'We are fighting mad'

Australia's wartime Prime Minister John Curtin delivered this radio address on 20 March 1942, one of the most famous speeches in Australian history.

John Curtin had none of the rhetorical flourish of a Winston Churchill but during Australia’s darkest hour, a month after the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese, he delivered a speech that was truly Churchillian in its scope and linguistic beauty.

He finishes:

I may be looking down a vista of weary months; of soul-shaking reverses; of grim struggle; of back-breaking work. But as surely as I sit here talking to you across the war-tossed Pacific Ocean I see our flag; I see Old Glory; I see the proud banner of the heroic Chinese; I see the standard of the valiant Dutch.

And I see them flying high in the wind of liberty over a Pacific from which aggression has been wiped out; over peoples restored to freedom; and flying triumphant as the glorified symbols of united nations strong in will and in power to achieve decency and dignity, unyielding to evil in any form.

Here is the full speech:

John Curtin: 'We are fighting mad', WW2 radio broadcast - 1942

20 March 1942, radio broadcast, Australia

Men and women of the United States:

I speak to you from Australia. I speak from a united people to a united people, and my speech is aimed to serve all the people of the nations united in the struggle to save mankind.

On the great waters of the Pacific Ocean war now breathes its bloody steam. From the skies of the Pacific pours down a deathly hail. In the countless islands of the Pacific the tide of war flows madly. For you in America; for us in Australia, it is flowing badly. Let me then address you as comrades in this war and tell you a little of Australia and Australians. I am not speaking to your Government. We have long been admirers of Mr Roosevelt and have the greatest confidence that he understands fully the critical situation in the Pacific and that America will go right out to meet it. For all that America has done, both before and after entering the war, we have the greatest admiration and gratitude.