TODAY, September 1, is the day of national observance to honour those who served and died defending Australia from the Japanese in land, air and sea battles in 1942 and 1943.
Known as the Battle for Australia, it was named by Australia's wartime prime minister John Curtin when he said on February 16, 1942: "The fall of Singapore can only be described as Australia's Dunkirk. The fall of Dunkirk initiated the Battle for Britain. The fall of Singapore opens the Battle for Australia."
Battle for Australia Day was declared in 2008 and is the first Wednesday of each September.
The Japanese offensive started in December 1941 and finished in August 1945. Darwin was bombed, Sydney Harbour attacked by midget submarines and Papua New Guinea invaded.
Key battles included the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Milne Bay and the Kokoda Track campaign.
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