In World War 2, Portuguese Timor was neutral territory. However, Australia’s 2/2 Company entered uninvited, luring the Japanese troops. Many young Timorese volunteered to serve alongside as the eyes and ears of the Australian soldiers, hauling supplies and equipment, making the 2/2 Company an effective guerilla force. Some actually carried arms and took part in engagements with the enemy. The Timorese also gave the Australians food, shelter and refused to inform on them.

Unconditionally, the Timorese became an invisible shield for the Australians. With Timorese protection, Australia’s small guerilla company suffered an incredibly small number of casualties, and was able to fend off the Japanese troops even when they came within striking force of Australia later on.

Today, few are aware of the 50,000 Timorese who died as a result of this conflict. Despite supporting Australia more than any other nation during the Second World War, the Timor campaign appears only as a minor footnote in most histories.

But Australian veterans who fought in this campaign feel a great debt to their Timorese comrades-in-arms for saving their lives. Many are greatly aggrieved when successive Australian governments betrayed them. Unfortunately, Australian policy appeased the Indonesia invasion and subsequent excess of carving up East Timor’s oil reserves in the 1980s.

In the light of this, many Australians, whose fathers and grandfathers have fought in the Timor campaign are extremely grateful for the Timorese. Knowing that they would not be alive otherwise, many have stepped forward to make generous donations to HIAM Health over the years.