July 1945: Australian troops storm ashore in the first assault wave to take Balikpapan on the southeast coast of oil-rich Borneo. Standing in the LST, Coast Guard Combat Photographer James L. Lonergan is documenting the landing operations

Landing on Borneo

Democracy rolls on. "RAF Station Pembroke Dock, Wales. C. 1944-08. Group portrait of personnel of 461 (Sunderland) Squadron RAAF in the UK registering their votes in a Federal referendum."  The referendum was to allow the Australian Federal Government to legislate on a range of matters for five years after the war ended.  The proposal was defeated 54/46%.  Armed forces votes were submitted by 417,082 personnel.

461 Sqn RAAF vote

Feb. 1943:  Soldiers of the Australian forces advance through a coconut grove and kunai grass in Japanese occupied New Guinea during World War II. The smoke is from mortar fire during the fierce fighting in the final assault which took Buna, the Japanese stronghold
