Place: Darwin, Northern Territory, 0800
District: Darwin-Daly
Orientation: Territory capital
Location: Adjacent to Darwin Cenotaph, Bicentennial Park, off Esplanade between Herbert Street and Knuckey Street
Position: 12 28 00 S     130 50 39 E
Ref: 80055

The plaque is one of a series commemorating various units who served in Darwin during World War II. They are set at ground level next to a fence overlooking the harbour and in close proximity to Darwin Cenotaph.

THE DARWIN MOBILE FORCE
Insignia
THE DARWIN MOBILE FORCE (DMF) WAS RAISED IN SYDNEY IN NOVEMBER 1938
FOR SURVEILLANCE AND PROTECTION OF THE DARWIN AREA.                                  
THE FORCE ARRIVED IN DARWIN IN MARCH 1939.
                                                           
IN SEPTEMBER 1940 THE DMF WAS REORGANISED AND RENAMED THE DARWIN
INFANTRY BATTALION (DIB) AND THE ARTILLERY GROUP BECAME THE 18TH FIELD
BATTERY.  IN NOVEMBER 1941 THE DIB WAS RENAMED THE 19TH INFANTRY
BATTALION.  THE BATTALION AND THE 18TH FIELD BATTERY WERE SERVING IN
DARWIN DURING THE RAID OF 18TH FEBRUARY 1942 AND SUBSEQUENT RAIDS.
SOME OF THE MEMBERS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY WITH THE DMF WERE STILL
SERVING WITH THESE UNITS AT THIS TIME.  THE 19TH INFANTRY BATTALION (AIF)
LATER SERVED IN OTHER AREAS OF THE SOUTH WEST PACIFIC.
                            
THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THESE UNITS WHO
GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA.                                                           
UNVEILED BY HIS HONOUR
THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
COMMODORE E. E. JOHNSTON, AO, OBE
ON 12TH MARCH 1989 ON THE OCCASION OF THE
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE DMF IN DARWIN.

Information current to May 2000

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