The Navy in Darwin, 1941–1943 by Pat Forster and Ted Egan

Book Description

Secondhand. Good condition. Wear to booklet corners and edges., particularly top right front cover. Interior and binding are very good.

Full title: The Navy in Darwin, 1941–1943: A Graphic Record From a Sailor’s Sketchbooks With Photographs From the Early 1940s: Sketches by Pat Forster With Recollections As Told to Ted Egan.

On 19 February 1942, the Japanese Navy launched a bombing attack on the Australian mainland, striking Darwin.

Serving in an old depot ship named HMAS Platypus was a young Australian naval rating named Pat Forster. The Platypus was moored only 500 metres from the Darwin wharf which was heavily bombed and Pat Forster was an eyewitness to the bombings.

From childhood, Pat was a keen and skilful sketcher. Pat produced sketches from his time before, during and after the 1942 air-raids. When Ted Egan saw Pat's sketches, he encouraged Pat to put this booklet together.

The Pat Foster Collection of Darwin Wartime Sketches is an important part of the Northern Territory's museum's collection.