2017 milestones in Aust military history

SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES IN AUSTRALIA'S MILITARY HISTORY. 2017 MARKS:

* 100 years since Australia suffered its costliest year in military history dominated by the allied offences on the Western Front during World War I, including the battle of Arras and the third battle of Ypres.

* 100 years since the Australian Light Horse finally secured the Suez Canal and moved into Palestine, fighting the battles at Gaza and Beersheba.

* 75 years since the capture of thousands of Australians by the Japanese in Singapore during World War II.

* 75 years since the massacre of 22 Australian army nurses by the Japanese on Bangka Island.

* 75 years since the first Japanese bombing of Darwin.

* 75 years since the battles of Java Sea, Sunda Strait and the Coral Sea.

* 75 years since the sinking of the Japanese auxiliary ship the Montevideo Maru by the US submarine Sturgeon with the loss of more than 1000 Australian prisoners of war.

* 75 years since the battle of El Alamein in Egypt with British forces halting the advance of German troops towards the Nile.

* 75 years since the Kokoda Trail Campaign with a series of battles fought between Japanese and primarily Australian forces from July to November.

* 50 years since the Battle of Suoi Chau Pha in Vietnam when Australian forces clashed with the Viet Cong. Both sides suffered significant casualties before Australian artillery forced the Viet Cong to withdraw.

* 25 years since Australia joined a peacekeeping mission in Cambodia.