Cyclone Warriors: The Australian Defence Force and Cyclone Tracy December 1974 – June 1975

"This impeccably researched and beautifully illustrated book is strongly recommended for both those studying in military staff colleges and police academies and for the general reader." -Australian Warship

Cyclone Tracy was one of the most damaging disasters to ever impact Australia. The story of the terrible night of Christmas Eve 1974 has been told before, but the involvement of the Australian Defence Force has been under-emphasised.

This book rectifies that by revealing the untold stories of those in uniform. Men and women of all three services experienced the cyclone, including the crew of HMAS Arrow which sank with the loss of two lives.

The first outsiders to reach the shattered city flew in on RAAF aircraft, which quickly began flying out evacuees. Then the Navy embarked on its largest peacetime operation with the majority of the fleet including the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne deploying to Darwin. For the first month the Navy took the lead in cleaning up the city before a larger and better equipped Army force took over.

The book argues strongly that the National Emergency Medal should be bestowed on all uniformed people involved, including civilians such as police, and that a prominent and fitting memorial be established in Darwin.

Cyclone Warriors also dispels myths, and for the first time with extensive research provides the true number of fatalities incurred when Tracy tore apart Darwin.

Tom Lewis is one of Australia’s foremost military historians having written over twenty books. He is a former naval officer and long time resident of Darwin.

Table of Contents

ABBREVIATIONS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FOREWORD
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
EXPLANATORY NOTES
MAPS
INTRODUCTION – CYCLONE TRACY AND THE ARMED FORCES
CHAPTER 1 – THE ARMED FORCES IN DARWIN PRIOR TO TRACY
CHAPTER 2 – THE CYCLONE STRIKES – THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE STORY
CHAPTER 3 – THE CONCEPT OF RESCUE, AND MILITARY COMMAND
CHAPTER 4 – THE AIR FORCE STORY
CHAPTER 5 – THE NAVY STORY
CHAPTER 6 – THE ARMY STORY
CHAPTER 7 – UNIFORMS APART FROM THE ADF
CHAPTER 8 – STRETTON DEPARTS
CHAPTER 9 – WHY NO MEDAL FOR CYCLONE TRACY?
CHAPTER 10 – TRACY CONTROVERSIES
CONCLUSION – CYCLONE TRACY AND THE ARMED FORCES
APPENDIX – THE CURIOUS CASE OF MAJOR GENERAL STRETTON VERSUS THE ARMY
LIST OF WORKS CONSULTED
INDEX OF NAMES

Dr. Tom Lewis served for 20 years in the Royal Australian Navy, during which time he saw active service in Baghdad, where he led American forces, and East Timor. As a museum director he led two museums to new success; the Royal Australian Naval College Historical Collection at HMAS Creswell – for which services he received an Order of Australia; and the Darwin Military Museum, where he was Director for five years. He holds a master’s degree in Cold War Politics from University of Queensland and a Ph.D. in Strategic Studies from Charles Darwin University.

Tom was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2003 for services to naval history. Further decorations include the Australian Active Service Medal; the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the United States Army Commendation Medal.

Tom is in popular demand from radio and television stations across the globe for his insightful comments on military history and how it intersects with modern-day life. He is a regular speaker to community groups, and appears often in TV documentaries, including lately with Neil Oliver in Coasts, and in Sir Tony Robinson’s Tour of Duty. He produced with Military Myths Defeated the documentary of The Borella Ride, the Anzac Centenary commemoration of Lieutenant Albert Borella VC, who rode 1000 kilometers in the Northern Territory Wet Season to sign up for the Great War. Tom was the Lead Historian for the Ride. Albert Borella VC, an Incredible Journey screened nationally in Australia on Channel 9. He was also Historian for the 2017 Northern Territory Government project The Territory Remembers, the commemoration of 75 years since the first enemy attacks on Australia. He lives in Darwin, Australia with his wife.