On the 19th of February 1942 Darwin was hit by the same strike force that had attacked Pearl Harbour ten weeks earlier - except they dropped twice as many bombs, killed more civilians and sunk more ships than Pearl Harbour. The first wave of attack hit the harbour, the second hitting targets in and around the town. On that day alone 292 people are known to have died, with scores more injured.
These old photos were on display in the oil storage tunnels, which were hand dug into the rock cliff after the main oil storage tanks were destroyed in the raids. You can access the tunnels today and find out about Darwin's role in World War II, which was not highly publicised at the time.
Darwin was used as a base for the allies, building up a force of over 60,000 men by the end of 1942. The allies managed to defend Darwin and the rest of Australia, despite a further 62 air raids in the region, and they finally pushed back the Japanese fighters back into the Pacific.
This remains the largest and deadliest ever attack on Australian soil, yet it is a largely untold story as the Government at the time didn't want to alarm the Australian public. The wharf was completely destroyed, along with many other buildings/infrastructure in Darwin, but I have enjoyed learning this story and the bravery shown on that day and the following years in the area. Stokes Hill Wharf today is the same structure that was rebuilt in the 40's after the bombing and today it is a lively place, with lots of boats/ships and fast food places - including some great fish and chips. There are permanent memorials for those who lost their lives here, with an annual remembrance service on the 19th of February.
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