Memorial Walk CBD Secondary teacher resource.pdf

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Information regarding all South Australian Victoria Cross and George Cross winners can be found in‘S.A's Greats - The Men and Women of the North Terrace plaques’ edited by John Healey. Copies of the above two documents can be obtained from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. 23
10 ADELAIDE GENERAL POST OFFICE Background Information Time to allow: 20 minutes. The Bombing of Darwin On the 19 February 1942 two attacks by enemy aircraft were made on Darwin. These raids occurred at 9.58am on Darwin Harbour/Town and at 11.58am on Darwin Aerodrome. Official figures record that 243 people were killed and 350 people were wounded in the raids. This was the first attack ever by a foreign country on Australian soil and whilst many details were kept secret at the time we now know that more bombs were dropped on Darwin on that day than the attack on Pearl Harbour on the 7 December 1941. Damage caused in the first raids on Darwin was extensive. The Post and Telegraph offices, Police Station, Barracks, Cable Office, and Government offices were destroyed and the civilian hospital damaged in the first raid. The RAAF hospital, recreation hall, equipment store, many houses and living quarters were destroyed in the second raid. About the Post Office Prior to the bombing raid of 19 February 1942 most civilians had been evacuated and this option was offered to the Post Office staff but they chose to stay. They were aware of the Fall of Singapore and the seemingly unstoppable enemy advance toward Australia. Peter Bald the Postmaster and his family lived near the Post Office and had built an air raid shelter in their back garden for use by the family and the Post Office staff. Soon after the first raid on Darwin began the female telephonists and several male members of the staff sought shelter there. A bomb scored a direct hit on the shelter killing the postmaster and his family, together with several members of his male staff and the whole of the female staff. In all, ten postal and communications workers were killed. The memorial in the Adelaide Post Office (GPO) commemorates their heroic choice to stay at their posts in the face of imminent danger. They died because they decided to put their duty before their personal safety. Student questions (1) By looking at the names on the marble plaques at the GPO how many females were killed when the enemy bombed the Darwin Post Office on 19 February 1942? 6 females (2) Postal staff were given the option of leaving Darwin as the threat of an enemy attack grew more likely. Most women and children had already been evacuated from the city. What do you think you would have done if you were a postal worker in Darwin in 1942 and why? Students own response. By the Post Office staying open they were able to alert authorities of the bombing raid as it occurred via use of morse code. Otherwise the details of the attack may have taken some time to be communicated to Government 24
Page 1 and 2: Memorial Walk Secondary Teacher Res
Page 3 and 4: 1 WOMEN’S WAR MEMORIAL Background
Page 5 and 6: 2 TORRENS PARADE GROUND Background
Page 7 and 8: 2 THE RSL ( Torrens Drill Hall - RS
Page 9 and 10: 3 PATHWAY OF HONOUR Background Info
Page 11 and 12: (6) 2/43 rd BATTALION How many awar
Page 13 and 14: suggesting a suitable site for the
Page 15 and 16: (14) Locate three names on the Worl
Page 17 and 18: 5 BOER WAR MEMORIAL Background Info
Page 19 and 20: 8 AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE and WAR HO
Page 21 and 22: (10) Provide a brief overview of th
Page 23: (2) Please read the information und
Page 27 and 28: 11 ADELAIDE TOWN HALL Background In
Page 29 and 30: HONOUR BOARDS and ROLLS Background
Page 31: (iii) Locate the names highlighted

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