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Kupang-Australian War Memorial

In December 1941, 1300 men and supplies who made up Sparrow Force arrived in Kupang, Timor Island from Darwin, Australia. Their role was to assist the Netherlands East Indies Army to repel the pending invasion of Timor by the Japanese Imperial Army...

On the 19th of February 1942 the Japanese Air Force commenced bombing Kupang and Penfui – Bandara Eltari airfield. On the 20th of February fighting commenced in earnest in isolated areas ranging from Kupang, Oesapa Besar and around Penfui...

The first wave of Japanese invaders included 1000 Paratroopers supported by Fighter aircraft and Bombers. The Paratroopers landed at Babao and fierce fighting took place in isolated sections when they met with resistance from the Australians...

“A” Company

On the Afternoon of the 20th “A” Company left Penfui to meet the Japanese at Babao to retake the Town. Spasmodic fighting continued thru the night and there was fighting and skirmishes all the way through to Oesau...

On the 21st of February the Australians continued to move through Japanese lines until they met the main Japanese Paratroop contingent who had dug in with heavily fortified positions being armed with machine guns, mortars, other associated small arms and fighter aircraft...

By the morning of February 22nd the Australians had suffered many wounded and killed and were running out of supplies and men in attempting to take Oesau Ridge, the Australian Commanding Officer for this section Colonel Leggett then decided that the best way to move forward was to order a bayonet charge of the Japanese positions...

This was due to commence at 5pm. If the charge was successful then the Australians would be able to proceed to Camplong to retake the Town which they believed was in Japanese hands. Once at Camplong they could also re-provision and take on reinforcements if they were there...

Retaking Oesau Ridge

The Australians completed the task to retake Oesau Ridge and defeated the Japanese. Along the way the Timorese suffered from many people dead and injured as well. The Timorese provided great assistance to the Australians and had many heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice to try to repel the Japanese...

On the morning of February 23rd the Australians were assessing their numbers of wounded, able men and supplies when a troop of Japanese tanks carrying a white flag came up behind the Australian supply trucks holding many wounded, the Japanese Commanding Officer had an ultimatum for the Australians to surrender within one hour or they would be bombed out of existence by the superior numbers of the enemy...

Seeing no other alternative the men of the 2/40th Battalion AIF Sparrow Force surrendered at 9am and became prisoners of war of the Japanese Imperial Army. They suffered terribly from that day on until the end of the War on the 15th of August 1945. By then they were spread throughout Asia including Japan itself...

The men and survivors of the 2/40th Battalion AIF Sparrow Force wish to express their profound gratitude and appreciation to the people of Timor and give thanks to the people to Timor for their undying assistance and friendship...

2009 War Memorial Opening

In Oesau, just out from Kupang on 22nd February, 2009 the Kupang-Australian War Memorial was officially opened... It symbolizes the brotherhood of two countries joined together in seemingly insurmountable circumstances against a common enemy at the time...

Timor War 1942

Video - Bahasa Indonesia

Historical Photos

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6 must do Kupang things

Try the local food

Kupang's food scene is a special mix of traditional foods of the Timorese People mix with Javanese and Chinese delights...

Walk a deserted beach

Some of the pristine white sandy beaches of Timor, Semau and Monkey Islands will take your breath away...

Visit a local village

The friendliness of the indigenous people of Timor is overwhelming as they are a generous and loving people...

Hunt for souvenirs

The traditional artwork and craftsmanship of the Timorese is world renowned - raw and honest expression...

Swim with the fishes

Kupang diving and snorkeling around Timor, Semau and Monkey Islands is some of the most diverse in Indonesia...

Enjoy awesome sunsets

Kupang has some amazing vantage points where you can watch the sun go down after a great day...

Beaches Baby, Beaches

Kupang FAQs

437 k
Population of Kupang
35 +
Dive sites in Kupang
76
Languages spoken here
1789
William Bligh visited us
550 +
Islands in this province

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