I - 124 JAPANESE SUBMARINE
AJANT president (2016) and the I-124 submarine decedents.
Many times throughout history people have said what a terrible thing war is. The outcome of war for all sides involved is a legacy of profound loss: the loss of lives, of property, of boundaries and of identity.
A life lost in war has been given in the service to their country and over many centuries and many wars, millions have done so. But every single person who has ever died in combat or as a civilian shared the unique bond that we all share as human beings. The frailties, strengths, weaknesses, talents, kindnesses, humour that link us.
In 1942 the Japanese were advancing towards Australia and the place was right here in Darwin. The crew of I-124 submarine were torpedoed and sunk by the Australian naval ship the HMAS Deloraine. 80 submariners were either killed outright by the depth charge or drowned. The final hours of those who survived the impact, who may have desperately been trying to survive against the odds is a sad and tragic one indeed. Not too far from where we live, their souls are resting as they have been for 75 years.
We at the Australian Japanese Association the Northern Territory agreed with Dr Tom Lewis that timely and appropriate for those submariners to have some recognition and remembrance. We appreciate Dr Lewis’s support, encouragement and assistance throughout the project planning. We are grateful to The Territory Remembers project who approved our request for the plinth grant; the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Defence, who funded the plaque.
We hope that the plaque will bring some comfort for those who lost relatives in the I-124. We also hope that its placing can bring some reconciliation for the people of Darwin who were affected so adversely by the bombing of Darwin by Japanese forces. Many people suffered and many still carry the painful memories of that terrible time.
Our sincere hope at AJANT is for continued peace, reconciliation, friendship and unity to go on between Australia and Japan.
We respectfully remember 80 Japanese submariners who lost their lives on the I-124 Submarine on January 20th1942. Men who lived, loved, laughed, cried, and had dreams of their own. Men who did service and duty for their country and died doing it. May they rest in peace.
A life lost in war has been given in the service to their country and over many centuries and many wars, millions have done so. But every single person who has ever died in combat or as a civilian shared the unique bond that we all share as human beings. The frailties, strengths, weaknesses, talents, kindnesses, humour that link us.
In 1942 the Japanese were advancing towards Australia and the place was right here in Darwin. The crew of I-124 submarine were torpedoed and sunk by the Australian naval ship the HMAS Deloraine. 80 submariners were either killed outright by the depth charge or drowned. The final hours of those who survived the impact, who may have desperately been trying to survive against the odds is a sad and tragic one indeed. Not too far from where we live, their souls are resting as they have been for 75 years.
We at the Australian Japanese Association the Northern Territory agreed with Dr Tom Lewis that timely and appropriate for those submariners to have some recognition and remembrance. We appreciate Dr Lewis’s support, encouragement and assistance throughout the project planning. We are grateful to The Territory Remembers project who approved our request for the plinth grant; the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Defence, who funded the plaque.
We hope that the plaque will bring some comfort for those who lost relatives in the I-124. We also hope that its placing can bring some reconciliation for the people of Darwin who were affected so adversely by the bombing of Darwin by Japanese forces. Many people suffered and many still carry the painful memories of that terrible time.
Our sincere hope at AJANT is for continued peace, reconciliation, friendship and unity to go on between Australia and Japan.
We respectfully remember 80 Japanese submariners who lost their lives on the I-124 Submarine on January 20th1942. Men who lived, loved, laughed, cried, and had dreams of their own. Men who did service and duty for their country and died doing it. May they rest in peace.
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I-124 Submarine plaque has being set up at Dripstone Cliffs in Darwin, Australia
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Australian Japanese association of the Northern Territory
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