades Kuwait

Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 triggered a UN‑backed coalition response. Australia contributed naval, air and medical elements, enforcing sanctions and later supporting combat operations in early 1991. The Memorial’s Gulf War resources outline deployments under Operation Damask and the wider context that led to Desert Storm, highlighting coalition interoperability and the return to the Gulf for later operations.

5-Aug

1944

Cowra Breakout

Before dawn on 5 August 1944 Japanese prisoners staged a mass escape from the camp at Cowra, New South Wales. Hundreds broke through the wire; many were killed or recaptured in the following days, as were several Australian soldiers. The Memorial’s encyclopedia and collection items document the camp, the breakout’s planning and its aftermath, and the long process of commemoration that followed between Australia and Japan.

9-Aug

1942

Sinking of HMAS Canberra (I)

In the early hours of 9 August 1942 the heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra was hit repeatedly during the Battle of Savo Island off Guadalcanal. With 84 killed and the ship crippled, her crew were ordered to abandon ship; she was sunk later by Allied torpedoes. The action revealed the lethality of night surface combat and the risks borne by Allied cruisers covering the Guadalcanal landings.

15-Aug

Sandakan Remembrance (Borneo)

Commemorations honour the prisoners who died at Sandakan and on the death marches of 1945. Memorial sculpture and programs in Canberra and Borneo recall those forced to build airstrips, starved and brutalised, with only a handful surviving. The story sits at the heart of Australia’s remembrance of captivity in the Pacific War and is marked alongside Victory in the Pacific commemorations on 15 August.

15-Aug

1945

Victory in the Pacific (VP Day)

Japan’s acceptance of Allied terms in mid‑August 1945 ended the Second World War for Australia. Relief mixed with mourning as families awaited the return of servicemen and prisoners, while operations in places like Borneo and New Guinea wound down. The Memorial’s articles and exhibitions explore the end of the war and how Australians commemorated victory even as the costs became clear.

18-Aug

Vietnam Veterans’ Day

Observed on 18 August, Vietnam Veterans’ Day grew from ‘Long Tan Day’, marking the 1966 battle fought by D Company, 6RAR, and supporting arms. It now honours all who served in the conflict, their families and the fallen. The Memorial’s materials trace Australia’s decade‑long commitment and the evolution of public commemoration and veteran welfare since the war.

25-Aug

1942

Battle of Milne Bay begins

In late August 1942 Japanese forces attempted to seize airstrips at Milne Bay, Papua. Australian and US units, supported by decisive air power, repelled the landings and counter‑attacked, forcing a withdrawal by early September. The battle was a crucial defensive success that boosted morale and secured a base vital to later operations along the New Guinea coast.

26-Aug

1942

Battle of Isurava (Kokoda Track)

From mid‑August the 39th Battalion, later reinforced by the 21st Brigade, fought desperate defensive actions at Isurava on the Kokoda Track. Under relentless pressure the Australians held, counter‑attacked and then withdrew in contact, buying time for a wider defence of Port Moresby. The Memorial’s summaries and battle honours record the ferocity of the fighting and its place in the Kokoda story.

31-Aug

Malaya & Borneo Veterans’ Day

This day recognises Australians who served in the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation. Service ranged from air operations and jungle patrolling to secret cross‑border actions in Kalimantan, followed by long post‑armistice commitments with the Far East Strategic Reserve. Memorial guides, galleries and unit histories help families trace that service and understand its regional legacy.

1-Sep

1918

Battle of Mont St Quentin

Australian divisions crossed the Somme and seized the dominant heights of Mont St Quentin and the town of Péronne in early September 1918. The action broke a key German position and accelerated the Allied advance. The Memorial’s long‑standing diorama and battle interpretations explain why the feat is celebrated among the Australian Corps’ finest achievements of the war.

3-Sep

Merchant Navy Day

Australia’s Merchant Navy kept sea lanes open in both world wars, carrying troops and vital cargoes under the threat of submarines, aircraft and mines. Losses were heavy in coastal and oceanic waters. Commemorations on 3 September honour merchant mariners’ courage and endurance; the Memorial recognises their service in its gardens, collections and ceremonies.

14-Sep

Australian Peacekeepers’ Day

On 14 September Australians mark the start of our long record in peacekeeping, dating from the deployment of unarmed observers in 1947. Since then Australians have served on more than fifty missions worldwide as military, police and civilians. Memorial programs and exhibitions share personal stories and explain how peacekeepers help create conditions for peace.

15-Sep

1940

Battle of Britain Day

The Battle of Britain reached its climax in mid‑September 1940. Australians served chiefly in RAF and RAAF squadrons, in the air and on the ground. The struggle over southern England prevented invasion and bought time for Allied recovery. The Memorial’s essays and images explore the battle’s course and Australia’s contribution to the air war over Britain.

20-Sep

1999

Arrival of INTERFET in East Timor

After violence followed East Timor’s independence vote, an Australian‑led international force deployed to restore security. The first Australians of INTERFET arrived in Dili on 20 September 1999; more than 5,000 Australians served in the 22‑nation force. Memorial resources chart the operation’s origins, multinational character and the tasks of stabilisation and humanitarian support.

21-Sep

Battle of Britain (commemoration)

Around this date many communities continue to reflect on the wider Battle of Britain, its aircrew and ground crews, and the campaign’s place in the air war. The Memorial’s collections preserve photographs, artefacts and personal histories that connect Australians to the struggle fought over Britain in 1940.

6-Sep

1943

Operation Jaywick

In September 1943 members of Z Special Unit covertly entered Singapore Harbour from the vessel Krait and attached limpet mines to enemy shipping, sinking and damaging several vessels. Disguised as local fishermen, the raiders exfiltrated without loss. The operation remains one of the best‑known Allied special operations in the region and is well documented in the Memorial’s collections and articles.

29-Sep

1918

Breaking the Hindenburg Line

Late September 1918 saw Allied forces breach the Hindenburg Line, Germany’s strongest defensive system. Australian divisions helped seize key positions and fought through trench systems and fortified villages, opening the way toward final victory. Memorial exhibits explain the formidable defences, the planning for the assault and the costly fighting that followed.

3-Oct

1951

Battle of Maryang San

During Operation Commando in early October 1951, 3RAR attacked the high ground around Maryang San (Hill 317) overlooking the Imjin River. Steep ridges, well‑entrenched defenders and counter‑attacks demanded determined infantry work, close artillery support and careful control across broken terrain. After days of fighting the Australians seized key objectives, contributing to a stronger UN defensive line before the war settled again into static positions. The battle is remembered for tactical skill, stamina and leadership under pressure, and stands with Kapyong as a defining action of Australian arms in Korea.

3-Oct

1987

Vietnam Forces Welcome Home Parade, Sydney

On 3 October 1987, some 22,000 veterans marched through Sydney after a dawn service at the Cenotaph, cheered on by large crowds. The Welcome Home Parade recognised service long overshadowed by the politics of the war and the divisions it left at home. Memorial photographers documented faces in the ranks and the emotion of families along the route. The event helped broaden public acknowledgement, complementing later commemorations and memorials that honour all who served in Vietnam—regulars and conscripts, at sea, on land and in the air.

19-Oct

War Widows Day

War widows have organised and advocated for generations, notably through the War Widows’ Guild founded by Jessie Vasey during the Second World War. The Guild campaigned for pensions, housing and medical support, and created peer networks that preserved dignity and community for families living with loss. Marking a day for war widows invites reflection on their strength, the work of volunteer leaders, and the continuing need for practical assistance and recognition. Badges, magazines and plaques in the national collection record how this movement shaped policy and remembrance across Australia.

23-Oct

1942

Second Battle of El Alamein

The Eighth Army’s offensive opened on the night of 23 October 1942 with a massive artillery programme along the El Alamein line. The Australian 9th Division fought repeated, bruising actions on the northern sector, drawing in German reserves and helping create the conditions for the wider breakthrough. El Alamein ended Axis hopes in Egypt, lifted Allied morale and confirmed the hard‑won reputation of Australian troops who had already proved themselves at Tobruk. Veterans’ accounts and Memorial collections preserve the human scale behind this turning point.

24-Oct

United Nations Day

United Nations Day marks the UN’s founding and invites reflection on Australia’s long peacekeeping and peace support record. From the early operations in the late 1940s to complex missions in Cambodia, East Timor and elsewhere, Australians have served as observers, police, troops and specialists. Posters, photographs and records in the Memorial’s collections chart changing symbols—from blue helmets and flags to field diaries—and the human stories of risk, patience and negotiation that underpin international efforts to create the conditions for peace.

1-Nov

1914

AIF first convoy sails from Albany

On 1 November 1914 the first convoy of Australian and New Zealand troops departed Albany, Western Australia, escorted by cruisers including HMAS Sydney and Melbourne and the Japanese battlecruiser Ibuki. Photographs in the Memorial’s collection show lines of transports leaving King George Sound—an image that has become symbolic of a generation embarking on a war of unexpected duration and cost. The convoy’s departure connected distant communities to the unfolding conflict and remains a touchstone of national memory.

3-Nov

Kokoda Day

Commemorations around this date honour the Kokoda campaign in Papua, where Australian soldiers, Papuan carriers and New Guinean civilians resisted and then pushed back a determined Japanese advance across the Owen Stanleys in 1942. The fighting was brutal, the conditions punishing, and the logistics improvised over impossible terrain. Memorial galleries and research explore the campaign’s sequence—from Deniki and Isurava to Oivi‑Gorari—and its lasting place in Australian remembrance, shaped by bonds with local communities and the endurance of young citizen soldiers.

11-Nov

1918

Remembrance Day / Great War Armistice signed

At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns fell silent on the Western Front. The Armistice ended four years of industrialised warfare that had cost millions of lives and left deep scars on societies worldwide. In Australia, the day is marked by a minute’s silence and national ceremony, honouring those who died and those who returned changed. The Memorial’s commemorations, collections and scholarship keep faith with that moment and with the continuing service and sacrifice of Australians in later conflicts.

11-Nov

1934

Shrine of Remembrance opened, Melbourne

Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance opened on 11 November 1934 before vast crowds, becoming Victoria’s principal place of commemoration. Its classical form, ritual spaces and educational programs have welcomed generations of families, students and veterans. The Shrine’s story intersects with the Memorial’s national role: together they anchor remembrance in civic life while evolving to include new conflicts, diverse service and the experiences of families who bear loss.

11-Nov

1941

Australian War Memorial opened, Canberra

The Australian War Memorial opened on Remembrance Day 1941, as another global war was underway. Conceived after the First World War, the building combined shrine, museum and archive—a place to mourn, to learn and to preserve. Its charter soon broadened to include the Second World War and later conflicts. The Memorial’s growth since has expanded galleries and collections while holding to its core purpose: to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australians.

18-Nov

1943

Battle of Berlin (air offensive)

From August 1943 to March 1944 Bomber Command mounted a sustained series of night raids against Berlin. Australian aircrew flew with RAAF squadrons and RAF units in a campaign that aimed to break German capacity and will but instead exacted heavy casualties on the bombers. Collection items, photographs and oral histories at the Memorial trace the experience of crews—navigation under fire, flak‑torn aircraft, losses in freezing skies—and the strategic debates the offensive intensified.

19-Nov

1941

Sinking of HMAS Sydney (II)

HMAS Sydney was lost with all 645 hands after a close‑range action with the German raider Kormoran off Western Australia on 19 November 1941. The Kormoran was also sunk, with many of her crew rescued. Sydney’s disappearance shocked the nation and remains Australia’s worst naval disaster. The Memorial preserves images, accounts and research that chart the cruiser’s distinguished service, the battle, and the long effort to understand exactly what happened that day.

7-Dec

1941

End of the Siege of Tobruk

The long siege of Tobruk ended in December 1941 as Axis forces withdrew westward after Allied offensives in the Western Desert. Australian units had borne months of bombardment and raids earlier in the year before being relieved, their defence delaying Axis plans and shaping later success at El Alamein. Diaries, photographs and unit histories in the Memorial’s collections reveal the endurance of the ‘Rats of Tobruk’ and the human costs of desert warfare.

11-Dec

1952

Operation Fauna (1RAR), Korea

In December 1952 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, launched Operation Fauna against enemy bunkers near Hill 355 in Korea. The night assault aimed to seize prisoners and destroy defences on a sector where patrols and raids defined a grinding, static war. The action reflected the harsh routine of the later Korean conflict—cold, mud, fortified positions and sudden violence—and the professionalism of Australian soldiers operating within a multinational UN force.

20-Dec

1915

Last troops evacuated from Gallipoli

The evacuation of Anzac and Suvla in December 1915 was the campaign’s most successful operation. Deception plans, silent periods and careful staging reduced risk as thousands of men were withdrawn by night. The last boats left Anzac in the early hours of 20 December with minimal casualties, an achievement recorded in diaries, photographs and official histories preserved by the Memorial. The departure closed a searing chapter and shaped remembrance of courage, loss and endurance at Gallipoli.

31-Dec

2014

Conclusion of Operation SLIPPER, Afghanistan

Operation Slipper was Australia’s principal contribution to the war in Afghanistan and related Middle East maritime operations from 2001. Across more than a decade Australian forces conducted special operations, trained Afghan units, patrolled sea lanes, flew airlift and refuelling missions, and served in headquarters and reconstruction roles. By late 2014 the commitment shifted to new advisory and support arrangements as the mission evolved. Memorial collections preserve footage, interviews and objects that document those deployments and honour those who died.