After the first bombing raid on Darwin in 1942, special units consisting of Indigenous Australians were formed, one of which was the Snake Bay Patrol.
[2][3] The Snake Bay Patrol unit was established by Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve officer Lieutenant J.W.B.
Gribble during the Pacific War to detect any Japanese forces which landed on the island, with local Indigenous Australians being informally recruited and never formally enlisted into the military.
[4][5] Similar units were raised on Bathurst Island, the Cox Peninsula and Groote Eylandt.
Two members of the Patrol are also believed to have formed part of reconnaissance parties landed on Timor from Allied submarines.