Bombing of Darwin 75th anniversary: Former Infantryman recalls WWII experience

Nearly 75 years on from the Bombing of Darwin, former infantryman Alan Godfrey is happy to leave old fears and hatreds in the past

Nearly 75 years on from the Bombing of Darwin, former infantryman Alan Godfrey is happy to leave old fears and hatreds in the past.

Mr Godfrey fought in World War II and was stationed in Darwin when it was bombed by Japan on February 19, 1942. Despite the devastation Japanese forces inflicted during the conflict, Mr Godfrey said war was terrible for everyone involved, no matter what side you fought for.

“I seen this Japanese soldier dead...and he had his wallet sticking up and I picked it up,” Mr Godfrey said.

“And he had his wife and family there, and I thought, ‘He’s got a family and we just shot him’.

“He was just the same. It could have been me shot there.”

Japan was a fearsome enemy in WWII, but Mr Godfrey said there was no point retaining old mindsets of us and them.

“Got to let bygones be bygones,” he said. “We can’t hate for the rest of our lives.”

Darwin suffered heavy damage during Japanese bombing raids in WWII. The first attack happened on February 19, 1942.

On February 19, the Northern Territory will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin.

At least 243 people were killed and up to 400 injured in the attack. Eight ships were sunk in the harbour and twenty military aircraft were also destroyed.

To commemorate the Bombing of Darwin, the NT News will publish a 56-page 75th Anniversary Remembrance Magazine.

Filled with in-depth features, vivid historic photographs, maps and amazing stories of survival, the magazine will explore the bombing in detail and how it changed the Northern Territory and Australia.

Get your special edition Bombing of Darwin magazine in stores on February 19.

Originally published as Bombing of Darwin 75th anniversary: Former Infantryman recalls WWII experience