Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Politics
Tim Dornin

Memorial recognises Japanese submariners

The names of a Japanese submarine captain and his crew, who died in World War II battle with an Australian navy corvette, now feature on a memorial plaque on Darwin's coast, marking the 80th anniversary of the attack.

There were 80 men on board the sub I-124 that had been waging covert operations before it was sunk by HMAS Deloraine on January 20, 1942.

No bodies were recovered from the now-heritage protected wreck, which rests in deep water between Darwin Harbour and Bathurst Island.

The new memorial was unveiled at the Dripstone Cliffs on Friday, on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Darwin.

A collaboration between the Northern Territory and Japanese governments, the plaque is set on a stone plinth and sits alongside an existing memorial laid in 2017.

Heritage Minister Chansey Paech said the memorial was a wonderful gesture to commemorate the 80 men who lost their lives.

"The naming of the individual submariners honours their lives and families," he said.

"Recognising all human loss incurred in war reflects our underlying shared humanity."

Japan's Ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami said the memorial was a reminder that the close relationship between Japan and Australia had been built upon the sacrifices and commitment of past generations.

"We have come a long way together over the past seven decades, but the potential in our bilateral relationship is enormous with much room to expand," he said.

"Therefore, while never forgetting what has come before us, we can work together to a bright future."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.