Roughly 30 000 troops took part in the Kokoda Track Campaign, forced to repel a Japanese invasion force which landed at Gona on the north coast of Papua on the 21st of July 1942, the Japanese objective was to capture Port Moresby by an overland strike across the Owen Stanley Range. Port Moresby was vital to the defence of Australia. If they took Port Moresby the Japanese planned to begin a bombing offensive against north Queensland and, had they decided to invade Australia, the invasion would have been launched from Port Moresby. The most direct way across the rugged mountains of Papua was a jungle pathway known as the Kokoda Track. Australian troops fought in appalling conditions over the next four months along this pathway.
Australian soldiers fought the Japanese, first to keep them from reaching Port Moresby and then to push them back over the Owen Stanleys to their north coast strongholds in Buna, Gona and Sanananda. In late July the Japanese advanced towards Kokoda village where they were engaged by parts of the Papuan Infantry Battalion and the Australian 39th Infantry Battalion. Despite the Papuan and Australians' resistance, Kokoda fell to the larger Japanese force and by the end of August the Australians had been forced back to Isurava. Reinforcements were then sent from Port Moresby. Throughout September, the Australian units withdrew down the Kokoda Track. They made further stands against the Japanese at Eora Creek, Templeton’s Crossing, Efogi, Mission Ridge and Ioribaiwa. Allied airmen dropped supplies and made repeated attacks on the enemy’s supply lines. During those gruelling days, the Papuan men employed as carriers played a vital role in the battle. They carried supplies forward for the troops and then, as the number of troops who were wounded or fell sick increased, carried back to safety those who were unable to walk. More troops came from Port Moresby and moved into a defensive position at Imita Ridge, the Japanese were exhausted. They had been forced to fight hard to cross the mountains and had run out of many supplies following setbacks in other battles against Australian and American forces. The Japanese on the Kokoda Track were ordered to withdraw. During the next six weeks, the Japanese fell back over the mountains. They were pursued by troops of the 25th Brigade. Significant actions were fought at Templeton’s Crossing, where it took more than a week of hard fighting to push back the enemy, and at Eora Creek where our troops also attacked enemy strongpoints to slowly make ground. The Australians had supply shortages that increased the difficulties of jungle warfare. Finally, on 2 November, Kokoda was retaken. The Australians had to fight the determined Japanese once more before they were able to finish the advance over the mountains. By 18 November the Australians had reached the Kumusi River. The battle for the Kokoda Track was over. |