Their names liveth forevermore8/10/2019 Author
Norman S Cramp, Director of Darwin Military Museum Over 400 Territorians volunteered for service during the Great War, most returned, these are just four who did not make it home.
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Harold Healy joined the RAN in 1935, rising through the ranks to Chief Petty Officer before sailing into Darwin on December 1941.
Through his diary, Healy recorded his time on the waters around Darwin hunting submarines and the bombing on 19 February 1942 where he wrote, "Today will live in my memory forever as long as I live..."
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Dr. Tom Lewis OAM Pearl Harbor is often compared to the Darwin attack but the similarities are very few. Although both were surprise initial raids on an enemy of the Japanese Empire, the destruction caused in each raid was disproportionate in the extreme. Author Written by Garey Neenan The Imperishable ANZACs17/11/2018 Imperishable Anzacs : a story of Australia's famous First Brigade : from the diary of Harold W. Cavill. 1916.
Whilst this book is a limited edition with a leather bound cover, its uniqueness lies within. WWII: Victory in the Pacific5/11/2018 AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of Darwin Military Museum. Seventy-three years ago, on the 15th August 1945, orders were issued to the US Pacific Fleet and other allied forces operating in the Pacific Region ‘to cease offensive operations against the Japanese’.
The ‘Naval Message – News Communique 15/8/45’, presented below is a copy of the original telegraphed communication sheet that effectively ordered, and announced, the end of the Second World War. The Tunnels of East Point: Myth or Fact?27/10/2018 AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of Darwin Military Museum The belief that there are wartime tunnels in and around Darwin has existed in Darwin since those dark days of 1942 when terror rained from the skies on an almost daily basis and the threat of invasion seemed very real.
Over 75 years have passed now and the belief, myth and rumour that there are numerous tunnels in and around Darwin and an underground hospital at East Point remain and persist. So, are there wartime, military-constructed tunnels in or around Darwin or is it all just a myth based on wartime rumour and gossip? Another mystery solved!10/10/2018 AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of the Darwin Military Museum. In early August 2018, a friend of the Museum dropped in with a strange metal object that he thought had some military connection, although he couldn’t explain why as he did not know what the object was, or used to be used for. The Museum’s Curators took on the challenge by starting the research process, although there was a reasonably firm view as to what the items had been.
Nugget Raymond and the 'Never-Never'3/10/2018 AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of the Darwin Military Museum Victor Claude Raymond, more commonly known as ‘Nugget’ throughout his long and interesting life, was born at Maryborough, Queensland in, or about, 1883.
We know little of his family other than he had a brother, R.G. Raymond of Mareeba, Queensland who ‘Nugget’ nominated as his next-of-kin when he enlisted in the AIF in 1915. A Day at the Races26/9/2018 AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of the Darwin Military Museum. During WW2, over 100,000 military personnel were stationed in the NT. Life was pretty tough for them, particularly when the enemy were dropping bombs on them, and recreational activities were few and often far between.
Meet Private Havachatt21/9/2018 AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of Darwin Military Museum. I'm pleased to introduce you to ‘Private Havachatt’ (SERN 6723, 9th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force), who arrived at the Darwin Military Museum recently after returning from the Western Front. His task there was to deliver water to his mates serving on the front lines and to do this he dragged the water tank, alongside which he stands, from the rear echelons.
Darwin: A city under attack11/9/2018 AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of the Darwin Military Museum. It might surprise you to know that over severty-six years after the intital ‘event’ many Australians remain blissfully unaware that Darwin was the target of seventy-seven Japanese air raids over a period of twenty-one months. Darwin was basically undefended when the first attacking Japanese aircraft appeared in the skies above the township on 19th February 1942, although those service personnel who were in the town or on the ships in the harbour gave a good account of themselves.
AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of Darwin Military Museum. Leading up to the first Japanese air raids on Australian soil on 19th February 1942, the authorities thought, or knew, there would be, or was, Japanese naval activity in the vicinity of Darwin Harbour. And they thought one of main threats was from submarine attack within the harbour.
AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of Darwin Military Museum. Fire! Between 1am and 2am on Sunday 24th June 2018, fire broke out and tore through the Darwin Returned and Services League (RSL) offices and club in Cavenagh Street, Darwin. The fire took hold of the upper storey of the building with devastating effect and by the time the fire was under control and finally extinguished, the upper section of the RSL was totally destroyed.
AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of Darwin Military Museum. One of the more unusual artefacts at the Darwin Military Museum (DMM) is the Barr and Stroud rangefinder that saw service in Darwin during World War Two.
The Passing Parade31/7/2018 AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of Darwin Military Museum. It is now over 75 years since the first Japanese attacks upon Darwin, and Australia, took place on 19th February 1942 and time has taken its toll on those who were in Darwin on that day and the many days of war on and off Australian soil that followed. 'Our' Flag: An unlikely survivor19/7/2018 AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director Darwin Military Museum The flag in the photograph above holds a special place in Darwin and the NT’s Second World War history.
The flag was being flown by Number 12 Squadron RAAF over RAAF Base Darwin on the 19th February 1942 when the Japanese raided the town, and Australia, for the first time. This Australian national flag is only one of two such flags that survived the first raids, the other being the flag that flew over ‘Government House’, the Administrator’s residence, on that fateful day. AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director Darwin Military Museum. HARRY HAVELETT, Service Number 3498, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion 1st AIF.
Harry Havelett, whose correct surname was Hablett, was an indigenous man born at Alice Springs in 1898, the son of George Hablett and an unknown Aboriginal woman. Nothing is known of Harry’s early life other than whilst a child, he was taken to Quorn, South Australia, to be raised and educated by a European family. The Military Museum lends a helping hand13/6/2018 AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director Darwin Military Museum The Darwin Military Museum is pleased and proud to announce that it is working in association with the Ellwood E Euart Team Management to provide assistance in establishing and developing a World War Two (WW2) museum in Vanuatu. The museum will be established in original WW2 buildings and structures that remain in Espiritu Santo.
AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director of Darwin Military Museum
AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director Darwin Military Museum. The Budgen brothers, William Ernest and Roydon Richard were born in Darwin, NT (at that time South Australia) some 6 years apart. William was born in Darwin, NT in 1894, while Roydon arrived on the scene in 1900. The brothers were the two sons born to Sydney Richard and Florence Alice Budgen.
A Luger with provenance23/5/2018 AuthorWritten by Craig Wharton. I purchased a Luger from the Australian Arms Auctions in May 2015. What intrigued me about this particular Luger was the fact that the Digger who captured it actually wrote on the holster flap his rank, name and battalion as well as where he acquired it. According to the catalogue description he was a Sergeant ‘JC’ Robinson of the 23rd Battalion. Preliminary research through the Australian War Memorial (AWM) archives and the 23rd Battalion unit history nominal roll did not reveal a ‘JC’ but there was a Joseph George Robinson in the battalion and he was a Sergeant. Not only that, he was a Military Medal recipient. It appears that he went by the name of George so that is how I will refer to him in the text of this article.
AuthorWritten by Craig Wharton. Mention Martinis and one of two things will spring to mind: either "shaken, not stirred", with a bloke in a tuxedo wielding a Walther PPK or an image of the British Empire at its zenith in the late 19th century. An empire that stretched across the globe and on which, it was said, "the sun never set". Which was true. Being a global empire the sun was always shining on one part or another of that vast area over which Queen Victoria ruled supreme.
AuthorWritten by Norman Cramp, Director Darwin Military Museum. Matthew Garr, also spelt Ga, Gar and Gah, was one of five children: four boys and one girl, born to Filipino/Australians Carlos and Mary Anne Garr on Thursday Island, Queensland in 1889. Matthew was the twin of William and was most likely residing on Bathurst Island prior to enlisting in the 1st AIF in September 1915.
There is some confusion as to Matthew’s date and place of enlist, as one form on his file, his ‘Application To Enlist In the Australian Imperial Force’, records he enlisted at Darwin on 18th September 1915, while another form states he was enlisted, or at least sworn in at sea aboard the HMAT Demostheues (Ship A64) while enroute to England. This form records he enlisted at Brisbane on 20th October 1915, however, that has been ruled through and the details of him being enlisted at sea written in. The Japanese Type 44 Cavalry Carbine2/5/2018 AuthorWritten by Craig Wharton. Following the Russo- Japanese war of 1904-05, Japanese cavalry units saw an expansion in numbers and an elevation to the status of elite troops. This continued through the campaigns in China and up to the start of the war in the Pacific.
During this 30 odd year period, the cavalry of Imperial Japan had carried the Type 30, 38 and 44 cavalry carbines in 6.5x50 Japanese calibre. These carbines were also issued to Transport and Artillery troops. The designation, Type 44, was the year of adoption, 1911, which was the 44th year in the reign of the Emperor Meiji. Likewise the Type 30 translates to the year 1897 and the Type 38 to 1905, the 30th and 38th year respectively of the Emperor Meiji's reign. Production of the Type 44 started in 1912, a year after its adoption. Darwin Military Museum
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Darwin Military Museum
OPENING TIMES & TICKETS
Please note we are closed on the following days:
Sun 24th - Tues 26th Dec 23 (inclusive)
Sun 31st Dec - Mon 1st Jan 24 (inclusive)
Closed: Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas, Boxing and New Years days.
- Please note we will be open from 10 - 3 on Easter Saturday
OPENING TIMES 7 days a Week
(refer above for exceptions)
9.30am - 4pm Monday - Saturday
10.00am - 3pm Sunday and public holidays
We recommend you allow at least 1.5hrs for your visit.
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(Proof of id/concession required for Pensioner (65+), Uni/TAFE student, Veteran, Serving Military Member and Disability/Carer)
ADULTS (16 years +): $20.00
CHILDREN (5 - 15 years): $10.00
CHILDREN (under 5 years): FREE
FAMILY PASS (2 ADULTS, 3 CHILDREN U16): $45.00
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COMPANION CARD HOLDER AND PERSON WITH A DISABILITY: $20.00
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SERVING MILITARY MEMBERS: $15.00
SCHOOL GROUPS: Northern Territory students on excursion Students 16 years and under during school hours: $5.00 per student. Students must be supervised at all times. 1 adult per 10 students: $20.00
SCHOOL GROUPS: Non-NT students on excursion
Students 16 years and under during school hours: $10.00 per student. Students must be supervised at all times.
1 adult per 10 students: $20.00
Please note we are closed on the following days:
Sun 24th - Tues 26th Dec (inclusive)
Sun 31st Dec - Mon 1st Jan (inclusive)
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