War Memorials in Australia
Yirrkala War Memorial
Place:
Yirrkala, Northern Territory, 0880
District: Arnhem
Orientation: 19 km SE of Nhulunbuy (Gove)
Location: In park next to beach
Position: 12 14 92 S 136 53 53 E
Ref: 80022
__________________________
The memorial is a large rock on a flat base. There is a plaque on the rock and four plaques on the base naming members of the Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit. There are 5 flagpoles beside the memorial and an anti-aircraft gun nearby.
The Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit was a special force of Yolngu men trained by Squadron Leader Donald Thomson to defend the North Australian coastline from Japanese attack during World War II. Donald Thomson was already a friend of the Djapu people; he had lived with them for two years before the war and he knew that these men would make a valuable contribution to the defence of Australia
Plaque on rock
WIRLIMA MUNUNGGURR
(DJAPU CLAN LEADER)
DEDICATES THIS WAR MEMORIAL
ON 5th AUGUST 1995
TO THESE
YOLNGU WHO FOUGHT IN
WORLD WAR II
1939 - 1945
1st plaque on base
| NAME | GROUP | ||
| MULAYAL | MARRAKULA | ||
| BUTJIYA | MARRAKULA | ||
| WAKURATJPI | MARRAKULA | ||
| BULAMBI | DHALWANGU | ||
| GUMUK | DHALWANGU | ||
| MINGIRRI | GUNIBIDJI | ||
| WULUNGANA | DJAPU | ||
| DJUNGGI | DJAPU |
2nd plaque on base
| NAME | GROUP | ||
| MAW | DJAPU | ||
| NGAKAYA | DJAPU | ||
| MAWUNBUY | DJAPU | ||
| DJILIWUY | DJAPU | ||
| BANDAKA | DJAPU | ||
| WAWIT | MARRAKULU | ||
| MITHILI | MARRAKULA | ||
| NUNGUNU | MARRAKULA |
3rd plaque on base
| NAME | GROUP | ||
| DAYPURRYUN | DATIWUY | ||
| GUMBANIYA | DHALWANGU | ||
| YALPARR | DHALWANGU | ||
| BUNDAMARRPA | DHALWANGU | ||
| GUYKARRU | DHALWANGU | ||
| YILANGGI | DATIWUY | ||
| GANDALAL | DHALWANGU | ||
| NATJALMA | DJAPU |
4th plaque on base
| NAME | GROUP | ||
| GITJPAPUY | MARRANGU | ||
| DJURRPUM | DJAMBARRPUYNGU | ||
| BINYINYIWUY | DJAMBARRPUYNGU | ||
| WUTJANAWUY | DJAMBARRPUYNGU | ||
| BINYDJARRPUMA | WANGURRI | ||
| NYEPAYNGA | DHALWANGU | ||
| BANGALIWUY | DJAMBARRPUYNGU | ||
| DJIMBUN | DHALWANGU |
Information current to June 2000
Sources: N.T.S.R.U. 1941-1943, Yirrkalla Literature Production Centre, Yirrkala, 1992