THE KOKODA CAMPAIGN

A map of northern Australia, New Guinea and Papua showing areas under Japanese control and the three Japanese attempts to seize Port Moresby

The campaign in New Guinea in 1942 was the most important that Australian soldiers have ever been involved in It was the only time in our history, Australians were defending their own territory New Guinea had been an Australian territory since 1920 The campaign along what became known as the Kokoda Track, was some of the toughest Australian soldiers have ever experienced.

Australians believed the Japanese were preparing to invade Australia PNG was probably planned just to be a base to defend their newly captured countries. Japanese wanted to prevent Port Moresby from being used by the United States and Australian forces as a military base Success on the Kokoda Track in 1942 was believed to save Australia from a Japanese invasion and greatly assisted the Allied effort to push the Japanese back. The Kokoda campaign marked the moment when the war had clearly turned against the Japanese in favour of the Allies.

TIMELINE  February The fall of Singapore to the Japanese  March Japanese then advanced and occupy Indonesia  May Battle of the Coral Sea to prevent Japanese capturing Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea  June1942 – 400 Australian militia sent just north of the Owen Stanley Ranges to secure the airfield at Kokoda  July 1942 – Japanese land at Gona on the north coast march towards Kokoda

KOKODA CAMPAIGN TIMELINE  29 July - First Battle at Kokoda. Japanese capture Kokoda  26 August – Battle of Isurava. Japanese forced back Australian troops  26 August – Battle at Milne Bay - Japan's first land defeat of World War II

Kokoda itself was just a small village about half-way across New Guinea but whole campaign became named after it. Kokoda was of strategic importance for two reasons: It was an area of relatively flat land, where an airstrip had been built. It was near the northern edge of the mountain range and it was thought that it could be easily defended. However, this part of Papua New Guinea provided some of the toughest terrain in the world in which to fight.

A photograph of the Golden Stairs. This was the initial climb from Owers’ Corner up to Imita Ridge. Army engineers had cut out 3000 steps.

MURDER AND ABUSE OF FUZZY WUZZY ANGELS Whilst most of the PNG locals willingly aided the Australian forces. This was not always the case. The Australian Army at times used violence and intimidation to force local people into compliance. They used execution by hanging and torture to control any villages unsupportive of the Australian Army. They also punished and killed any who escaped and were later recaptured. In an Australian Government inquiry that followed the executions, the Army deceived the government by grossly understating the number of executions carried out by the Australian Army.

KOKODA TIMELINE

Milne Bay

A map of northern Australia, New Guinea and Papua showing areas under Japanese control and the three Japanese attempts to seize Port Moresby

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