Australia's Darkest Hour

Australia’s fortunes were at an alarmingly low ebb by late February 1942. Taken completely by surprise by events in SE Asia, most of Australia’s Army was in the Middle East and a full 25% of it, the 8th Division, had been lost with the fall of Singapore on the 15thFebruary. RAAF elements in Malaya had been shot from the sky and chased from the theatre of operations. The RAN, still reeling after the loss of HMAS Sydney late in 1941, had also been witness to the loss of the Royal Navy’s Prince of Wales and Repulse to Japanese air superiority, and it still had Fleet Units in harm’s way, including the HMAS Perth and Yarra; both soon to be lost.

Prime Minister John Curtin had been in office less than a year as calamity descended around him. Top of Curtin’s mind was the need to get the rest of the Army back safely from the Middle East in the face of hostile sea-lanes and a bellicose Churchill, who had other ideas.. When Darwin was bombed on the 19th February 1942, war really had come to Australia’s doorstep.

Professor Robin Prior will address these events and their collective impact on the Australian psyche.

Time: 1900 for 1930

Dress: Black Tie with Miniatures / Mess Dress

Price: $115.00 - Three course dinner and Club wines/beverages

RSVP: By Wednesday, 16 March 2022

CANCELLATION POLICY - Bookings cancelled after the RSVP will incur a 50% charge of the ticket price