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Darwin Detachment

A Military and Social History

 Robert J Rayner

In 1926 Darwin became a fueling base 'in being' with the first of the oil tanks at Stokes Hill completed. This step was in line with the Imperial planning approved at the 1923 Imperial Conference. With its facilities as a major support base for naval operations in line with the Singapore or Blue Water Strategy, Darwin had to be defended.

Plans for Darwin's defence were discussed at the highest levels of the military and proposals were made to Government stressing the need for protection of the oil installation. Though various Governments through the twenties accepted the need for defences at Darwin, the cost and lead time factors envisioned for the provision of the new equipment from England provided sufficient justification politically to defer any action Factors such as post war weariness, civil construction priorities and budget restrictions brought on by the effects of the Depression ensured Darwin took a back seat in terms of coastal defence.

As the defence of the oil tanks was a high priority for the Royal Australian Navy in 1928 the Navy offered to supply ordnance to the Army for the emergency defence of Darwin. The offer was accepted and thereafter both the Army and Navy Boards combined their efforts in joint submissions to Government for funding to build and install the defences.

Approval in principle for the planning of an emergency defence at Darwin came in 1931 but not until May 1932 was the Emergency Defence Scheme for Darwin guaranteed with the provision of funding. By August men of the Darwin Detachment tasked with mounting the guns and other facilities were ready to depart for Darwin. All the policy development. including the long history of disappointment is covered in this work. Most importantly the development of the works and the social interaction between the Army and the population at Darwin is also described thanks mainly to the records left by the senior RAA Staff Corps Officer and Adjutant of the Darwin Detachment Captain (later Colonel) FN Nurse.

The reader will be a witness to the arrival of the Detachment at Darwin, the problems confronted in moving ordnance and building the defences. Not everything done was of a military nature however. See also the tennis, cricket, football, horse racing and most of all the story of the people involved. Share the frustrations of life in this isolated outpost and the efforts made by everyone at Australia's 'front door' in Darwin. To ensure the story is as complete as possible documentation and diary records have been obtained from many sources including the National Archive, the Australian War Memorial and from many families of those who served with the Darwin Detachment. The story of the Darwin Detachment is greatly supported by a detailed photographic record and maps. The history of the Darwin Detachment shows the hard work put in to build the defences. It is serious and yet amusing, fresh and fast moving. Their story needed to be told and I recommend it to you.