DILI, 19 december 2022 (TATOLI) – Australia’s Association of Commanders opened registration for 12 days of the 1942 Timor commander campaign tour in Timor-Leste to celebrate the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).
Anzac day Observed on 25 April each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honor the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served.
Former Chair of the 2/2 Commando Association of Australia, Ed Willis said with the lifting of travel restrictions it was now possible to travel safely to Timor – Leste.
“Expresses of interest are sought from members and supporters of Doublereds and others with a more general interest in Timor-Leste’s history during World War II, who would be interested in touring with me in late April 2023,” said Ed Willis in a statement.
A highlight at the start of the tour was attending the Anzac Day ceremony in Dili at Cristo Rei on 25 April.
The planned 12-day tour will focus on the World War II campaign sites located on the east end of the island.
He added that until now four people have expressed interest to join the tour scheduled to be held on April 24, 2023, to May 5, 2023, to visit various places in nine municipalities.
The 2/2 Commando Association of Australia was one of 12 independent companies or squadron commandos commissioned by the Australian Army for service during World War II.
The division served in Timor, New Guinea, and New England during World War II, taking part in the Battle of Timor in June 1942 as part of the Sparrow Troop.
Following the seizure of the island (Timor), the company was withdrawn in December 1942 and returned to Australia, then taking part in operations in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and then in New Britain in 1945.
After the war, several members of the unit became defenders of the rights of the East Timorese people, recognizing the contributions they had made to Australia’s war effort.
One member, John Patrick “Paddy” Kenneally, who died in March 2009 at the age of 93, said the Australians “wouldn’t last a week if the Timorese didn’t protect them”.
Kenneally visited East Timor four times after World War II; once in 1990 and three more times after independence from Indonesia was achieved in 1999.
In 2005, he appeared in a TV commercial promoting a fair deal for the people of Timor-Leste in the Timor Sea oil and gas negotiations and was instrumental in securing part of the gas field for the Timorese people.
On 25 April 2008 Kenneally, her two sons, and one of her grandchildren attended an Anzac Day service in East Timor, at a memorial overlooking Dili built by veterans from 2/2.
Journalist : Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
