Several thousand people gather to commemorate Bombing of Darwin at Esplanade Cenotaph

SEVERAL thousand people have gathered at the Darwin Esplanade Cenotaph to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin — the first time war reached Australia’s shores

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SEVERAL thousand people have gathered at the Darwin Esplanade Cenotaph to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin — the first time war reached Australia’s shores.

Today marks 79 years since 240 Japanese aircraft dropped bombs on the Northern Territory capital in two separate raids, in the largest single attack ever mounted on Australia by a foreign power.

Defence forces personnel re-enacted the events of the fateful day that Darwin was first bombed by 242 Japanese aircraft. Picture: Alicia Perera

Between 230 and 250 people were killed.

The sound of jet engines, cannons and machine gun fire and the smell of smoke filled the air as Defence forces personnel re-enacted the events of that fateful day.

Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18A/B Hornets from No. 75 squadron based at RAAF Base Tindal flew overhead at the Cenotaph at 10am as troops simulated firing on the formidable enemy forces they never saw coming.

Bombing of Darwin veteran Mervyn Ey, 99, with his family, after laying a wreath to commorate the occasion. Picture: Alicia Perera

Dignitaries and VIPs laid wreaths at the Cenotaph in tribute to the fallen.

Among those to lay wreaths were NT Administrator Vicki O’Halloran, Bombing of Darwin veteran Mervyn Ey, Chief Minister Michael Gunner, Veteran Affairs Minister Darren Chester and Member for Solomon Luke Gosling.

Mr Ey, 99, travelled from Adelaide to make the ceremony.

Defence forces personnel re-enacted the events of the Bombing of Darwin on its 79th anniversary. Picture: Alicia Perera

Stationed in Nightcliff as a young soldier at the time, he said the bombing had been a “traumatic” event.

“There was a big variety of planes,” he said.

There were fighters, there were dive bombers.”

“It was a little bit like a non-stop show.”

After a reading of the Ode of Remembrance by a Darwin High School student, the ceremony ended with the Last Post, a single shot of cannon fire and the Australian national anthem.

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This year’s ceremony was smaller than most, with many regular attendees unable to fly in from interstate or overseas.

About 2000 to 3000 people attended the commemoration.