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Today, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Guadalcanal campaign in World War II.
After General Douglas MacArthur was appointed as the Supreme Commander of the South West Pacific Area in April 1942, he adopted a leapfrogging strategy whereby the Allies would advance through the Pacific towards Japan by seizing lightly defended but strategically important islands.
One of these locations was Guadalcanal – the largest island of the Solomon archipelago.
On 7 August 1942, US Marines made an amphibious assault on Guadalcanal and seized an airfield from the Imperial Japanese forces.
Offshore, Allied vessels – including HMA Ships Australia, Canberra and Hobart – protected the US Marines as they landed and supported them once ashore by firing on Japanese positions.
The Imperial Japanese Navy mounted a night counter-offensive two days later, attacking the Allied fleet in what would become known as the Battle of Savo Island.
HMAS Canberra was hit and badly damaged, killing 84 personnel. The rest of the crew were evacuated and the immobilised cruiser scuttled with friendly fire. Three American cruisers were also lost in the battle.
Over the course of coming months, Allied and Imperial Japanese forces fought each other on the land, sea and in the air. Casualties were high on both sides.
In December, the battered and short supplied Imperial Japanese forces were ordered to withdraw. The last remaining elements of resistance were defeated on 8 February 1943.
The Guadalcanal campaign helped to protect Australia from invasion. And along with the battles of Midway and the Coral Sea, the Papuan campaign and the New Guinea offensive, would mark a turning point in the Pacific War in the Allies’ favour.
Today, we remember all those who served and sacrificed. And we acknowledge the courage of Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers who helped secure the Allied victory.