He ran from the showers wearing only his boots, tin hat, and a towel, grabbed his gun, and took down a Japanese bomber plane. Wilbert "Darky" Thomas Hudson, known as "the naked gunner", became a national hero on February 19, 1942 – the day Darwin suffered more bombs than Pearl Harbour. Yet 84 years later, most Australians don't know this story.
The bombing of Darwin is Australia's forgotten battle. While many can recount the details of D-Day or Pearl Harbour, few realise that Japanese Imperial forces - the same ones that bombed Pearl Harbour - attacked Australian shores leaving a devastating path of destruction.
On February 19, 1942, the first bombs fell at 9:58am.
“In less than 40 minutes, 188 aircraft wrought almost total destruction upon Darwin. Of 49 ships in the harbour, nine were sunk. By the time the planes left, 65 to 70 per cent of the town had been destroyed or badly damaged,” explained Dr Norman Cramp, director of the Darwin Military Museum.
“The Japanese dropped more bombs on Darwin that day than they did at Pearl Harbour. But while Pearl Harbour was one raid on one day, Darwin suffered over 70 raids across 20 months of sustained attacks.”
Merrylands RSL in New South Wales is working to ensure this history is not forgotten.
At their second annual Darwin Bombings Commemoration Luncheon, Merrylands RSL brought together veterans, historians, and community members to honour those who defended Australia's shores.
"The bombing of Darwin happened in our own backyard, and yet no one talks about it," says Wayne Mar, CEO of the Merrylands RSL Club.
"There's nothing bigger than paying the ultimate sacrifice, and that is your life, to try and defend the country that you come from."
Margot Smith, CEO of RSL & Services Clubs Association, also notes that “bringing days like these to the forefront in RSL clubs is key to reminding us of the sacrifices made by current and former serving defence personnel".
Wendy Hudson, "Darky" Hudson's daughter who attended the event, shares her father's story: "While [my father and other soldiers] were in the showers, they heard planes coming over and someone said, 'They can't be allied planes. We don’t have that many.' Through all that drama of running out [with his boots, helmet and a towel wrapped around his waist], trying to keep the towel around you, but realising we're in serious trouble here and we're being attacked by the enemy, the towel fell down and so, to this day, my father is known as 'the naked gunner'."
The annual lunch highlights the importance of our preserving military history and passing on the torch, particularly to young people. The lunch was attended by over 200 people, including local school teachers and students.
Dr Norman Cramp says, "We should never forget what the veterans have done and we should never stop to thank them."
"Without them, it's true to say that the Australia that we live in today would be a totally different place."
Lest we forget.
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