Historical information

The postcard image depicts a sunken Japanese midget submarine, that was involved in the attack on Sydney Harbour on May 31st, 1942, being raised from the waters of the Sydney Harbour by a winch system, as groups of onlookers stand upon the decks of surrounding boats.

Significance

On the 31st of May 1942, in the midst of World War Two, Sydney found itself under attack from three Japanese midget submarines that entered Sydney Harbour under the cover of night. The first submarine became trapped in anti-torpedo nets and the third submarine was sunk in Taylor Bay. The second submarine fired on the heavy cruiser the USS Chicago. One of the torpedoes exploded near the depot ship the HMAS Kuttabul, killing 21 sailors.

Physical description

Black and white rectangular postcard printed on card

Inscriptions & markings

Reverse:
7525-3/
POST CARD/
4/
This postcard is a/
souvenir of the Exhibition/
of Japanese Midget Sub-/
marines sunk in Sydney Har-/
bour on the night of Sunday,/
May 31st, 1942, the night/
that the first attack on/
Sydney by a foreign power/
took place and was/
frustrated./
30th JULY 1942/
SERIAL No. 4/
Raising the Japanese midget submarine/
The sub after/
being lifted out of/
the water, note/
the cause from depth/
charges./