The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Depicts several soldiers, recalling the Australian activities on the island of Timor during the Second World War. Japanese forces invaded both Dutch and Portuguese Timor in February 1942, where a small Australian force - 'Sparrow Force'- were deployed, consisting mainly of the 2/40th Battalion (Dutch Timor) with some Dutch troops and the RAAF and the 2/2nd Independent Company (Portuguese Timor). The Japanese attacked Dutch Timor with vastly superior numbers, encircling the defenders and forcing their surrender after four days of fighting. In Portuguese Timor the 2/2nd Independent Company withdrew into the hills to carry on a war of ambushes and sabotage against the Japanese. The guerillas were isolated from Australia and their fate unknown. In April 1942 communications were re-established using makeshift radio equipment and the guerrilla campaign continued, with supplies being maintained by small RAN ships and aerial drops. Sickness and fatigue began to take its toll on the Australian guerrilla and by early 1943 the Australians, with some Dutch and Portuguese nationals, were withdrawn.
The artist took inspiration from several photographs taken by Damien Parer, including 013777 and 013767.
An informal group portrait of members of "Sparrow Force", 2/2 Independent Company, AIF, and Timorese locals with a live crocodile tied to a rod. Locals had carried this crocodile twelve miles as a fri
AUSTRALIAN GUERILLAS IN TIMOR. LT. GERRY MCKENZIE.
This is a study for the painting, Group of Timor Guerillas, that depicts several soldiers, recalling the Australian activities on the island of Timor during the Second World War. Behind the group of
Recalling the Australian activities on the island of Timor during the Second World War. Japanese forces invaded both Dutch and Portuguese Timor in February 1942, where a small Australian force - 'Spar
Reconstruction by the artist of an incident during the sojourn of Timor of the 2/2nd and 2/4th Australian Independent Companies who carried on guerilla war in the hills of Portuguese Timor and at a cr
A typical Portuguese Timor town. Of Portuguese architecture with an old world savour, they were charming with their buildings of white walls, red tiled roofs and massive encircling ramparts. Bobonaro
The painting depicts the burnt shell of the Baucau market. The Portuguese colonial building was destroyed during the Japanese occupation of the town and during the guerrilla war against the Japanese t
A scene in the town of Same, in Portuguese Timor which figured considerably in the exploits of the 2/2nd and 2/4th Australian Independent Companies during their guerilla campaign in Timor during the J
Depicts the site of an ambush point from where "A"Platoon, 2/2nd Australian Independent Company, successfully ambushed a Japanese Force advancing on Ainaro, Portuguese Timor with Nunamogue is in the b
