Military and Political History
The Merauke Force in Netherlands New Guinea – WWII
Redirection: Merauke during World War II: Allied Base and the Merauke Force
Aviation and Shipping
Gerard Lemmens: the Dornier emergency landing that saved its evacuees from the Broome air raid
Introduction In the final days of the Netherlands East Indies campaign, sixteen-year-old Gerard Lemmens and his family were among the civilians evacuated from Java aboard a Netherlands Naval Aviation Service Dornier Do 24K flying boat. On the night of 2 March 1942, they departed from a concealed flying-boat anchorage near Read more
Maritime History
Fleeing Dutch mistakenly attacked at Karumba during WWII
When the Japanese invaded the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) during February and early March 1942, many Dutch people fled to Australia, most ended up in Darwin and Broome but a few fled via the Gulf of Carpentaria. This remote area of northwest Queensland was so open to invasion that a Read more
Aviation and Shipping
Gus Winckel: from the defence of Broome to No. 18 Squadron
Willem Frederik August “Gus” Winckel was a pilot with the Military Aviation service of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army—ML-KNIL—and one of the best-known Dutch airmen to serve in Australia during the Second World War. He participated in the evacuation of Java, defended Broome during the devastating Japanese air raid Read more
Military and Political History
Dutch-Ambonese woman created first crack in the White Australia Policy – 1949
This story starts with Samuel Jacob he was a headmaster in Merauke in Dutch New Guinea, a job he combined with being a local civil administrator. Samuel and his family while having the Dutch nationality, were all born in Ambon. Together with his family he was evacuated in August 1942 Read more
Dutch – Australian History
Dutch representatives at the opening of Australia’s First Federal Parliament – 1901
Captain von Bosch and Consul General of Netherlands Mr. Bosschardt The First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia was opened at the Melbourne Exhibition Building on 9 May 1901. The new King of England, Edward VII, sent his son and heir, the Duke of Cornwall and York, to Australia as Read more
Cultural Events and Activities
Compagnie Batavia – 73rd Living History Reenactment group
The group was formed in 2016 and is Australia’s only 80 years war living history group. The group has around 40 members across the Eastern seaboard and has a very strong focus on an immersive living history impression. Winterfest at the Hawkesbury -2021 The Group participated in the Winterfest at Read more
Military and Political History
Grondwet wordt gewijzigd voor stemmen voor Eerste Kamer vanuit buitenland
Wat in 2015 met een motie op het D66 congres begon, eindigde in juli 2022, zeven jaar later, met een overwinning voor en erkenning van de rechten van de Nederlanders buiten Nederland: nota bene in de Eerste Kamer zelf werd vanmiddag de laatste horde geslecht om de grondwet te wijzigen. Read more
Cultural Events and Activities
VOC Historical Society, Perth (VOCHS)
The Society was formed in 2000 by a group of history enthusiasts that were: Concerned at the lack of general knowledge about maritime events that took place in the 17th and 18th centuries off and on Western Australia’s (WA) coastline hundreds of years before the settlement of WA in 1829 Read more
Military and Political History
British pilot in Dutch WWII resistance dies in Sydney
Frank Dell, first a RAF pilot who joined the Dutch resistance against Nazi Germany and later migrated to Australia was buried under the sound of the Wilhelmus (Dutch national anthem) with his casket under the Dutch flag and the Union Jack. Article below from SMH. See other personal stories.