Key Dates in Australia's Military History: World War Two – 1942
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23 January
Japanese capture Rabaul, New Guinea.
A gun crew of HMAS Perth rests after a full day of firing at German fighter aircraft during the evacuation of Allied troops from Crete, May 1941.
(AWM P01345.016)
15 February
British and Australian forces surrender at Singapore. Over 15,000 Australian soldiers become prisoners of war.
16 February
Massacre on Banka Island, Straits of Sumatra, of 21 members of the Australian Army Nursing Service and other survivors from the SS Vyner Brook. The only survivor from this party is Sister Vivian Bullwinkel.
19 February
First Japanese air raid on Darwin. The city is bombed 64 times between February 1942 and November 1943.
5–8 May
Battle of the Coral Sea.
Members of D company, 39th Battalion, return to base after the Battle of Isurava, Kokoda Track, Papua, September 1942.
(AWM 013288)
31 May – 1 June
Japanese midget submarines raid Sydney Harbour.
22 July – 16 November
Battle of the Kokoda Track, Papua. 27 July Formation of Australian Women’s Land Army.
25 August – 5 September
Battle of Milne Bay, Papua.
23–24 October – 4 November
Battle of El Alamein, Egypt.
October
Formation of Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service (RANNS).
December
Formation of Australian Army Medical Women’s Service (AAMWS)