23 February 1942

Rumours abound that official casualty numbers of the Darwin bombing on February 19 are a gross underestimate. One priest claims to have personally buried more than the official number of dead of 243.

He believes the rumoured number of around 1100 killed is more accurate. Those involved in the post bombing clean-up agree that the total dead is likely to be above 1000.

The exodus from Darwin continues of rumours of an imminen invasion grow. The prevailing view is that the Japanese would not launch such a devastating raid without following up wih an invasion.