Hear the Stories

Wilbert “Darkie” Hudson (aka “The Naked Gunner”), was a gunner with the Australian Army, stationed in Darwin, during World War II. This story of mateship and bravery in the Top End is a story that needs to be told.

On the morning of February 19, 1942, Darkie was in the shower when air raid sirens sounded: Japanese planes were dropping bombs on Darwin, bringing the war to Australian shores. Darkie leapt out of the shower, wrapped a towel around himself, pulled on his boots and hat, and ran to the gun site. He propped his weapon on his mate’s shoulder and began firing, his towel dropping to the ground. Darkie shot down a Japanese dive bomber, with his friends later teasing him about whether he shot down the plane or the pilot saw him naked and died of fright!