Sirens echoed across the Darwin Esplanade today as hundreds gathered under grey skies to honour the victims of the Bombing of Darwin the largest foreign attack ever carried out on Australian soil. Despite steady rain, a large crowd assembled at the city’s cenotaph, marking 84 years since the day war first reached mainland Australia.
On February 19, 1942, more than 200 Japanese aircraft launched a devastating surprise assault on the Northern Territory capital. Up to 250 people were killed and as many as 400 injured in the attack, which marked the beginning of nearly 90 Japanese air raids across northern Australia during World War II. The scale and shock of the bombing left a deep imprint on the nation’s wartime memory.
As is tradition, today’s commemorations began with a historic re‑enactment of the attack, performed by current Australian servicemen and women. The sombre ceremony unfolded against the backdrop of Darwin Harbour, where smoke once rose from burning ships and buildings on that fateful morning.
The annual remembrance continues to serve as a powerful reminder of Australia’s vulnerability during the war and of the resilience shown by those who lived through the chaos and destruction.
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