The incredible story of 270 Australian commandos who defied all odds to hold down more than 10,000 Japanese troops in East Timor during a critical point of World War II will be told at the Western Australian Museum – Albany from February 14.

Debt of Honour: Australia’s First Commandos and East Timor recounts the little-known story of one of Australia’s most defining campaigns of the Second World War.

WA Museum – Albany manager Rachael Wilsher-Saa said the exhibition, specially curated by the WA Museum, explores the enduring relationship between the Australian soldiers of the 2/2nd Independent Company and the people of East Timor, who risked their lives to help the Australian troops.

“Against all odds, this courageous group of Australian men – 80 per cent of whom were recruited from WA - undertook a hit and run campaign that successfully diverted more than 10,000 enemy troops from the Kokoda and Guadalcanal battles,” Ms Wilsher-Saa said.

“Lacking supplies, the commandos relied on support from the ‘Criados’, young East Timor men and boys mostly aged between nine and 15 years old, who willingly volunteered to support the Australians. They carried their packs, sourced and shared food and shelter, navigated for them, taught them about the very unforgiving landscape, and acted as their eyes and ears to report on Japanese movements and attacks – all at great peril to themselves and their villages.”

Ms Wilsher-Saa said the exceptional war effort of the 2/2nd and their relationship with the people of East Timor is a story of overwhelming courage and enduring mateship.

“The soldiers of the 2/2nd felt they owed their lives to the people of East Timor, and many dedicated their post-war years to repaying this debt of honour,” she said.

This commitment became an enduring legacy for many soldiers and their relatives who, over the past 70 years, have continued to maintain the friendships forged during the war and have provided financial and educational assistance to the East Timorese people.

The exhibition, consisting of almost 140  poignant objects, also explores the Australian Government’s complex relationship with East Timor/Timor Leste from the 1975 invasion to the 1999 Intervention and beyond.

Debt of Honour: Australia’s First Commandos and East Timor will be on display at the Western Australian Museum – Albany from February 14 – May 18, 2014. For more information, including video introductions by the exhibition curators, visit museum.wa.gov.au/whats-on/debt-honour   

Media contact:
Niki Comparti
Western Australian Museum
6552 7805
Niki.comparti@museum.wa.gov.au