List of Events from August 1941 to April 1943
Events described in this volume are printed in italics
|
1941 |
5 Aug |
Lieut-General Sir Iven Mackay appointed GOC Home Forces |
| 25 Aug | British and Russian troops enter Iran | |
| 7 Oct | Mr Curtin becomes Prime Minister of Australia | |
| 19 Oct | State of siege proclaimed in Moscow | |
| 7–8 Dec | Japanese attack Malaya and Pearl Harbour | |
| 1942 | 23 Jan | Japanese capture Rabaul |
|
3 Feb |
First Japanese air raid on Port Moresby | |
|
14 Feb |
Cessation of Civil Government in Papua | |
| 19–20 Feb | Japanese forces land on Timor | |
| 28 Feb–1 Mar | Japanese invade Java | |
| 8 Mar |
Japanese troops enter Rangoon. Japanese forces occupy Lae and Salamaua | |
|
9 Mar |
Leading brigade of 7th Division AIF arrives Adelaide | |
|
17 Mar |
General MacArthur arrives in Australia | |
|
26 Mar |
General Blamey becomes Commander-in-Chief, Australian Military Forces | |
|
5 Apr |
Japanese carrier-borne aircraft attack Colombo | |
|
6 Apr |
41st U.S. Division arrives in Australia | |
|
18 Apr |
GHQ, SWPA established at Melbourne | |
|
5–8 May |
Battle of the Coral Sea | |
|
6 May |
Corregidor surrenders | |
| 26 May | German offensive in Western Desert begins | |
| 31 May–1 June | Japanese midget submarines attack Sydney Harbour | |
|
4–6 June |
Battle of Midway Island | |
| 7 June | Japanese land in Aleutian Islands | |
|
21 July |
Japanese land Gona area, Papua | |
|
7 Aug |
Americans land in Solomons | |
| 19 Aug | Dieppe raid | |
|
25–26 Aug |
Japanese land at Milne Bay | |
|
1942 |
17 Sept |
Japanese drive over Owen Stanleys halted at Imita Ridge |
| 23–24 Oct | Battle of El Alamein begins | |
|
2 Nov |
Kokoda recaptured | |
| 7–8 Nov | Allied landings in French North Africa | |
| 12 Nov | British Eighth Army captures Tobruk | |
|
12–15 Nov |
Naval battle of Guadalcanal | |
| 22 Nov | Russians announce launching of counter-offensive at Stalingrad | |
|
9 Dec |
Australians capture Gona | |
| 21 Dec | British and Indian troops cross Burma frontier and advance in direction of Akyab | |
|
1943 |
2 Jan |
Buna Government Station captured |
|
23 Jan |
Organised Japanese resistance in Papua ends | |
| 29 Jan |
British Eighth Army enters Tripoli. Japanese attack Wau airfield | |
| 18 Feb | 9th Australian Division arrives Fremantle | |
|
2–4 Mar |
Battle of Bismarck Sea | |
| 20–21 Mar | Eighth Army moves against Mareth Line | |
|
23 Apr |
Headquarters 3rd Australian Division established at Bulolo |