Son Milne Bay veteran opens up on battle ahead of VP day
This week Australia and the Pacific will celebrate that victory when they commemorate VP Day.
It stands for victory in the Pacific and this year marks 80 years since the allies claimed victory after the Japanese surrendered in 1945.
However victory could not have been achieved without contributions of islanders, one of which was the late Cesil Abel.
He served at the Battle of Milne Bay aboard a small transport ship which transported troops and supplies to and from the battle.
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7NEWS
3 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Fallen heroes honoured as Australia marks 80 years since end of World War II
A country boy who flew a B-24 bomber over Borneo in July 1945 did not live long enough to witness the end of World War II. Warrant Officer Class 2 Frederick Balfe Emanuel died mere weeks before Victory in the Pacific Day on August 15, when Japan announced its unconditional surrender to the Allies. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Fallen heroes remembered 80 years after end of WWII. At age 22, Emanuel enlisted in the Australian army serving in Papua New Guinea before joining the Far Eastern Liaison Office, where he took part in dangerous reconnaissance missions. He is being honoured at the Australian War Memorial on Friday, as the nation marks the 80th anniversary of the bloody war that reached its shores coming to a fateful end. 'His story is a heartbreaking reminder of how close some came to seeing peace yet never returned home,' memorial director Matt Anderson said. 'This is honouring a country boy who became a Sydneysider yet did not survive to finish his story.' Other commemorations include a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft conducting a flypast over the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. RSL national president Greg Melick said the occasion was an important time for Australia to recognise the sacrifices of so many fallen soldiers. 'For Australians, that day meant that the Second World War was finally over,' he said. 'As the number of WWII veterans dwindle, it is vital that we commemorate their collective contribution to our liberty and way of life.' He said nearly one million Australians, about one in seven of the population at the time, served in uniform during the Second World War. Almost 40,000 died and 66,000 were wounded. Many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. 'The end of the war brought heartache for many families when, after years of waiting for news of the missing, they were told that their loved ones were not coming home,' Mr Melick said.
Canberra Times
4 hours ago
- Canberra Times
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The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked with commemorations around the country to honour those who served and the almost 40,000 men and women who didn't make it back home.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Sombre day of reflection as Australians mark 80 years since Victory in the Pacific
The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked with commemorations around the country to honour those who served and the almost 40,000 men and women who didn't make it back home. August 15 marks Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day after the war with the Japanese that lasted from 1941 to 1945. Nearly one million Australians served in the armed forces during the war. More than 17,000 Australians lost their lives while fighting in the war against Japan, some 8,000 of whom died in Japanese captivity. Almost 40,000 Australians died throughout World War 11 from 1939 to 1945. READ MORE: A friendship preserved: unopened WWII beer honours soldiers' pact RSL sub-branch secretary Bob Minns from Shellharbour told ACM it was a sobering day. "When we think of the atrocities they had to go through," he said. "It has now come full circle as Japan is now one of our major defence partners. Does time heal? I'm not sure." Mr Minns said he would remember family members such as his grandfather and numerous uncles who served in World War II. "I had an uncle who didn't make it back," he said. "There were close to 40,000 that didn't make it back home." He described the world as on a knife-edge, questioning whether history would repeat itself. Esperance RSL sub-branch president Michael Johnson, from the south coast of Tasmania, said he believed there should be a stronger focus by the government on VP Day. "It's underrated and understated," he said. "It's the end of the biggest war in history, and I don't think it is being commemorated properly," he said. "It hasn't been portrayed that way by the government, certainly not in Tasmania." READ MORE: 'Disappointing': Kokoda track shuts indefinitely after landowner blockade He said Australia's involvement was devastating. "The Japanese were very tenacious and a hard enemy to fight and also quite cruel," he said. "The conditions in the jungle also made it difficult with diseases. "Most who served in the jungle would have suffered malaria, typhus and cholera." Wollongong RSL president John Sperring hoped younger generations would understand the significance of the day. "There was a lot of sacrifice," he said. "We live in the land of plenty, and it is hard for younger generations to comprehend what happened," he said. "It is also important to honour those who weren't on the front line but were at home suffering from war shortages," he said. The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked with commemorations around the country to honour those who served and the almost 40,000 men and women who didn't make it back home. August 15 marks Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day after the war with the Japanese that lasted from 1941 to 1945. Nearly one million Australians served in the armed forces during the war. More than 17,000 Australians lost their lives while fighting in the war against Japan, some 8,000 of whom died in Japanese captivity. Almost 40,000 Australians died throughout World War 11 from 1939 to 1945. READ MORE: A friendship preserved: unopened WWII beer honours soldiers' pact RSL sub-branch secretary Bob Minns from Shellharbour told ACM it was a sobering day. "When we think of the atrocities they had to go through," he said. "It has now come full circle as Japan is now one of our major defence partners. Does time heal? I'm not sure." Mr Minns said he would remember family members such as his grandfather and numerous uncles who served in World War II. "I had an uncle who didn't make it back," he said. "There were close to 40,000 that didn't make it back home." He described the world as on a knife-edge, questioning whether history would repeat itself. Esperance RSL sub-branch president Michael Johnson, from the south coast of Tasmania, said he believed there should be a stronger focus by the government on VP Day. "It's underrated and understated," he said. "It's the end of the biggest war in history, and I don't think it is being commemorated properly," he said. "It hasn't been portrayed that way by the government, certainly not in Tasmania." READ MORE: 'Disappointing': Kokoda track shuts indefinitely after landowner blockade He said Australia's involvement was devastating. "The Japanese were very tenacious and a hard enemy to fight and also quite cruel," he said. "The conditions in the jungle also made it difficult with diseases. "Most who served in the jungle would have suffered malaria, typhus and cholera." Wollongong RSL president John Sperring hoped younger generations would understand the significance of the day. "There was a lot of sacrifice," he said. "We live in the land of plenty, and it is hard for younger generations to comprehend what happened," he said. "It is also important to honour those who weren't on the front line but were at home suffering from war shortages," he said. The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked with commemorations around the country to honour those who served and the almost 40,000 men and women who didn't make it back home. August 15 marks Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day after the war with the Japanese that lasted from 1941 to 1945. Nearly one million Australians served in the armed forces during the war. More than 17,000 Australians lost their lives while fighting in the war against Japan, some 8,000 of whom died in Japanese captivity. Almost 40,000 Australians died throughout World War 11 from 1939 to 1945. READ MORE: A friendship preserved: unopened WWII beer honours soldiers' pact RSL sub-branch secretary Bob Minns from Shellharbour told ACM it was a sobering day. "When we think of the atrocities they had to go through," he said. "It has now come full circle as Japan is now one of our major defence partners. Does time heal? I'm not sure." Mr Minns said he would remember family members such as his grandfather and numerous uncles who served in World War II. "I had an uncle who didn't make it back," he said. "There were close to 40,000 that didn't make it back home." He described the world as on a knife-edge, questioning whether history would repeat itself. Esperance RSL sub-branch president Michael Johnson, from the south coast of Tasmania, said he believed there should be a stronger focus by the government on VP Day. "It's underrated and understated," he said. "It's the end of the biggest war in history, and I don't think it is being commemorated properly," he said. "It hasn't been portrayed that way by the government, certainly not in Tasmania." READ MORE: 'Disappointing': Kokoda track shuts indefinitely after landowner blockade He said Australia's involvement was devastating. "The Japanese were very tenacious and a hard enemy to fight and also quite cruel," he said. "The conditions in the jungle also made it difficult with diseases. "Most who served in the jungle would have suffered malaria, typhus and cholera." Wollongong RSL president John Sperring hoped younger generations would understand the significance of the day. "There was a lot of sacrifice," he said. "We live in the land of plenty, and it is hard for younger generations to comprehend what happened," he said. "It is also important to honour those who weren't on the front line but were at home suffering from war shortages," he said. The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked with commemorations around the country to honour those who served and the almost 40,000 men and women who didn't make it back home. August 15 marks Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day after the war with the Japanese that lasted from 1941 to 1945. Nearly one million Australians served in the armed forces during the war. More than 17,000 Australians lost their lives while fighting in the war against Japan, some 8,000 of whom died in Japanese captivity. Almost 40,000 Australians died throughout World War 11 from 1939 to 1945. READ MORE: A friendship preserved: unopened WWII beer honours soldiers' pact RSL sub-branch secretary Bob Minns from Shellharbour told ACM it was a sobering day. "When we think of the atrocities they had to go through," he said. "It has now come full circle as Japan is now one of our major defence partners. Does time heal? I'm not sure." Mr Minns said he would remember family members such as his grandfather and numerous uncles who served in World War II. "I had an uncle who didn't make it back," he said. "There were close to 40,000 that didn't make it back home." He described the world as on a knife-edge, questioning whether history would repeat itself. Esperance RSL sub-branch president Michael Johnson, from the south coast of Tasmania, said he believed there should be a stronger focus by the government on VP Day. "It's underrated and understated," he said. "It's the end of the biggest war in history, and I don't think it is being commemorated properly," he said. "It hasn't been portrayed that way by the government, certainly not in Tasmania." READ MORE: 'Disappointing': Kokoda track shuts indefinitely after landowner blockade He said Australia's involvement was devastating. "The Japanese were very tenacious and a hard enemy to fight and also quite cruel," he said. "The conditions in the jungle also made it difficult with diseases. "Most who served in the jungle would have suffered malaria, typhus and cholera." Wollongong RSL president John Sperring hoped younger generations would understand the significance of the day. "There was a lot of sacrifice," he said. "We live in the land of plenty, and it is hard for younger generations to comprehend what happened," he said. "It is also important to honour those who weren't on the front line but were at home suffering from war shortages," he said.
