1942 was the year of Australia’s greatest peril as the nation
awaited invasion from Japan. Darwin was devastated by
bombing, Australian ships were torpedoed within sight of our
coast, midget Japanese submarines attacked shipping in Sydney Harbour, and the Japanese forces on their inexorable march
south invaded New Guinea and islands to Australia’s near north.

This is the true story of the genuine and imminent threat to
Australia in early 1942 as passionate Imperial Navy staff
officers and their illogical admirals debated with the Imperial
Army over the invasion of an almost defenceless nation.
Australia’s fate hung in the balance.

Published by Pan Macmillan in 2008. First reprint December 2008.

Bob Wurth is the 2009 Visiting Scholar to the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library, Curtin University, Perth.

www.panmacmillan.com.au