MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 3 September 2015 VA091
NEW BOOKS COMMEMORATE THOSE WHO SERVED IN WWII
On this day 76 years ago, then Australian Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies announced the beginning of Australia’s involvement in the Second World War. On the same day, Britain, France and New Zealand declared war on Germany.
“The next six years saw almost one million Australian men and women involved in the Second World War,” DVA Secretary Simon Lewis PSM said today.
“More than half served overseas in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, south-east Asia and the Pacific. Some 27,000 Australians were killed, died of wounds, were taken prisoner or wounded in action in the European and Mediterranean theatres of war.
“To help commemorate this significant day in our history, I am pleased to launch the final two books in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) wartime history series, Australians in World War II.
“These two compelling books, part of a five-part series, examine the experiences of Australians who fought in Europe.”
United Kingdom focuses on Australians serving in the UK in a wide variety of roles, including flying U-Boat patrols and escorting Allied convoys, flying Spitfires over occupied France from British bases, and defusing German mines in the English Channel.
Royal Australian Navy in the Atlantic and Mediterranean examines the pivotal role of the RAN over the course of the war, including the battles of the Atlantic, Cape Spada and Cape Matapan, the evacuation of troops from Greece and Crete, and the vital support and supply of Allied forces during the siege of Tobruk.
The Australians in World War II series comprises five books in total. The other three titles include Bomber Command; North Africa and Syria; and Greece and Crete.
As well as this compelling series, DVA has published three other collections of illustrated histories on Australians serving in the First and Second World Wars. They are: Australians in the Pacific War; Australians in World War I; and Australians on the Western Front.
“During the Centenary of Anzac period (2014–2018), we not only commemorate those who served in the First World War, but also those who have served our nation in all subsequent conflicts and peace operations over the past 100 years,” Mr Lewis said.
“Today, I ask all Australians to honour the service and sacrifice of those who served in the Second World War.”
The Australians in World War II series, and the three other collections, are available for purchase from the Australian War Memorial. In time, it will be downloadable from DVA’s education portal (www.anzacportal.dva.gov.au).
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Media02 6289 6203
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) and Veterans Line
can be reached 24 hours a day across Australia for crisis support and free and confidential counselling.
Phone 1800 011 046 (international: +61 8 8241 4546)