Introduction In September 1944, a significant development took place within the Indonesian community in Australia with the formation of the Serikat Indonesia Baroe (SIBAR), or New Indonesia Association. Established in Melbourne, SIBAR marked an important moment in the evolution of Read more
Introduction During the Second World War, the internment complex at Cowra became one of Australia’s most significant wartime detention sites. While best known for housing Italian and Japanese prisoners of war, Cowra also played a lesser-known but historically important role Read more
Among the many functions of the Netherlands East Indies Government-in-exile based at Camp Columbia in Brisbane during World War II, one of the most strategically significant—and least remembered—was the work of NIGIS, the Netherlands Indies Government Information Service. Operating in close cooperation with Allied Read more
One of the most striking aspects of Dutch–Western Australian history is the disconnect between early European discovery and later patterns of settlement. As outlined by Neil Foley in Dutch connections with Western Australia 1829–1920, the Dutch were among the first Read more
Introduction During the Second World War, Australia and the Netherlands were close allies, brought together by the shared struggle against Japan. Following the collapse of the Netherlands East Indies in 1942, Australia became the principal base for Dutch military, administrative Read more
Introduction In early 1942, following the rapid collapse of the Netherlands East Indies under Japanese attack, large parts of the Dutch military, administrative and maritime infrastructure were relocated to Australia. Among those who arrived were thousands of Indonesian seamen employed Read more
Introduction Following the fall of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) in early 1942, a significant part of the Dutch maritime fleet regrouped in Australia. What emerged from this chaotic retreat was not simply a displaced fleet, but a crucial logistical Read more
Among the Dutch airmen who formed part of No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF during the Second World War was Lieutenant J. van Loggem, a navigator whose wartime experience reflects both the operational realities of the Pacific war and Read more
The North American B-25 Mitchell N5-128 was one of the early aircraft operated by No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF during its formative period in Australia in World War II. Arriving during 1942, N5-128 formed part of the initial Read more
The history of No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF is often told as one of Allied cooperation and operational success. Yet in its early period in Australia, the squadron experienced a profound internal crisis that culminated in one of Read more