Battle for Australia

Battle for Australia

The Battle for Australia is a contested historiographical term used to claim a link between a series of battles near Australia during the Pacific War of the Second World War. Since 2008 these battles have been commemorated by Battle for Australia Day, which falls on the first Wednesday in September.

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Historiography and commemoration

The Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) and Battle for Australia Commemoration National Council campaigned for over a decade for official commemoration of a series of battles fought in 1942, including the Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle of Milne Bay and Kokoda Track Campaign, as having formed a 'battle for Australia'.[1] This campaign was successful, and in 2008 the Australian Government proclaimed that commemorations for the Battle for Australia would be held annually on the first Wednesday in September, with the day being designated 'Battle for Australia Day'.[1] This day recognises "the service and sacrifice of all those who served in defence of Australia in 1942 and 1943".[2] The day is not a public holiday.[3]

Peter Stanley—the former principal historian at the Australian War Memorial—argues that the concept of a 'Battle for Australia' is mistaken as these actions did not form a single campaign aimed against Australia. Stanley has also stated that no historian he knows believes that there was a 'Battle for Australia'.[4] In a 2006 speech, Stanley argued that the concept of a Battle for Australia is invalid as the events which are considered to form the battle were only loosely related. Stanley argued that "The Battle for Australia movement arises directly out of a desire to find meaning in the terrible losses of 1942"; and "there was no 'Battle for Australia', as such", as the Japanese did not launch a co-ordinated campaign directed against Australia. Furthermore, Stanley stated that the phrase 'Battle for Australia' was not used until the 1990s and this 'battle' of the Second World War is not recognised by countries other than Australia.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Walters, Patrick (26 June 2008). "Battle won on dedicated Pacific war day". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/battle-won-on-dedicated-pacific-war-day/story-e6frg8yo-1111116737663. Retrieved 13 February 2011. 
  2. ^ "Anniversaries". Department of Veterans' Affairs. http://www.dva.gov.au/commems_oawg/commemorations/commemorative_events/major_anniversaries/Pages/index.aspx. Retrieved 23 December 2011. 
  3. ^ Blenkin, Max (26 June 2008). "'Battle for Australia' Day in September". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://news.smh.com.au/national/battle-for-australia-day-in-september-20080626-2xf3.html. Retrieved 23 December 2011. 
  4. ^ Stanley, Peter. "What 'Battle for Australia'?". The Drum. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/32530.html. Retrieved 9 February 2011. 
  5. ^ Peter Stanley (2006). "Was there a Battle for Australia?". Australian War Memorial Anniversary Oration, 10 November 2006

References

External links