First phase .E2.80.93 Japanese advance Kokoda Track campaign

1 first phase – japanese advance

1.1 japanese landings , initial advance
1.2 battle of kokoda
1.3 battle of isurava
1.4 eora creek – templeton s crossing
1.5 battle of brigade hill
1.6 ioribaiwa , imita ridge

first phase – japanese advance
japanese landings , initial advance


the japanese bought rubber boats cross kumusi river advanced. 1 left retreated. (awm013707)

the japanese landings @ gona commenced @ 5:30 pm on 21 july 1942. opposed allied air attacks until darkness fell , again in morning, loss of 1 transport ship. japanese landings observed patrols of pib , officers of angau. templeton bought forward 2 of platoons. remaining platoon protect kokoda. first contact made @ 4.00 pm on 23 july. pib patrol led lieutenant chalk ambushed advancing japanese near awala. bridge across kumusi river @ wairopi destroyed withdrawing australians , japanese harassed made crossing.

owen had flown kokoda on 24 july , went forward templeton assess situation. owen returned kokoda , called reinforcements landed. ambush position sited 700 metres (800 yd) east of gorari , sprung @ midday on 25 july. force of 2 platoons , remaining pib withdrew on oivi, taking position evening. d company s 16 platoon arrived air @ kokoda in 2 flights on 26 july. first flight arrived @ 10:00 am. sent forward , had joined force @ oivi before japanese attack @ 3:00 pm. force able hold japanese time, before being forced retire on secondary position. japanese trying encircle position, templeton concerned second flight yet arrive , set out warn it. there burst of fire shortly after left. templeton never seen again.

watson took command. force increasingly threatened encirclement, broke toward deniki. @ kokoda, owen had lost contact forward platoons , withdrew on deniki, departing @ 11:00 on 27 july. on following morning, small party of stragglers arrived. having spent previous night @ kokoda, reported village unoccupied. leaving 2 sections @ deniki, owen advanced village.

battle of kokoda

by 11:30 am, owen had reoccupied kokoda force consisting of b company, remaining pib , members of angau had joined maroubra force, variously numbered @ between 80 , 148. owen called reinforcements , shortly after, 2 planes appeared overhead did not land defenders slow in removing barricades had been placed across airstrip , pilots believed situation risky land. there inconsistencies in various accounts of event – significantly, whether occurred on 28 july or day earlier, when owen abandon kokoda.

kokoda village , airfield, august 1942. (awm128400)

the kokoda plateau tongue shaped, steep-sloped sides. government station located @ northern tip. track form oivi approaches tip east. track deniki runs down centre south. owen positioned force around station @ tip. @ 1:30 pm, advance elements of japanese force total approximately 200 sighted. japanese commander, captain ogawa, assembled force, australian defenders harassed through night, including fire light mortars , type 92 battalion gun, particularly telling australians had no means respond it. main attack commenced @ 2:30 in morning of 29 july. owen in forward positions inspire troops , received mortal gunshot wound above right eye. watson assumed command and, force being overrun, withdrew on deniki.

following first battle @ kokoda, there brief pause in fighting during both japanese , australians concentrated forces next phase. japanese, 1st battalion of 144th infantry regiment, of 1st company had faced b company @ kokoda. battalion commanded lieutenant colonel tsukamoto hatsuo. c company , a company of 39th battalion arrived @ deniki on 30 and 31 july respectively. major allan cameron, brigade major of 30th brigade, had been sent forward take command of maroubra force, arriving on 4 august. cameron formed low opinion of b company after encountering troops moving southward along track moved forward. cameron s arrival coincided telephone line being established head of track deniki. improved communications port moresby. d company arrived on 6 august. force, cameron resolved counterattack , recapture kokoda. plan advance along 3 routes assigned each of fresh companies b company securing deniki. c company advance along main track kokoda. company, under captain noel symington, advance along parallel track east unknown japanese. d company advance on track deniki pirivi. pirivi south of oivi–kokoda track , 5 kilometres (3 mi) east of kokoda. there, take blocking position.

final orders issued cameron on afternoon of 7 august, advance following morning form-up points , attack @ noon. cameron s force totaled 550 3 attacking companies numbering 430. opposed 522 men of 1/144 battalion , total force of 660, including artillery platoon , combat engineers. tsukamoto chose attack toward deniki same day along main track , c company encountered resistance, having advanced 200 metres (200 yd).

corperal (later seargent) sanopa, of royal papua constabulary, attached pib, featured prominently in fighting around kokoda.(by william dargie awm art23175)

the attack on kokoda preceded bombing , strafing sixteen p–39s. symington able advance kokoda and, meeting minimal resistance, able occupy it. message sent corporal sanopa cameron requiring resupply air , reinforcements hold village. c company advancing on main track, met increasing resistance came upon tsukamoto s main force. unable advance further, withdrew on deniki, japanese closely following. arrived there @ 5:50 pm. d company, under captain max bidstrup took position @ junction on oivi–kokoda track, came under strong attack engineers both directions. judging attack on kokoda had been unsuccessful withdrew @ 4:30 pm deniki main force, arriving @ 1:30 pm on 9 august (with 17 platoon, had become isolated in fighting, arriving next day).

sanopa arrived symington s message in morning of 9 august. cameron requested both air drop of supplies , aerial reconnaissance ascertain situation @ kokoda. informed resupply not occur until following day. tsukamoto had sent company kokoda, arriving @ 11:30 on 9 august. without resupply , facing determined attacks symington s force held until 7:00 pm on 10 august. withdrew westward circuitous route isurava, arriving on 13 august. reconnaissance flight occurred in morning of 10 august promised resupply delayed weather until 12 august when dropped hands of japanese.

the machine gun company of 39th battalion had deployed along track (less medium machine guns) , had been holding position @ isurava week. cameron called forward, arriving in deniki @ 5:00 pm on 12 august, exchanged roles b company. patrols deniki had reported japanese advancing en mass kokoda. attack commenced 5:30 on 13 august , continued throughout day. sporadic gunfire continued through of night , attack renewed next morning. japanese threatened flanks , rear, cameron ordered withdrawal isurava @ 9:50 am.

battle of isurava

tsukamoto did not continue press advance waited horii concentrate main force, estimating australian force holding kokoda had numbered around 1,000, 1,200. force available horii based on 5 infantry battalions supporting arms , services variously reported @ 3,000 , 5,000 strong. horii planned attack 4 infantry battalions, holding 1 of these in immediate reserve exploit result. force engaged australians @ isurava totaled 2,130, including artillery.

on 16 august, lieutenant colonel ralph honner arrived @ isurava take command of 39th battalion. assumed command of maroubra force which, then, included first company of 53rd battalion arrive @ alola, approximately 2 kilometres (2,200 yd) south of isurava. command passed porter when arrived headquarters of 30th brigade on 19 august. potts, 2 battalions of 21st brigade moving forward advance delayed @ critical time due insufficient supplies @ myola. potts assumed command of combined force on 23 august, orders attack toward kokoda , intention of relieving 39th battalion in order alleviate supply difficulties. australian force commanded amounted 2,290.

papuan carriers evacuate australian casualties on 30 august 1942

the position @ isurava occupied 39th battalion bounded front , rear small creeks ran gorge-like eora creek west; steep spur-line rising west. main ridges, bounding eora creek ran north–south. isurava position , main track on isurava ridge or western side of eora creek. parallel track ran along side of abuari ridge or western side of eora creek. honner later recounted was: delaying position found on main track. position was, however, overlooked spur-line north (referred in sources ridge), afforded japanese position fire down on australian position. main force of 53rd battalion located @ alola tasked security of abuari track on western flank.

forward positions , patrols on both tracks had been contacted on 26 august. 39th battalion positions came under artillery fire 2/14th battalion moving occupy them. 39th battalion took-up position immediate rear. 53rd battalion responsible protecting eastern flank , approach along abuari ridge. through 26 , 27 august, position there became increasingly uncertain. forward companies of 53rd battalion failed act decisively, command party of battalion, moving forward take direct command ambushed, leaving lieutenant colonel kenneth ward dead. 2/16th battalion called near myola shore position on eastern flank.

from 27 august, japanese attacks increased in intensity along both approaches. on abuari track, reinforcement 2 companies of 2/16th battalion able stay advance of 2/144th battalion on axis. japanese sources later noted defence 53rd , 2/16th on right offered them little opportunity make speedy exploitation , although, japanese commander has been criticised not pressing advantage there, apparently under belief more held.

on approach isurava, 2/14th , 39th battalions came under increasing pressure japanese attacks, culminating in hand-to-hand fighting in private bruce kingsbury posthumously awarded victoria cross. eyewitnesses said kingsbury s actions had profound effect on japanese, temporarily halting momentum. citation read, in part:

private kingsbury, 1 of few survivors of platoon had been overrun ... volunteered join different platoon had been ordered counterattack. rushed forward, firing bren gun hip through terrific machine-gun fire, , succeeded in clearing path through enemy. continuing sweep enemy positions fire, , inflicting extremely high number of casualties upon them, private kingsbury seen fall ground, shot dead bullet sniper hiding in wood.

private bruce steel kingsbury vc. (awm p01637.001)

through time, japanese able bring telling fire upon isurava position. accounts report came machine guns, [medium or heavy] mortars , artillery pieces. account in williams suggests mortars have been misidentified – attributing instead artillery alone. williams reports 8 artillery guns: 6 artillery guns , machine gun fire falling on rest house (later). other 2 dispersed in support of 2/144th east of gorge , 1/144th in close support. australians able reply single 3-inch medium mortar of 39th battalion arrived on 27 august, having been brought 2/14th after being airdropped @ myola.

with western flank threatened, australian force @ isurava withdrew position @ isurava resthouse (between isurava , alola) during late hours of 29 august. on 30 august, 3/144th attacked western flank , cut route rearward alola. attack preceded intense fire japanese mountain artillery. @ 3:00 pm, potts order withdrawal eora village. many members of maroubra force became separated including lieutenant colonel arthur key, subsequently captured , killed. in post-operation report, potts noted: @ no time 2/14th , 2/16th australian infantry battalions ever intact , available concerted operation, wholly , solely due delays occasioned supply.

eora creek – templeton s crossing


members of 39th battalion withdrawing after battle of isurava

disengaging battle @ isurava, potts compelled pursuing japanese conduct fighting withdrawal. situation @ milne bay stabilised, allen released 2/27th battalion join rest of 21st brigade. departing along track on 30 august, take several days reach front , have no impact on stage of campaign. during battle horii decided commit 2/41st, under major mitsuo koiwai, aim of conducting wide arc west , emerging on track south of alola. became lost, , in fact did not regain contact main japanese force until after battle, without firing single shot. horii assigned battalion vanguard pursue withdrawing maroubra force.

in initial withdrawal, 2/16th battalion had screening role, withdrawing stages rear of alola toward eora village, while village held remained of 39th battalion. of maroubra force had withdrawn through positions, 2/16th battalion retired on eora village, arriving midday 1 september. took defensive position on bald spur on southern side of creek overlooked crossing , village. 2/14th battalion 1 kilometre (1,100 yd) south along track. 39th battalion, numbering less 150, ordered proceed kagi , hold there. remained forward until withdrawn on 5 september. on morning of 31 august, 53rd battalion sent out of battle , ordered return myola, part of battalion remained, providing work parties.

commencing eora village, 2/16th battalion occupied delaying positions along track: withdrawing eora village @ 6:00 on 2 september; position forward of templeton s crossing until dusk of 2 september; and, position overlooking dump 1 (on eora creek 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) south of templeton s crossing), until night of 4 september. @ each stage, 2/14th battalion screened withdrawal of 2/16th battalion.

potts was, final engagement, able make clean break japanese advance loss of myola – terrain afforded japanese great advantage , bypassed, using original track west. potts abandoned myola, destroying supplies not carried out. has been credited successful rearguard action australians.

battle of brigade hill


men of 2/27th battalion returned australian lines @ itiki after being isolated during battle of brigade hill–mission ridge. (awm027017)

under mounting pressure allen , rowell make stand, potts determined @ mission ridge, ran northward brigade hill toward village of efogi. lieutenant colonel geoffrey cooper, commanding 2/27th battalion had reached far kagi leading companies on 4 september. cooper concentrated battalion in position south of efogi, screen brigade before recalled position of main force during afternoon of 6 september. 2/27th occupied forward position astride track. 2/14th battalion immediate rear , east. brigade headquarters approximately 1,800 metres (2,000 yd) rear. main force of 2/16 battalion between brigade headquarters , forward battalions, while d company located brigade headquarters rear protection.

horii had become dissatisfied rate of advance made 41st regiment in vanguard , replaced 144th regiment 5 september. colonel kusonose masao employed 2nd , 3rd battalions in attack. japanese moved position through night of 6 september, australians observed lights anderson describes lantern parade . airstrike called following morning 8 b–26 marauders , 4 p–40s escorts, bombing , strafing. anderson reports had greater effect on morale; positive , negative of australians , japanese respectively, did in causing casualties.

during 7 september, 3/144th battalion probed toward position of 2/27th battalion, japanese artillery , machine guns firing upon forward australian battalions. 21st brigade able direct fire section of 3 mortars under command of brigade. @ 5:00 pm, brigade war diary reports 2/27th battalion being hammered mortars, qf gun , hmg .

during night, 2/144th battalion conducted undetected enveloping move west , attacked ridge before dawn join track between brigade headquarters , forward battalions. @ same time, 3/144th battalion launched intense attack against 2/27th battalion. in fighting developed, 2/27th battalion drew on 2/14th battalion s position while 2/16th , 2/14th battalions counterattacked south. brigade headquarters (and d company of 2/16th battalion) attacked north try dislodge incursion of japanese 2/144th battalion without success.

immediately before communication forward broke down, potts passed command of brigade group caro. situation deteriorated, headquarters group withdrew on nauro. 2/14th , 2/16th battalions broke track east , able rejoin brigade. 2/27th battalion, however, unable follow , considered lost until emerged jungle 3 weeks later. battle @ brigade hill – mission ridge has been described stunning victory japanese , catastrophe australians.

ioribaiwa , imita ridge


an australian soldier inspects japanese artillery rounds abandoned @ ioribaiwa. these rounds had been carried length of track japanese soldiers.

even before battle @ mission ridge had concluded, rowell had issued orders recalling potts port moresby. remained of 2/14th , 2/16th battalions rejoined 21st brigade , withdrew south toward ioribaiwa , harassed japanese advance. porter, having orders stabilise position, took command of maroubra force on 10 september. time, 2/14th , 2/16th battalion reduced in strength formed combined force fielding company strength each. reinforced 3rd battalion , 2/1st pioneer battalion, although latter did not move forward. 25th brigade under eather being sent forward relieve situation. prepared attack, ether assumed command of maroubra force.

porter had positioned composite battalion astride track on ioribaiwa ridgeline, running main range northwest. track followed spur-line falling north toward ofi creek. 3rd battalion positioned on ridge immediate right on eastern side of track. major ridgeline before imita ridge , head of track. eather planned attack, advancing past porters flanks 2 of battalions – 2/31st battalion on western flank , 2/33rd battalion on eastern flank. 2/25th battalion reserve. took position on track behind porter s force. on night 13–14 september, 25th brigade bivouacked rear of porter s force ready advance. eather s battalions deploying, japanese attacked. eather called off attack , adopted defensive posture. had effect of placing advancing battalions on either flank , increasing frontage.

from brigade hill, kusonose had continued pursue australians 2nd/144th , 3rd/144th battalions. horii had halted main force awaiting permission continue advance. kusonose s initial attack made half of 3rd/144th battalion advancing along axis of track, while 2nd/144th battalion make flanking attack west. kusonose able bring fire on australian positions 8 guns. fighting continued through day both attacks had been held. attack on 15 september made reserve, second half of 3rd/144th battalion against thought eastern flank of australian force. unaware maroubra force had been reinforced, lodged in gap between australian 3rd battalion , 2/33rd battalion. counter attacks 2 companies of 2/25th , 2 companies of 2/33rd battalion day unable dislodge japanese foothold.

fighting on 16 september continued had on previous day, although japanese lodged between 3rd battalion , 2/33rd battalion took high-ground – sankaku yama (triangle mountain). there, compromised eather s communication 2/33rd battalion. feeling position vulnerable, requested , received permission allen withdraw imita ridge, allen stressing there no further withdrawal. eather commenced withdrawal 11:00 am, anderson describes as, well-organised , orderly .

eather has been criticised, particularly author, williams, disengaging battle , ceding victory kusonose when latter @ impasse , frustrated. having committed reserve, kusonose still unable break australian defence.

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