Known as 2/2 Commando Association Memorial: a bronze plaque commemorating the gratitude of the Australian soldiers for the help of the Portuguese people.

In February 1942 the Japanese invaded the island of Timor. Australia had a small force, known as Sparrow Force, defending the island but despite a spirited campaign, most of the force, mainly the 2/40th Battalion defending the Dutch zone in West Timor, were forced to surrender.

One group, however, was not captured. The 2/2nd Independent Company, later reinforced and replaced by the 2/4th Independent Company, conducted guerrilla warfare against advancing Japanese forces, fighting in the rugged interior of Portuguese Timor in the east. During the following months the guerrillas inflicted damage on the Japanese occupation forces wherever and whenever they could. The success of the guerrillas was only made possible by the support they received from the local Timorese who, risking execution by the Japanese, acted as porters and guides and provided food and shelter. However, in August the Japanese launched a major counter-offensive destroying many of the links between the Australians and the local people. Although some of the Timorese were still prepared to risk their lives helping the Australians, it became more and more difficult for the guerrillas to operate.

The Australian troops harassed the large Japanese force for nearly a year until operations were progressively wound down and in February 1943, the remaining members of Sparrow Force were withdrawn from East Timor. Australian and American aircraft continued bombing Japanese bases but the guerrilla campaign itself was at an end.

The memorial was built as a gift to the Timorese people in gratitude for their support of the Australian soldiers during the Second World War. It is also a memorial to the 2/2nd Independent Company who fought in the area. The original memorial was built to provide a rest stop for the local people and included a pool and water supply.

The memorial was built by members of the 2nd/2nd Independent Company in 1969.

In 2008, the memorial was refurbished with funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs under a proposal by Kirsty Sword Gusmao, the wife of Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. The refurbished memorial was rededicated on Anzac Day 2008.

Fatanuba, Timor-Leste.

Located 10 kms south of Dili at Dare-Fatanuba.