Heroes of Kokoda: How Australia halted the Japanese advance in WWII

After the fall of Singapore in February 1942, the Japanese forces proceeded towards Port Moresby via sea.

However, their advance was halted by a joint American and Australian naval fleet at the Battle of the Coral Sea from the 4th to 8th of May 1942.

Consequently, the Japanese attempted an overland march to seize Port Moresby.

At that time, the only defenders in Papua New Guinea were the troops of the 39th Militia Battalion from Australia.

They were a militia unit, which was part of the Australian Army Reserve, which meant that they included conscripted soldiers under Australia’s Universal Training Scheme.

Unlike regular soldiers, these militia members were mostly composed of volunteers with just basic combat training.

With the impending arrival of the Japanese soldiers, the Australian militia were ordered to advance along a jungle trail known as the Kokoda Track.

The Japanese forces were expected to come from the opposite end and the Australians were tasked with slowing their advance. 

On the 15th of July 1942, the Australian forces arrived at the village of Kokoda, situated midway along the track. 

Around 3500 Japanese soldiers then landed near Gona-Buna on the north coast of Papua New Guinea on the 21st of July.

These troops were under the command of Major General Tomitaro Horii. They began marching south towards Port Moresby, along the Kokoda Track.

The Kokoda Track spans approximately 96 kilometers through the dense jungles and rugged mountains of Papua New Guinea, linking the villages of Owers’ Corner near Port Moresby to Kokoda near the northern coast.

The initial encounter with Japanese forces took place at Awala on July 23rd.

The militia troops, being greatly outnumbered, engaged in a series of defensive battles while retreating.

Over the next few eeks, Brigadier Arnold Potts, who commanded the 39th Battalion, became renowned for his leadership in delaying the Japanese advance despite being heavily outnumbered and undersupplied.

By August 14th, the 2000 militia troops had fallen back to Isurava to fortify their positions.

Meanwhile, the 53rd Australian Battalion, another militia unit, had been deployed to support the 39th Battalion on August 10, 1942.

However, as they marched along the track to reach them, the relief force's poor training and leadership limited their effectiveness.

By the time they reached Isurava, the situation had deteriorated, and they struggled to hold their position against Japanese forces, along with the soldiers they were meant to be replacing.

The campaign's first significant battle was the Battle of Isurava from August 26th to 31st.

Despite their valiant defense, they suffered the loss of 200 men, and the Australians had to retreat further.

Allied airmen bolstered the soldiers by airdropping supplies along the track and repeatedly striking the enemy's supply lines whenever possible. 

Unfortunately, these supplies were often inadequate due to the rugged terrain and poor weather, which led to frequent shortages for the Australian troops.

In addition, both Australian and Japanese soldiers suffered under the difficult tropical conditions on the Kokoda Track, with diseases such as malaria and dysentery caused significant non-combat casualties.

However, by this point, the Australians had retreated so far that they were nearly back at Port Moresby once more.

On the 17th of September 1942, they made a stand at Imita Ridge, a mere 50 kilometres from the city, readying themselves for what could have been their last battle.

It was at this time that General Thomas Blamey was appointed as the Australian commander-in-chief.

He arrived in Port Moresby with a commission to try and turn the situation around.

Also, in mid-September 1942, the arrival of the experienced Australian 7th Division, including veterans of the North African campaign, was hoped would help in turning the tide of the Kokoda Campaign.

Yet, the situation within the Japanese army was dire. By September 24th, they had pushed forward beyond their supply lines, leaving them critically short on food and ammunition. 

Consequently, the Japanese commander, recognizing that they could not sustain another battle, instructed his forces to withdraw along the Kokoda Track to reestablish their supply connection.

It wasn't until the 28th of September, when Allied patrols surveyed the area, that they realized the Japanese had withdrawn.

The Australians, now bolstered with the arrival of additional battalions of the Australian Infantry Force, opted to follow in pursuit, effectively reversing the roles of the two armies.

The Japanese were forced into a fighting retreat, while the Australians, bolstered by new reinforcements, were in hot pursuit.

By November, Australian forces had retaken the village of Kokoda, and by January, they had seized the beachheads at Buna and Gona, which finally drove the Japanese from Papua New Guinea. 

It is estimated that the campaign resulted in at least 600 Australian fatalities and an additional 1700 wounded.

Japanese casualties during the Kokoda Campaign were even more severe, with an estimated 8,000 soldiers killed in battle or succumbing to disease and starvation.

While the Australian militia troops conducted a significant portion of the Allied combat, they received support from several key groups. 

Papuan tribesmen, who became known as the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, aided the Allied forces throughout the conflict.

They worked as porters, transporting food and supplies during marches, carrying wounded soldiers, and played a vital role as guides through the dense jungle. 

Additionally, American soldiers and commanders contributed essential military intelligence and, as the conflict progressed, supplied additional troops and weaponry to overtake Japanese strongholds.