The Northern Territory news Thu 21 Apr 2011
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2011-04-21
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
Darwin
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/232267
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/664628
www.ntnews.com.au Thursday, April 21, 2011. NT NEWS. 17 P U B : NTNE-WS-DA-TE:21-AGE:717LO-R: C-M Y-K Special feature THE TERRITORY AT WAR OF WAR The cenotaph THE cenotaph overlooks the Darwin Harbour wharf area, from where all men from the Territory left dur ing the First World War. This is now known as the Darwin War Memorial. The high cliffs would have been one of the last familiar sights those men would have seen as they sailed off to war. The cenotaph overlooks the harbour where so many died in the Japanese air attack on 19 February 1942 during World War II. Most signifi cant of all, the obelisk is sited on the spot from which guns of the 14th Anti-Aircraft Bat tery went into action, fi ring, arguably, the fi rst shots ever in defence of Australia on Australian soil. This memorial was the fi rst offi cial monument of any kind erected in the NT and funds were sub scribed by various organisations and committees throughout the Territory during 1920. The initial chosen site for the memorial was Liberty Square, the area in front of the Administrators residence. The monument has survived the 1937 cyclone, 63 bombing raids by the Japanese during which bombs landed within its close vicinity, earth tremors and cyclone Tracy. In 1966, the monument required repairs to severe damage caused by an earth tremor. Territorian and Victoria Cross recipient, Lieutenant Albert Borella. Image: Darwin Military Museum Burning oil tanks in Darwin after a Japanese air raid Diggers clean one of the guns at East Point around 300km to enlist in February 1915 in the Light Horse. Later, he left the Light Horse to fi ght in the trenches in the 28th Battalion, where during engagements in France, more than half his battalion was wiped out, and Borella won a battlefi eld pro motion to Lieutenant. During later fi ghting in the Somme, he was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery. His citation for the Cross, gained in 1918 in Villers-Bretonneux, France, at the age of 37, reads in part: During the period 17/18 July, Lieu tenant Borella, whilst leading his pla toon, charged and captured an enemy machine-gun, shooting two gunners. He then led his party, by now re duced to 10 men and two Lewis guns, against a very strongly held trench, us ing his revolver and later a rifl e with great effect and causing many casual ties. Two large dug-outs were also bombed and 30 prisoners also taken. Lieutenant Borella was also pro moted to Captain, and he later received his Cross at Sandringham from King George V. On Anzac Day, we pause to remember the courage and sacrifi ce of soldiers such as Albert Borella, his mates and those who followed in later wars and confl icts. The First World War, also referred to as the Great War, lasted from 1914-1918. It was supposed to be The War to End All Wars. Norforce carries on Nackeroos tradition JUST outside Timber Creek, an obscure war monument sur prises travellers with an insight into a little-known part of Aus tralian military history the Nackeroos. The Nackeroos, more formally known as the 2/1 North Australia Observer Unit, formed in 1942 as part of the strategic defence of northern Australia against the Japanese. In forming the Nackeroos, Commanding Offi cer Major Bill Stanner sought men with a bush background and adventurous spirit who could live outdoors months at a time, operating in small groups on their own initia tive. At its peak, more than 400 sol diers were deployed across the Top End and Kimberley, and with the assistance of local indig enous people, undertook recon naissance, scouting and coastal surveillance tasks across the Kimberley and the Northern Ter ritorys sea and air approaches. As the threat of Japanese at tack eased, patrols were reduced in 1943, and the unit was fi nally disbanded in 1945. The spirit of the Nackeroo was revived in 1981 when the Austra lian Army raised Norforce. Acknowledging the similari ties between the two units and to give Norforce an identity, it was decided it would perpetuate the Nackeroo traditions, and as such Norforce offi cially adopted the Nackeroo orange and green dou ble diamond colour patch and its unit heritage upon formation. Territorys military heritage on display THE Darwin Military Museum was founded in the mid-1960s by Lieu tenant Colonel Jack Haydon and members of the Northern Territory branch of the Royal Australian Artil lery Association. The association, through its numer ous contacts, soon started accumulat ing war memorabilia from all over the Territory. Since then, several notable local collectors have also contributed greatly to the museums exhibits. The museum was Darwins fi rst and is housed in the original concrete command post bunker, used by the army to command the two 9.2 guns nearby. The bunker is now fully air-con ditioned and displays a fascinating array of weapons, photographs and equipment used by the fi ghting men and women of the day. Opening Hours: 9:30am-5pm, 7 days a week. After hours by appointment Telephone: 08 8981 9702