Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

World War II

Global conflict during the years 1939–1945. Australia's involvement in the second world war began with Prime Minister Robert Menzies' radio announcement on 3 September 1939 that the country was at war, and ended with Japan's unconditional surrender on 14 August 1945. As a member of the British Commonwealth, Australia fought with the alliance of powers known as the Allies (Great Britain, France, United States of America, the Soviet Union and China) against the Axis powers (Germany, Japan, Italy). More than a million Australians served, and for the first time the country came under direct military attack.

Milestone
Date of event
03 Sep 1939 - 14 Aug 1945
Name
Alternate
WWII
Alternate
World War 2
Alternate
WW2
Alternate
Second World War
Alternate
World War Two

Japanese submarine attack 1942

CC BY-SA 2.0
,
2008

Often warned of the possibility of invasion, Sydneysiders were to experience the real thing in 1942 when three Japanese midget submarines slipped into the harbour, destroying the naval ship HMAS Kuttabul.

Liverpool Internment Camp during World War II

CC BY-SA 2.0
,
2014

The Liverpool Internment Camp at Moorebank commenced on 15 October 1939 under the direct control of the Australian Army Base at Victoria Barracks, Sydney. When larger camps were built at Orange and Hay in 1940 the camp was closed, however, after eight months it was re-opened for internees in transit to other states and as a holding camp for 'special internees' including members of the Australia First Movement.

War Memorials to World War II and later conflicts

CC BY-SA 2.0
,
2015

While memorials honouring the dead of the Great War were adapted to mark the sacrifice of those lost in World War II, the losses of a new generation led to innovations in memorialisation. Those who died on active service in Sydney, and those lost in conflicts Malaya, Korea, Borneo and Vietnam are remembered in new memorials in the city and suburbs, and along the road to Canberra. Women, prisoners-of-war and recipients of the Victoria Cross are also memorialised in Sydney.

Transcript: Mrs Marjorie Gough knitting for the soldiers in WWI and WWII

CC BY-SA 2.0
,
2015

Mrs Marjorie Gough was born in 1908 and interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool: An Oral History of the Liverpool Region 1900 to 1960.' Here she talks here about her contribution to the war effort in both world wars

Transcript: Mrs Lillian Watson recalls an American Air Force plane crash during World War II

CC BY-SA 2.0
,
2015

Mrs Lillian Dulcie Watson was born in 1904 and interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool: An Oral History of the Liverpool Region 1900 to 1960.' Mrs Watson was witness to the crash of an American Air Force plane, due to engine failure over Hammondville, during World War II.