Australian Military History

With the Gallipoli campaign won, the Turkish army turned its attention to the prize of the Sinai - The Suez Canal. Standing in their way were Allied forces including the Australian Lighthorse and New Zealand Mounted Infantry. The Battle of Romani would decide who would control the most important shipping route in the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August 1900, a garrison consisting of majority Australian troops were besieged by vastly superior Boer forces. For nearly two weeks the garrison held out, even after being offered an honourable surrender by the Boer Commander, Koos de la Ray. In the end, the Garrison still held the post and it was the Boers who left empty handed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia's longest running individual unit commitment was an advisory group working with the South Vietnamese forces against the North. Operating individually and in small groups, the advisors moved into an active combat role, leading the troops they had trained and in the process becoming the most decorated unit in the Vietnam War. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the Russian Revolution and the withdrawal of Russia from the war, a bitter civil war erupted for the control of Russia. In 1919, a British volunteer force, including Australians, was deployed to Northern Russia to assist the Russian White Army against the Communist Red Army. The Great War was over, but for some the prospect of another fight was too good to ignore. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

With Tarakan and North Borneo secured, the last great Allied attack of World War II would take place with the landings to take Balikpapan. Despite the war being almost over, the capture of Balikpapan was deemed vital and so despite disquiet among some of the Australian High Command, the invasion went forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Tarakan secured, the second phase of the Borneo Campaign could be launched. The recapture of Brunei and North Borneo would require landings on Brunei, Labaun Island, Muara Island and North Borneo. The landings were carried out unopposed, but as Australian troops pushed forward, Japanese resistance grew, especially on Labaun Island and the enemy stronghold known as The Pocket. Hosted on Acast....

A short episode to acknowledge Anzac Day and a quick look at some of the lesser known events which have occurred on or around 25th April. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The campaign to take Borneo from the Japanese was the final Allied Operation in the South West Pacific. Before the landings on Borneo could take place, the island of Tarakan was to be taken so the airfields could be used to support the main landings. The fight for Tarakan developed into a prolonged slogging match against the terrain and the Japanese. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

In 1941 German troops invaded Greece. The Allied attempt to halt the Axis advance failed and the Allies headed south for evacuation. To buy time Australian and New Zealand troops fought a rear guard action in the same area where King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans had faced the invading army of Xerxes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1917 as part of the Battle of Arras, Australian troops were ordered to take a section of the Hindenburg Line near the village of Bullecourt. With no supporting artillery, relying on the support of the un-tried tanks, the troops of the 2nd Division advanced into heavy enemy fire and uncut wire. Their attack failed. Two weeks later, another attempt was made and although Bullecourt was captured, t...

With operations in the Pacific covering millions of square kilometres, a new kind of unit was needed to gather intelligence and disrupt Japanese operations. Z Special Unit was formed and from 1943 to the end of the war, the men operated behind enemy lines, paying a high price for the valuable information they provided. To help me raise funds for Soldier On, please head to https://fundraise.soldier...

Joining the Australian Imperial Force as a Private in 1914, Leslie Morshead would go on to become commander of the 33rd Battalion in World War 1. He masterminded the defence of Tobruk in 1941 and by the time World War 2 came to a close, he was in command of 1 Corps and slated as the next commander of the 2nd AIF should anything happen to General Blamey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...

In 1948 communist insurgents attempted to gain control of the Malayan Peninsula from British rule. Even though World War II had only recently finished, Australian troops once again headed overseas to try to maintain peace and stability in a region rapidly descending into chaos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1901, while operating in the Transvaal region of South Africa, the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles were attacked by a Boer Commando, setting off a series of incidents which would have ramifications for the Disciplinary provision of the Australian Defence Act. Also, please follow this link to the Timor Awakening podcast interview with Paul Miller: https://www.timorawakening.com/podcast/episode/ec2c...

With the 2nd AIF still returning from North Africa, the defence of Papua fell to the young men of the 39th Militia Battalion. Undertrained, with obsolete weapons they were to face the onslaught of the seemingly unstoppable Japanese Army. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the beginning of World War II, many Australians were serving in RAF squadrons and were thrown into the fight against Germany. Les Clisby was one of these men and created a name for himself in the short time he fought the Luftwaffe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia's souvenir king of World War 1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just a couple of things from my recent trip around Queensland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August 1944, up to nine hundred Japanese Prisoners of War staged a breakout from the POW camp outside the small New South Wales town of Cowra. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 1947, Australians have been involved in peacekeeping operations throughout the world's hot spots. They have conducted themselves with the same professionalism as in combat roles, witnessing some horrific events in the pursuit of peace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Throughout World War II many Australians flew with Bomber Command either within English Squadrons or in the newly formed Royal Australian Air Force. They took part in many of the important raids including the Dam Busters, Berlin, Nuremburg and D-Day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In World War II, five outdated British warships were given to the Royal Australian Navy. German propaganda named these ships the Scrap Iron Flotilla, but they would prove their worth throughout operations in the Mediterranean and the Pacific. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Australian soldiers headed to the Boer War and World War 1, a dedicated group of women followed them. Many soldiers owed their lives to the brave women of the Australian Army Nursing Corps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By 23 December 1916, the Desert Column under the command of Harry Chauvel had captured the town of El Arish and was driving across the Sinai in pursuit of the Turkish Army. In their way was the village of Magdhaba with a large Turkish force entrenched in a number of redoubts. Twenty three miles from their only supply of water, the village had to be captured in one day, or the Column would face dis...

It's going to be a different Anzac Day this year, but as always our thoughts will be with all service personnel, past and present, as we commemorate this important day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.