Join us for our first CoveTalk of 2026, as military history author Michael Veitch delivers a talk on Australia's largest ever amphibious operation. Based on his research and book 'Borneo: The Last Campaign'; Michael will explore the story of the campaign which ended Australia's involvement in World War II.
Over the final twelve weeks of World War II, the 1st Australian Army Corps fought the remnants of the Imperial Japanese Army over burning oilfields, up languid tropical rivers, along leech-ridden jungle tracks and across endless hills, valleys and ridges. Far from being the easy 'mopping-up' the men had been told to expect, Borneo turned out to be as savage as anything encountered in the Pacific, as the Japanese - despite the inevitability of their defeat - continued fighting with fanaticism, tenacity and shocking brutality.
Complex, gruelling, but brilliantly planned, Operation OBOE called for Australia's two most famous infantry divisions - the 7th and 9th - to launch amphibious assaults at three separate landing areas supported by naval and air forces. Their objectives were to secure Borneo's oil facilities and liberate its long-suffering people.
Operation OBOE involved more than 70,000 Australian military personnel, of which over 2000 became casualties, with nearly 600 killed. It was also where the two final Australian Victoria Crosses of the war were won. It was at the time, and remains today, the largest amphibious operation ever undertaken by the Australian Army.
Operation OBOE was superbly executed, achieved all of its objectives, and was the very last sustained Allied action of World War Two. As the Australian Army continues to optimise for littoral operations, this CoveTalk is a timely exploration of the lessons we can draw from our military history.
This CoveTalk will be livestreamed from the RASigs Officer Mess on Monday, 20 April at 1630h. Join us in-person or online for this great event, and joint the live Q&A with Michael after the talk.
Biography
Michael Veitch began his career in the 1980s writing and performing in television comedy with programs such as the D-Generation and Fast Forward, before working as a newspaper columnist and regular broadcaster for ABC radio in Melbourne and Tasmania. Between 2005-2010 he presented the national TV arts program on ABC Television, Sunday Arts.
In addition to numerous television, film and theatre credits, Michael has published eleven books on subjects including travel, history, marine exploration and military history. His books include the critically acclaimed accounts of Australian airmen in World War II, 44 Days, Heroes of the Skies, Fly, Flak, Barney Greatrex, Turning Point and The Battle of the Bismarck Sea; as well as Australia's Secret Army, the history of the Coastwatchers in WWII. Michael's most recent book, Borneo: The Last Campaign tells the story of Operation OBOE, the massive, three-pronged assault on the vast Japanese-held island of Borneo in 1945. It was one of the largest amphibious invasions of the entire war, and a virtually all-Australian operation.
Michael is also the author of three plays, Flak, Mystery in the Air and Hell Ship which have each toured extensively across Australia. In 2020, Michael Veitch was admitted into the RAAF as a Special Capability Officer, and is currently serving with the History and Heritage Branch as a Community Liaison Officer with the rank of Wing Commander.
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