Seventy-six years ago, on February 19, 1942, 21-year-old Noel Crocker was an infantry soldier with the 19th Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces. The 19th Battalion’s role was to defend Darwin. On this day Noel was on guard duty at Darwin’s fuel storage and wharf facility. The day was proceeding as normal until the mid-morning air was broken by the drone of aircraft. Noel and his mates looked skyward to see some of the 188 Japanese aircraft that attacked Darwin that day. Noel could clearly see the rising sun emblem on the wings of the attackers.
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By the end of that terrible day, 235 people in Darwin lost their lives during two air raids. Noel recalls the first raid was accurate and destroyed the post office, which was the communications hub of Darwin. These raids were the first of 200 attacks on the top end.
Panic ensued among Darwin’s residents, who considered an invasion was imminent. Resulting in around half of the towns population fleeing south. The reality was the Japanese were not going to invade Australia, but were preparing to invade Timor and considered the attacks on Darwin would negate Darwin being used as a base for a counter offensive.
Noel Crocker spent eighteen months in Darwin during the war. He recalls the 19th Battalion had no real interaction with the civilian population leaving the soldiers feeling isolated. Fortunately, the 19th Battalion’s time in Darwin was without a single fatality.
Noel later saw action in the Pacific, then left the army soon after allied victory in the Pacific.
At 97 years of age Noel still clearly recalls his wartime experiences and his life here on the Mid North Coast where he and his family have lived since 1950.
After the army Noel remained a valuable member of our community. He became the Nambucca River Dairy Co-op General Manager and later worked for AMP and South British Insurance. Noel was also one of the Nambucca Heads Surf Life Saving Club members who began the Nippers movement. He recalls it was Nambucca’s Cyril Bannister who coined the phrase ‘Nipper’.
A chat with Noel opens a window where you can gain a first hand insight to both the rich military history of Australia and the fascinating past of the Mid North Coast.
About the author: Mick Birtles is a recently retired Army Officer now living in Nambucca Heads. During his 36-year career, Birtles served in Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for command and leadership. Here he shares his interest in the welfare and well-being of veterans on the Mid North Coast.