© ATOM 2012 A STUDY GUIDE BY ROGER STITSON
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
ISBN: 978-1-74295-144-7 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au Death and destruction, courage and mateship, desertion, chaos and looting – this is the untold story of what really happened during the bombing of Darwin in February 1942 … and how the nation would know nothing about it.
Following the fall of Singapore, many feared a Japanese invasion was im- minent, but with the bulk of its troops overseas, Australia was unprepared and ill equipped for war on its own doorstep. On 19 February the nation’s darkest fears would be realised.
At 9.58am Japanese bombers and fighter planes appeared in the sky over Darwin and began a day of carnage. By its end, the surprise attack would leave over 250 people dead, a town in burning ruins, eight ships sunk and an air-force base carpet-bombed into ABOVE: DURING THE RAID. oblivion. CURRICULUM LINKS: This study BELOW: WHARF AFTER RAID guide is mainly aimed at middle To this day, it is one of Australia’s and upper secondary school levels, greatest disasters. with relevance to English, Media and Film Studies, History, SOSE/ This was an attack led by the same Drawing on long-hidden documents, HSIE and International Politics. Japanese force that attacked Pearl using dramatisations of the Lowe Royal Harbour in December 1941, yet more Commission and first person accounts, civilians were killed, more bombs were The Bombing of Darwin: An Awkward accounts from survivors and expert dropped and more ships were sunk in Truth reveals the true story surrounding commentary, The Bombing of Darwin: An Darwin. However, the magnitude of this the attack. Awkward Truth reveals the little-known attack and the death and devastation facts about the bombing raids on 19 that followed has for decades remained Incorporating rarely seen archival February 1942 and the shocking events hidden. Why? footage, re-enactments, eyewitness that occurred in their aftermath. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012
2 DARWIN HARBOUR DARWIN HARBOUR
ALAN JACOBS
AFTER THE RAID
BRYCE BELLETTE
ALICE BALD 3.7 GUN
BACKGROUND observe the similarity between Japan’s surprise Although the documentary film begins naval attack on Port chronologically with Japan’s military Arthur in 1904 before AFTER THE R A invasion of Manchuria in 1937, the war had officially been ID bombing of Darwin by the Japanese declared on Russia, military on 19 February 1942 may be and Japan’s air attack viewed in a broader historical context of on the USA at Pearl Harbour in 1941, cause and effect events and situations also with no warning. In some respects (China’s present- that, if we wished, could be traced back the sudden surprise attack on Darwin day capital city), Tokyo, Seoul, at least to the late nineteenth century. in 1942 was a continuation of the same Pyongyang and present-day Lushun successful military tactic, although by (the scene of Japan’s attack on the In the 1890s Japan became concerned that time both the USA and Australia Russian navy at Port Arthur in 1904). about Russia’s military and economic (and other Allied nations) were officially Note that Lushun is at the western encroachment into southern Manchuria at war with Japan. end of the city of Dalian. and Korea, which it regarded as a s Carry out research, then write a region essential to its national security. In this background section we will also short account of the general reasons Eventually, in 1904, Japan launched a briefly look at the history of Darwin for Japan’s invasion of Manchuria devastating surprise naval attack on leading up to the outbreak of the Pacific in 1931 and 1937, and its efforts to the Russian fleet at Port Arthur (now war. remain there until defeat in 1945. Lushun, China). The Russians were You should be able to provide three defeated in the 1904–1905 war, Japan JAPAN AND MANCHURIA interrelated reasons, military, eco- strengthened its power over China, nomic and political. (See ‘Second and continued its aims to expand into s First, it may be a worthwhile activity Sino-Japanese War’ in website a modern, industrialised nation similar to take note of Japan’s geographi- references.) to countries such as England, France, cal proximity to Manchuria and the SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 Germany and the USA – for which it rest of eastern China, Korea (now THE BEGINNINGS OF FULL-SCALE required large supplies of oil, petroleum, divided into North and South Korea), WAR IN THE PACIFIC rubber, iron and steel. As well, Japan’s and south-eastern Russia. Draw victory over Russia announced that she a map of the region, ensuring that s From the documentary program and was now a major ‘player’ on the world you mark the national boundaries further research, explain the rea- stage, and a force to be reckoned with. of the respective nations, as well sons as to why Japan’s military and as the provincial Chinese region of economic presence in Manchuria As a side note, it is interesting to Manchuria, the positions of Beijing in 1937 spread to an invasion of 3 FUCHIDA
JACK MULLHOLLAND
FUCHIDA MITSUO
IRIS BALD
GUY DAY-LEWIS
PETER HACKET NEPTUNA
adversary? Comment on whether East Indies had been attacked, America’s own actions during 1941, therefore why did Australia and and possibly the similar actions of the Netherlands declare war? (See Britain and the government of the ‘Australian declaration of war on Dutch East Indies colony (present- Japan’ and ‘Japan invades Dutch day Indonesia), actually contributed East Indies’ in website references.) JACK BIRKS to causing Japan’s attack on Pearl s We have looked previously at the Harbour on 7 December 1941. (See causes that led to the attack on ‘Japan attacks Pearl Harbour’ and Pearl Harbour. Now discuss the ‘Japan’s need for oil’ in website purposes, the intended outcomes of French Indochina (now Vietnam, references. Note also for your web the attack in the short to mid-term, Laos and Cambodia) by 1940. and library search activities that that might give Japan an initial ad- Ensure you explain the actions the Americanised spelling of Pearl vantage over the USA and its allies of the USA, the UK, France and Harbour is ‘Pearl Harbor’.) in the Pacific. Australia that might have directly or s The following is an exercise on indirectly contributed to this inva- PEARL HARBOUR AND THE propaganda, information presented sion. For the Australian connec- IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH by the warring governments and tion, see ‘Australian embargo on their mass media, designed to influ- iron ore exports, 1938’ in website s First, draw a map showing the ence the populace of each nation. references. west coast of the USA and Mexico Keeping this in mind, plan and write Note that later in this study guide and the location of the islands of two different newspaper reports of you may wish to explore and dis- Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. Label the attack on Pearl Harbour. One cuss the present-day issues of iron the positions of Pearl Harbour and should be written as though for a ore exports to China and uranium Honolulu. Also leave enough space Japanese daily newspaper, while the exports to India. See the section on the map to mark the positions other should be written as though titled ‘Contemporary Issues’. at sea of the six Japanese aircraft for an Australian daily newspaper. s Following from the previous activity, carriers from where the air fleet were Include appropriate headlines, and SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 write a commentary on the reasons launched, and the route taken by use desktop publishing software to behind the Japanese attack on the planes. Ensure you include a format your news stories. Pearl Harbour, that led to full-scale scale measured in kilometres. s To gain a general historical perspec- outbreak of war in the Pacific. Why, s Describe the damage and destruc- tive of the order in which a number in other words, would Japan com- tion caused by the attack. When of events quickly happened in mit this act upon the USA knowing did the USA, Australia and the the Pacific between the attack on that it would immediately provoke Netherlands declare war on Japan? Pearl Harbour and the bombing of a declaration of war by a powerful Neither Australian nor the Dutch Darwin, on poster paper construct 4 RAID CASUALTY PETER HACKETT
RAAF BOYS
POST MASTER H.C BALD AGED 47 AT TIME OF RAID THE DON DARWIN PUB
PREDICTOR
a timeline from 7 December 1941 format it as though for a double- outbreak of war in the Pacific. to 19 February 1942. Include dates page spread for a popular history s From the program and elsewhere, of declarations of war, Japanese magazine. Cover the era from the describe the way in which the attacks and invasions of territory be- time of Darwin’s beginnings to the Northern Territory and Darwin itself tween the attacks on Pearl Harbour time of the Japanese attacks in were governed in the years prior to and Darwin, and the efforts of the February 1942. Why, for example, the breakdown of civilian authority Australian government to evacu- was the town named Darwin? Why after the bombings of 19 February ate citizens – mainly women and was the town built? What was 1942. For example, did the Northern children – from Darwin. life like for its inhabitants – men, Territory have its own parliament s Research then write an explana- women and children? How did the of elected politicians? Where did tion as to why the Japanese were citizens of Darwin earn a living? governmental power reside? (See able to invade the Dutch East Indies What was the population of Darwin relevant sections of ‘Administration relatively easily, on 10 January 1942 by the early 1940s? At the time of of NT and Darwin, 1930s–1945’ in (about six weeks before the initial the bombings, how many military website references.) attack on Darwin), and why the personnel were stationed in Darwin? Dutch surrendered in March 1942. When did American military person- Take into account not only events in nel begin arriving in Darwin? Include the Dutch East Indies but also in the photos, maps and Netherlands during this time. Why, other illustrations in in fact, did Japan wish to invade and your presentation as colonise the Dutch East Indies? (See required. (See ‘Darwin ‘Japan invades Dutch East Indies’ in history’ in website website references.) What were the references.) ramifications to Australia – and in s Early in the film, author particular to northern Australia, and Peter Grose refers to those in Darwin – of the invasion to Darwin as having of the Dutch East Indies? ‘always been a frontier SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 town … a wild town … DARWIN – FRONTIER TOWN AND beer-drinking, a bit law- NORTHERN OUTPOST OF ANGLO- less …’ Plan and write AUSTRALIA a story about being a young boy or girl grow- s From your own research and from ing up in a town such OFF DUTY IN DARWIN the documentary film, write a short as Darwin in the time history of the town of Darwin, and immediately before the 5 ADELAIDE RIVER STAKES ADELAIDE RIVER STAKES POST OFFICE STAFF
ADELAIDE RIVER STAKES LETTER FROM DARWIN
KINGS COUNSEL JOHN BARRY & JUDGE CHARLES LOWE WHARFIE
THE BOMBING OF DARWIN, INITIAL PREPARATIONS FOR THE EVACUATION OF DARWIN 19 FEBRUARY 1942 ABOUT TO BE EVACUATED s From the program and from your re- As quoted from the program, when search elsewhere, write an account of the waves of 188 Japanese aircraft the initial preparations for the evacua- views, thoughts, feelings and im- strike force began to bomb and tion of Darwin. When did evacuations pressions in a selection of personal strafe Darwin just before 10am on 19 begin, and why? Who was selected diary entries, written as though you February 1942, it was the first time for evacuation, and who was not? were one of the evacuees. (As an ever that any part of the Australian Where were people evacuated to, example, note the comments by mainland had come under direct and for how long? Had the process Wendy James during the program.) enemy military attack. It was the first of evacuation been completed by the s Following from the previous activ- of 64 raids over Darwin, the last being time the bombings of Darwin began ity, present an account of the same on 12 November 1943. After the initial on 19 February? How many people events from the viewpoint of an bombing of Darwin, raids also took were evacuated by this time? (See indigenous inhabitant of the Darwin place elsewhere, including Broome relevant sections of ‘Administration region. (As an example, note the and Townsville. (See ‘Bombing of of NT and Darwin, 1930s–1945’ in comments by Dorothy Fox during SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 Darwin’ and ‘Interactive display’ in website references. Also see the first the program.) website references. Note that the of the sites listed under the ‘Bombing interactive display site requires you to of Darwin’ website references.) REASONS FOR THE ATTACK arrange Darwin’s defences in the best s What was it like to be suddenly ON DARWIN way you think practical.) ordered to evacuate from your home town during a time of fear of s We have previously looked at the invasion by a powerful, threatening purposes for the Japanese attack military enemy? Plan and write your on Pearl Harbour. Explain why the 6 AFTER THE FIRST RAID WAITING FOR THE TRAIN
FATHER MCGRATH AFTER THE FIRST RAID
ON THE WHARF DURING THE RAID IN TOWN
Japanese attacked Darwin, its port the Northern Territory, Queensland air attack. What happened to this and airfields on 19 February 1942 and Western Australia. Show on the defence during the air attack? (See ten weeks after the attack on Pearl map the likely position at sea of the ‘Darwin’s fixed naval defences’ in Harbour. What did the Japanese Japanese aircraft carriers stationed website references.) hope or expect to gain from the 350 kms north-west off Darwin, and s From the documentary film and from Darwin raid? Explain Darwin’s sig- the path that the Japanese planes other sources you have examined, nificance to the Australian govern- took from the aircraft carriers to- explain the sequence of events ment, its military services and its wards their target. Ensure your map and decisions on the day of 19 citizens, and its importance to the is to scale in kilometres. February 1942 that led to Darwin USA. s On poster paper you may wish being unprepared for the sudden Later in this study guide you may to illustrate and label the types waves of Japanese air attacks. wish to explore and discuss the of Japanese aircraft used during Why weren’t the military personnel modern-day strategic relevance of the two initial raids on Darwin of on the ground in Darwin prepared Darwin to the USA and to Australia’s 19 February 1942, and to include and facing the direction from which own interests. See the section titled relevant information about crew the attack came? Discuss whether Contemporary Echoes. personnel, air speed, weight, fuel the Australian military command in s To accompany your response to the capacity, weaponry and explosive- Darwin on that day was inept and SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 previous activity, draw a map of the carrying capacity, etc. negligent in not realising an at- northern sector of Australia, and tack was immediately imminent, or include Melville and Bathurst Islands WHAT WENT WRONG? whether it was a series of unfor- (collectively known as the Tiwi tunate and confusing events over Islands), Timor and the Dutch East s First, carry out research then write which they had no control that led to Indies (known today as Indonesia). a short report on Darwin harbour’s the wrong decisions being made. Mark the position of Darwin on the defence against the possibility of a s Following from the previous discus- map, and also the boundaries of naval attack – as distinct from an sion, if the Allied military forces in 7 JUDGE LOWE DARWIN
WING COMMANDER GRIFFITH LETTER FROM DARWIN JOHN BARRY KINGS COUNSEL
WHARF CASUALTY
Darwin even had as little as thirty historically no such broadcast took or even fifteen minutes warning of place.) an impending Japanese air attack, s The leader of the Japanese at- would it have made much difference tack force was Commander Mitsuo to the resultant death and destruc- Fuchida, who was the same officer tion? Discuss, then write your own who led the aerial attack on Pearl AUBREY ABBOTT commentary on this question. Harbour ten weeks earlier. Find out, s Imagine you are a radio reporter transcribe and offer your own com- broadcasting out of Darwin some ment on his view of the attack. How days after the attacks of 19 does it compare to the Australian courage and bravery took place, February 1942. Plan and write the viewpoint of the event? (See the both on land and in the burning script of your broadcast report on third and fourth of the website harbour. From the program and the attack and your opinions as to references listed under ‘Bombing elsewhere, create a newspaper page whether Darwin, its citizens and its of Darwin’.) Carry out a further of reports, interviews and commen- military forces were prepared and web search on Fuchida, then piece tary designed to build morale and ready, both in the long and short together a short biography of what a sense of hope and optimism, and term, for the onslaught. You may happened to him in later life after perhaps anger – as opposed to fear SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 draw on information from the docu- these events. and despair – amongst the gen- mentary, including from the inter- eral Australian public. Use desktop views with those who participated BRAVERY publishing software to format and in the film. You may also draw from lay out your newspaper page, and other sources. From your script, s Despite the terror and destruc- include captioned photos and fur- record your broadcast for playback tion during and immediately after ther illustrations as required. and edit it as necessary. (Note that the raids of 19 February, acts of
8 BRYCE BELLETTE KEN WILDER ALAN JACOBS
DOROTHY FOX WENDY JAMES
JACK BIRKS FRANK DE LA RUE FRANK ELLIOT
THE AFTERMATH confusion of ‘Chinese whispers’? reference to the ‘Adelaide River s Explain why all 1000 RAAF person- Stakes’. Plan and write a short The program informs us that after the nel at the air base suddenly ‘evapo- fiction story based in any way you events of 19 February 1942, citizens rated’, or completely disappear, see fit on the events of the Adelaide fled south to Adelaide River, there was after the two raids? River Stakes. Consider the story’s a breakdown in civilian and military s It may be easy in retrospect to sug- narrative viewpoint and the range leadership and communications, gest what the authorities in Darwin of characters you will include. Will and an outbreak of drunken looting ought to have done to regain some you tell the story in the present in Darwin by the Provost Corps (i.e. semblance of control, organisation tense, or perhaps from a viewpoint military police), which led to the and order immediately after the looking back to that day from many Lowe Royal Commission official bombings. However, discuss what governmental inquiry. could, or ought to have been set in place by CONFUSION the military and civilian leaders (including the s Explain why there was confusion police), that might have amongst the military personnel succeeded. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 after the two aerial attacks on 19 s Offer an explanation as February, as to what they were to why the local police in supposed to do next, and where Darwin ceded control of they were supposed to assemble the town to the military for further orders. What does Peter Provost Corps later on Grose mean when he comments, the 19 February. EMORIES FRANK DE LA RUE M on-camera during the program, that s Describe what Peter the situation degenerated into a Grose means in his ironic 9 ALAN POWELL
PETER GROSE AUBREY ABBOTT
years later? Could the story be told be viewed? Comment on whether carry out further research about in diary format, or as a lost and re- you would regard the newsreel as the life of Aubrey Abbott, then discovered letter to a loved one? wartime propaganda, and what its write a short biography about him. s From your viewing of the program, unstated objectives and motives Comment on whether your further plan and write a first-person ac- might be. research into Abbott’s life alters, count from the viewpoint of one of intensifies or otherwise influences in the soldiers who was required to AUBREY ABBOTT any way your original views about guard the coastline during the night him. Find out, for example, about and the following morning after the s During the program critical as- the organisation called the Old air raids on Darwin, in fear and ex- sessments are made by Peter Guard, of which he is believed to pectation of a landing and invasion Grose and historian Alan Powell, have been a member. (See ‘Aubrey of Japanese troops. of the Northern Territory’s Chief Abbott’ in website references. Also s The program includes a newsreel Administrator, Aubrey Abbott, both see the section, below, on the film of casualties of the raids of of him as Administrator generally, findings of the Lowe Commission 19 February arriving in Sydney by and for the functions he carried out inquiry.) train. Closely view the newsreel and in the days after the initial attack listen carefully to the commentary, on Darwin. Describe the criticisms, LOOTING SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 the comments by soldiers, and the and comment on the portrait that is background soundtrack music. constructed of Abbott’s character, s From the program and from fur- Discuss in class then write your own personality and behavioural traits. ther research, write an account as commentary on the overall view- Do you think any of the criticisms though for a popular history maga- point being presented throughout are justified, or might there be miti- zine on the looting that took place the newsreel. Who do you think the gating circumstances that ought to in Darwin after the initial Japanese intended audience is for the news- be taken into consideration? raids, and the alleged role played reel, and where would it most likely s Following from the previous activity, in this by the Provost Corps. After 10 RON CARTER PETER HACKETT
JACK MULLHOLLAND DOROTHY FOX
GUY DAY LEWIS BRYCE BELLETTE
viewing the contents of the program, and information to the public about them? What would you say to them include a discussion as to whether the bombing of Darwin, despite now, were you to meet them? Why any of the looting might have been Prime Minister Curtain’s wishes. do you think it took half a century justified or not. You may also wish to Was this censorship justified? for those who were involved in this include direct quotes from eyewit- s Arising simultaneously from the military action to be recognised nesses. Add illustrations as required. events of the bombing and the and to receive awards from the s What did Aubrey Abbott have to say subsequent attempts of the military government? about the accusations of looting command to prevent published and whether his own actions (or information from reaching the public LOWE COMMISSION REPORT lack of actions) were responsible? at large, was a sense of ‘shame’ If you search through the Lowe amongst those who were there on s From the program and from further Commission report you will find that day. For example, Guy Day- research elsewhere, write your own some information about this topic. Lewis, Ordinary Seaman, of HMAS summary and commentary on the Also seek out the findings of the Platypus, says, ‘Nobody knew findings of the Lowe Commission Commission about the extent of the because we weren’t allowed to talk report into the attacks on Darwin looting, and who might have been to about it … we were ashamed to on 19 February 1942. (See ‘Lowe blame for it. (See ‘Lowe Commission talk about it’. Discuss this sense of Commission report’ in website report’ in website references.) shame, and whether it was justified. references.) SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 In discussion, you should look at s We are informed during the pro- CENSORSHIP, AND ‘DAY OF SHAME’ Day-Lewis’s own experiences, and gram that the Lowe report was not those of others, as narrated during published until October 1945, more s Drawing from information in the the program. than three years after it was written. program, and from the accounts of s Listen carefully to the comments Discuss the reasons for this delay. eyewitness survivors interviewed for of the three survivors at the end of Should it have been released prior the program, describe and explain the program. How do you think they to 1945, or was it in the national the extent of censorship of news feel today about what happened to interest that it be delayed? 11 CONTEMPORARY announced a desire to export urani- and effectiveness of archival film um to India, despite India not having and photographs, and of to-camera ECHOES signed the nuclear non-proliferation eyewitness memories of survivors of treaty. Research and discuss the the air attacks on Darwin. In 1938, the Australian government reasons for and against Australia’s s Discuss the purpose and effec- made a decision to halt the export exporting of iron ore to China and tiveness of dramatised colour of iron ore from Western Australia Japan, and uranium to India. re-enactment scenes throughout to Japan, because of concerns s In November 2011 the Australian the program. Do these scenes add about the possibility of increased and American governments an- to our understanding of the events Japanese military aggression in the nounced that the USA was to use being narrated? Do they create an general Pacific region. (See ‘Australian Darwin as a military base, a conten- impression of authenticity? You may embargo on iron ore exports, 1938’ tious move that could anger China. wish, for example, to examine the in website references.) After the war Discuss the arguments for and way in which the program interprets, in the Pacific broke out in December against this agreement between in dramatised form, the role and 1941, Darwin became an important Australia and the USA. Is Australia behaviour of Chief Administrator base for American military personnel embarking on an historically danger- Aubrey Abbott. in the war against Japan. Today ous path in allowing the USA access s Overall, does the program present we might discern an echo of these to Darwin as a large military base? a particular point of view and an two events, allowing us a sense of attitude to the story being told, contemporary relevance. (See a MEDIA AND and to those who participated, or sampling of newspaper reports listed would you consider it an objective under ‘Contemporary echoes’ in FILM STUDIES examination? Does it, for example, website references.) lay blame? Does it offer a fair, bal- Carry out the following Media and anced analysis and enquiry into the s Australia has very large deposits Film Studies activities that arise from events of 19 February 1942, and the of iron ore, principally in Western a viewing of The Bombing of Darwin: aftermath of those events? Discuss, Australia, where there is a min- An Awkward Truth. drawing on examples from the ing boom, and of uranium, also in program. Western Australia, the Northern s Discuss whether The Bombing of s In about 300 words, write your Territory, South Australia, and Darwin: An Awkward Truth is a suit- own film review of The Bombing SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 Queensland. In fact the largest sin- able title for the film. Does it capture of Darwin for a daily newspaper gle deposit of uranium in the world, an adequate impression of the film’s television liftout supplement. For according to the Australian Uranium narrative and themes? Why do you example, comment on whether the Association, is at Olympic Dam in think it is subtitled ‘An Awkward film is suitable for a wide viewing South Australia. Truth’? If you were asked to give the audience, or whether it only has ap- Much of Australia’s iron ore is film an alternative title, what would peal to a limited audience, perhaps, exported to China and Japan, while you call it, and why? of knowledgeable devotees of the Australian government has also s Write a commentary about the use Australian military and war history. 12 References and further unremarked historical accuracies -bombing-of-darwin>, accessed 10 resources in it, for which Luhrmann deserves January 2012. credit. The David Gulpilil character
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