Pay respect to battle that hit home

Battle of the Coral Sea deserves memorial in its own right, says Jane Shoobridge

THE 76th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea was commemorated by Australian-American Associations in every Australian state and territory in May. This major naval battle, fought from May 4 to 8 in 1942, was between the Imperial Japanese Navy and naval and air forces from the US and Australia.

Discovery of the wreck of USS Lexington on March 6 this year — lying 3km deep and 800km east of Queensland — in the very week the then-intended US ambassador to Australia, Harry Harris, was visiting Canberra — was a poignant reminder of the importance of this battle (his father survived the sinking of Lexington) and sacrifices made by both sides.

Japan never intended to invade Australia. Her ultimate aim was the conquest of South-East Asia. To achieve this, she needed to eliminate resistance from the US by bombing the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. At almost the same time, on December 8, she launched an initial attack on Singapore, which finally fell on February 15 when the British surrendered. She then sought to cut the lines of communication between Australia and the US, so bombed Darwin on February 15, and Broome on March 3.

To strengthen her defensive position in the South Pacific, Japan’s plan was to invade and occupy Port Moresby (in New Guinea), and Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. Allied code-breakers learned of this plan, and the US sent two US Navy carrier task forces and a joint Australian-US cruiser force, including HMAS Hobart and HMAS Australia, to the Coral Sea to intercept the attack on Port Moresby.

The ships of both sides did not sight each other during the battle. It was fought entirely by aircraft attacking ships. There were 656 American lives lost and 966 Japanese lives lost. Both sides lost aircraft carriers, destroyers, support ships and aircraft. The US lost the destroyer USS Sims. The fleet carrier USS Lexington was so badly damaged that she was scuttled, as was the fleet oiler USS Neosho. Another carrier, USS Yorktown, was also damaged. Japan lost the light carrier Shoho, a destroyer, and several small warships. The fleet carrier Shokaku was badly damaged and the other fleet carrier, Zuikaku, lost many aircraft.

Although technically neither side scored a victory, the battle saw the withdrawal of Japanese forces from the Coral Sea, forcing her to abandon the plan of a sea borne invasion of Port Moresby (Milne Bay), and turn instead to a land assault from the north, over the Owen Stanley Ranges, along the Kokoda Track.

The significance of this battle should never be underestimated. Had Japan not suffered a major setback, then her intended conquest of South-East Asia might have become reality. The Battle of the Coral Sea weakened her forces considerably and resulted in her defeat at the Battle of Midway a month later.

In 1948, the Australian-American Association in Canberra called for a memorial to show Australia’s gratitude to America.

The association organised a competition for its design (won by architect Richard Ure) and raised money to fund part of the project. In 1952, prime minister Robert Menzies launched a campaign top raise money from the public. Australians were so grateful that the enormous sum of £100,000 was quickly raised. The result was the imposing American Eagle on Russell Hill in Canberra. There was enough money left to finance smaller monuments in Brisbane and Adelaide.

In 2008, the Federal Government proclaimed that the first Wednesday in September would be designated “Battle for Australia Day”, to recognise the service and sacrifice of all those who served in defence of Australia in 1942 and 1943.

There was no “Battle for Australia” as such. To designate such a day (one that ranks third in significance after Anzac Day and Remembrance Day as days of commemoration for war), is to disrespect historical fact. Future generations of Australians and Americans should be given more than an overview of the conflicts that cemented an enduring and

There was no “Battle for Australia” as such ... [But] the Battle of the Coral Sea should be marked with a memorial in every capital city

unbreakable bond — a bond forged during World War I — between our two nations as they joined forces against the might of Japan in the Pacific war.

The Battle of the Coral Sea should be marked with a memorial in every capital city in Australia. In Cairns, St Monica’s Cathedral is dedicated to the battle. It contains the magnificent Peace Window (possibly the largest modern commission of stained glass in Australia) created by Gerry Cummins and Jill Stehn in 1995 to commemorate 50 years of peace in the Pacific region since the end of World War II.

Hobart has a small plaque next to the Cenotaph on the domain that was unveiled by the late Doone Kennedy in 1995 when she was mayor of Hobart. It too marks 50 years of peace in the Pacific, but perhaps it is time for us Tasmanians to have a memorial that refers specifically to The Battle of the Coral Sea. We will forever be in America’s debt, and gladly, for she is our greatest friend and ally.