1942: AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST PERIL

AUSTRALIAN MILITARY HISTORY

1942 was the year of Australia’s greatest peril as the nation awaited invasion from Japan. Darwin was devastated by bombing, Australian ships were torpedoed within sight of our coast, midget Japanese submarines attacked shipping in Sydney Harbour and Japanese forces on their inexorable march south invaded New Guinea and islands to Australia’s near north. This is a true story of the genuine and imminent threat to Australia in that fateful year. On the beautiful inland Sea of Japan – the heartland of the Imperial Japanese Navy – and in frenetic wartime Tokyo, radical and passionate staff officers and their illogical admirals debated the invasion of an almost defenceless nation. The Imperial Japanese Army, meanwhile, opposed the attack, foreseeing a looming military quagmire. Behind the scenes, Australian, British and American defence chiefs all but dismissed the chances of holding Darwin and the north. Australia’s fate hung in the balance. 1942 is a story of despErate bravery and criminal stupidity. Most of all, it is the story of Australians left high and dry in those first few months of 1942, under the looming shadow of invasion, and the steps that an inexperienced leader, John Curtin, took to help save his country in its darkest days. Illustrated. 463 p. [16] p. of plates. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 24 cm. #0715/0919/0920/140523 First Edition

• 1 A sea of tranquillity 1
• 2 A gesture of great struggle 9
• 3 The coming conquests 23
• 4 Blossoms raised to fall 35
• 5 Glorious victory 47
• 6 A nation exposed 57
• 7 Invasion planning 69
• 8 Dawn of a fearful year 79
• 9 Plotting against Australia 93
• 10 The indefensible continent 104
• 11 An illusion of superiority 116
• 12 Australia attacked 133
• 13 A day of decision 146
• 14 A clash of philosophies 160
• 15 Scorching Australia 176
• 16 Australia’s reprieve 188
• 17 Bold, new targets 203
• 18 The boy who saw the Japanese 212
• 19 Rowboat reconnaissance 221
• 20 From chaos to confidence 237
• 21 A scene of dreadful carnage 251
• 22 The submariners’ revenge 261
• 23 Return of the hero gods 273
• 24 Savagery and dishonour 285
• 25 Turning the tide 298
• 26 Death of an empire 315
• 27 Surrender 328
• 28 Not the war but the game 345
• Epilogue – Boys, resting peacefully 364
• Notes 373
• Select Bibliography 421.