Battle of Dumpu

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Battle of Dumpu
Part of the Markham, Ramu and Finisterre campaigns, World War II
Australian troops cross the Gusap River 015976.JPG
Australian troops cross a bridge over the 19-kilometre-per-hour (10 kn) Gusap River on 25 October 1943
Date22 September – 4 October 1943
Location
Dumpu, Territory of New Guinea
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg  Japan
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ivan Dougherty Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg Masutaro Nakai
Units involved
21st Brigade 78th Infantry Regiment
Casualties and losses
5 dead
8 wounded
119 sick		 unknown
Operations on the Huon Peninsula 1943-44 Operations on the Huon Peninsula 1943-1944.jpg
Operations on the Huon Peninsula 1943–44

The Battle of Dumpu was an action fought in September and October 1943 between Australian and Japanese forces in New Guinea during the Markham, Ramu and Finisterre campaigns of World War II. After the Battle of Kaiapit on 20 September 1943, in which the 2/6th Independent Company won a victory against a numerically superior Japanese force, Ivan Dougherty's 21st Infantry Brigade of the 7th Division advanced from Kaiapit to Dumpu in the Ramu Valley.

Contents

The 21st Infantry Brigade was opposed by Major General Masutaro Nakai's Nakai Detachment, which consisted of the 78th Infantry Regiment and one company of the 80th Infantry Regiment, both from the 20th Division. There was a series of minor actions, but the Australian advance was not delayed, and Dumpu was captured as planned.

During the entire advance, the Australian and American forces in the Ramu Valley were supplied by air. The capture of the Ramu Valley allowed a forward airbase to be developed at Gusap.

Background

Geography

The Markham Valley is part of a flat, elongated depression varying from 8 to 32 kilometres (5.0 to 19.9 mi) wide that cuts through the otherwise mountainous terrain of the interior of New Guinea, running from the mouth of the Markham River near the port of Lae, to that of the Ramu River some 600 kilometres (370 mi) away. The two rivers flow in opposite directions, separated by an invisible divide about 130 kilometres (81 mi) from Lae. The area is flat and suitable for airstrips, although it is intercut by many tributaries of the two main rivers. The area around the divide was the largest area in New Guinea bereft of forest cover, and was passable by vehicles. Between the Ramu Valley and Madang lay the rugged and aptly named Finisterre Ranges. [1] [2]

Military situation

In the wake of the landing at Nadzab on 5 September 1943, and the subsequent capture of Lae on 16 September, Major General George Alan Vasey's 7th Division moved on to the next task assigned by the Commander in Chief, South West Pacific Area, General Douglas MacArthur, in the June 1943 directive that outlined Operation Cartwheel. This entailed protecting the area it had secured around Nadzab to allow airfields to be developed there, along with the existing airfields around Goroka and Bena Bena. [3]

At the Battle of Kaiapit on 20 September, the 2/6th Independent Company won a stunning victory against a numerically superior Japanese force. [4] With the Japanese off-balance, Vasey informed his superior, Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Herring, the commander of I Corps, of his intention to advance up the Markham Valley to the Ramu Valley, down the Ramu Valley to Marawasa, and finally to Dumpu. There was some debate amongst the air and engineer generals about the relative merits of airfield sites around Kaiapit and Marasawa, but Vasey intended to seize them all in any case. [5] [6]

Australian intelligence correctly identified the opposing Japanese forces as belonging to 78th Infantry Regiment, along with one company of the 80th Infantry Regiment, both from the 20th Division. [7] This was known to the Japanese as the Nakai Detachment, after its commander, Major General Masutaro Nakai. [2] In contrast, the Japanese did not identify the Australians as belonging to the 7th Division. [8]

At Kaiapit, Brigadier Ivan Dougherty, the commander of the 21st Infantry Brigade, had the 2/16th Infantry Battalion, the 2/6 Independent Company and B Company, Papuan Infantry Battalion. While it was possible that the Australian force at Kaiapit under could be facing the entire Japanese 20th Division, Dougherty did not think that the Japanese could support such a large force in the upper Markham Valley. [7] Lieutenant Colonel W. T. Robertson, Vasey's GSO1, told Dougherty that he had until 4 October to reach Dumpu, as no fighter cover would be available from 10 to 20 October, and therefore there would be no air transport operations to resupply him. [7] A message from Vasey received at 00:50 on 23 September ordered Dougherty not to make "any further movement in strength". [9]

The rebuff at Kaiapit and the landing at Finschhafen on 22 September caused Lieutenant General Hatazō Adachi, the commander of the Japanese Eighteenth Army (and therefore Herring's opposite number) to change his plans. He had originally intended that the 51st Division would retire from Lae along the southern slopes of the Finisterre Range, through Kaiapit, and thence into the upper Ramu Valley; but Vasey had anticipated this, and had blocked the route. The 51st Division's commander, Lieutenant General Hidemitsu Nakano, then decided to withdraw over the steep and rugged Saruwaged Range. [2] This meant that the Nakai Detachment was not covering the 51st Division's withdrawal, and that there was no need to recapture Kaiapit. On 23 September, Adachi therefore ordered Nakai to withdraw to Dumpu, while the rest of the 20th Division moved against Finschhafen. [10]

Battle

Sagerak

Kaiapit, New Guinea, 25 September 1943. Vasey (left) and Dougherty discuss battle plans Vasey and Dougherty 057580.JPG
Kaiapit, New Guinea, 25 September 1943. Vasey (left) and Dougherty discuss battle plans

Lieutenant Colonel F. H. Sublet's 2/16th Infantry Battalion, a unit from Western Australia, arrived at Kaiapit on 22 September. It set out at 15:00 that afternoon, crossing the Maniang River, which had a series of channels, extending across 1,800 metres (2,000 yd). [11] Its patrols attempted to locate the Japanese, as did aircraft from No. 4 Squadron RAAF. Only one saw any, the 12 Platoon, under Lieutenant J. R. Walder, which spotted three Japanese soldiers on the far side of the Umi River who fled when fired upon. Walder's 12 Platoon, and 17 Platoon under Captain K. McCullough, crossed the Umi, which was about 46 metres (50 yd) wide, up to 1.68 metres (5 ft 6 in) deep at the crossing point, and swift-flowing, and headed for Sagerak. [12] [13]

The 2/27th Infantry Battalion, a South Australian unit under the command of Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Bishop, arrived at Kaiapit on the morning of 23 September, having flown directly from Jacksons and Wards at Port Moresby in 45 USAAF C-47 transport aircraft, escorted by P-47 Thunderbolt, P-38 Lightning and P-39 Airacobra fighters. The first C-47 arrived at Kaiapit at 09:00 and the last at 10:50. Each took about ten minutes to unload all its troops and stores. [14] The 2/27th took over the defence of Kaiapit from the 2/6th Independent Company. [12] No aircraft arrived on 24 September, leaving Dougherty without the 2/14th Infantry Battalion, which was still back at Nadzab, and with only the rations and ammunition that the 2/16th and 2/27th had brought with them. [15]

The pioneer platoon of the 2/16th strung a rope across the Umi River, allowing the heavily equipped diggers of B and C Companies to cross the fast-flowing torrent. They were across by 12:30, but the entire 2/16th did not complete the crossing until 20:00. On the other side, contact was made with Japanese units, and 12 Platoon came under light machine gun fire, but drove the Japanese off with its 2-inch mortars. When 17 Platoon was engaged by light machine guns, it used its 2-inch mortars to lay smoke, allowing it to withdraw. By 14:40, the leading platoon, 10 Platoon under Lieutenant W. J. Duncan, was overlooking Sagerak, but Duncan was wounded by a sniper at 17:00. Sublet ordered B Company to halt on the high ground, with the intent of attacking Sagerak the next day. [13] [15]

2/27th Infantry Battalion in the Ramu Valley on 5 October 1943 AWM 058650 2-27 Bn Huon Peninsula 1943.jpg
2/27th Infantry Battalion in the Ramu Valley on 5 October 1943

At 20:30, just a half-hour after it had completed the crossing of the Umi, the 2/16th received orders from Dougherty to pull back. With considerable lack of enthusiasm, the 2/16th re-crossed the Umi, this time in the dark. Re-crossing commenced at 03:00 and was completed by 08:00. Lieutenant R. G. Crombie's 11 Platoon was left behind on the high ground overlooking Sagerak. It entered Sagerak that morning, and found it deserted. About 16 Japanese soldiers fled when upon their approach, leaving behind their documents, medical stores and equipment. Lieutenant Everette E. Frazier, an American aviation engineer, pegged out a landing strip nearby and had it ready to receive C-47s in four hours. [13] [16]

Vasey flew into Kaiapit to talk to Dougherty. He explained that the reason for halting the 2/16th was an appreciation that Adachi would persist with his original plan, known to the Australians through documents captured at Kaiapit, even though it had been overtaken by events. Vasey believed that the open area between the Umi and Kaiapit would be an excellent place to destroy the Japanese force, should it choose to attack. He therefore proposed to halt for a while, reinforcing the position at Kaiapit with Brigadier Kenneth Eather's 25th Infantry Brigade rather than displacing it forward as originally intended. Dougherty flew over the area in a Douglas SBD Dauntless, and concurred with Vasey's assessment of the ground, although not with his appreciation of the enemy's intent. [17]

Gusap

The 2/14th Infantry Battalion, a Victorian unit, along with the 54th Battery of the 2/4th Field Regiment, finally flew in to Kaiapit from Nadzab on 25 September, [18] but the first elements of the 25th Infantry Brigade did not arrive for another two days. Part of the problem was that the Fifth Air Force restricted landings at Kaiapit to between 09:00 and 15:30 the previous day in order to conserve fighters. Vasey met with Lieutenant Generals Sir Iven Mackay (the commander of New Guinea Force), Edmund Herring, and George C. Kenney (the commander of Allied Air Forces), Major General Frank Berryman (Mackay's chief of staff) and Vice Admiral Arthur S. Carpender (the commander of Allied Naval Forces) in Port Moresby on 26 September. Vasey was informed that the construction of the Markham Valley Road from Lae to Nadzab and operations around Finschhafen had priority, and his 18th Infantry Brigade would not be flown in except in the event of an emergency. [19] The pause allowed a native labour force to be collected at Kaiapit. Some 300 were flown in from Nadzab, and the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) hired local labour to bring the total labour force to about 600. [20] [lower-alpha 1]

Flying Officer R.D. Lee-Warner with members of No. 4 Squadron RAAF's ground staff who are attaching containers to the bomb racks on a CAC Wirraway at Gusap. Wirraway at Gusap 070126.JPG
Flying Officer R.D. Lee-Warner with members of No. 4 Squadron RAAF's ground staff who are attaching containers to the bomb racks on a CAC Wirraway at Gusap.

There was mounting evidence that the Japanese were retreating and not advancing. On 26 September, Crombie reported that Rumu was unoccupied. [19] The following day, patrols from the 2/6th Independent Company and B Company, Papuan Infantry Battalion, reported that Narawapum was also deserted. [22] That evening, Vasey signalled Dougherty, authorising an advance on Marawasa "with all speed". [23] The 21st Infantry Brigade set out accompanied by the Papuan company, and detachments of the 2/6th Field Ambulance and 2/4th Field Regiment. Six jeeps hauled rations, four carried the brigade headquarters and signals, three brought the 2/6th Field Ambulance, and two towed 25 pounders. [20]

On 28 September, two companies of the 2/16th crossed the Umi. After dusk, the rest of the 21st Infantry Brigade followed, crossing in five rubber rafts. The jeeps and light guns were dragged across the Umi, leaving three behind to form a shuttle service that moved stores from Kaiapit. They were taken across the river and thence to a dump at Sagarak. By the morning of 30 September, all the stores were across the river. The track became impassable about 3.2 kilometres (2 mi) beyond Sagerak, requiring some work to be done to improve it. The airstrip at Sagerak was put to use, with four more jeeps and trailers, and some supplies flown in. Vasey also flew in, bringing new, written orders for an advance on Gusap. [20] [23] By this time, Herring knew that the rest of the Japanese 20th Division was on the Rai Coast and not in the Marawasa area, so Vasey was opposed only by its 78th Infantry Regiment. [24]

Bena Bena was garrisoned by the 2/2nd and 2/7th Independent Companies. These units patrolled ahead of the 21st Infantry Brigade's advance. On 28 September, a heavily armed patrol from the 2/2nd Independent Company under Captain D. St A. Dexter ambushed about 60 Japanese soldiers near Kesawai in the Ramu Valley, inflicting severe casualties on the Japanese. [25]

Although native porters were engaged to bring rations forward to the troops, the 2/16th and 2/27th advanced so fast on 1 October that stores had to be dropped by air. The drop was made at 19:00 but owing to poor light, the long grass and inadequate marking of the drop zone, only half the stores were retrieved. [20] The following day they reached the juncture of the Ramu and Gusap Rivers. [26]

Dumpu

Dougherty rested his men on 3 October (which was a Sunday). The men relaxed and swam in the Ramu and Gusap Rivers. Patrols were sent out, however. [27] One patrol from the 2/16th under Lieutenant L. D. Bremner was ambushed near village of Namaput, with one Australian being killed. The patrol attacked the village and killed seven Japanese making for the nearby foothills. The patrol then came under heavy fire itself, and had to withdraw back to the village. Three Australians were wounded, including Bremner, one fatally; 14 Japanese soldiers were killed. [28]

The pause gave time for the administrative elements to catch up. The road had held up progress on 1 October due to the need to bridge a stream at Marawassa. It was then found that the road on the far side was impassable, so a bypass was made, allowing them to move to an area near Arafagan Creek, on the banks of the Ramu River. Under Frazier's supervision, the 2/27th established an airstrip nearby. An air supply drop was made there on the afternoon of 2 October. [20]

Ramu Valley, New Guinea. 26 October 1943. Australian troops in their victorious push along the Markham and Ramu valleys cross a bridge over the 19 kilometres per hour (10 kn) Gusap River. This bridge was built in a few hours. Crossing the Gusap River 015982.JPG
Ramu Valley, New Guinea. 26 October 1943. Australian troops in their victorious push along the Markham and Ramu valleys cross a bridge over the 19 kilometres per hour (10 kn) Gusap River. This bridge was built in a few hours.

The 21st Infantry Brigade set out again on 4 October, with Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Honner's 2/14th heading for Wampun while the 2/16th advanced on Dumpu, [27] crossing the Gusap on a bridge that had been built the previous day. [20] [29] The 21st Infantry Brigade headquarters moved to Kaigulan 2. [lower-alpha 2] The 2/6th Field Ambulance opened a dressing station there. A Details Issue Depot (DID) was established to the west of the Warris River, from which rations were issued. [20]

The 2/14th reached an unoccupied Wampun at 14:00. [29] Honner found that the native porters accompanying his battalion had no water, and were therefore not only thirsty, but hungry as well, as they could not cook their rice rations. If no water could be found in the vicinity, he would have to arrange for water to be sent by jeep from Kaigulan 2, or else move the whole battalion on to the next day's objective. [30] [31]

Honner set out with Sergeant T. G. Pryor and three privates to see if he could find water in A Company's area around Koram. At around 15:00, they came across a banana plantation, and saw troops moving around in it. They assumed that they were from A Company, but when they approached they were fired on, and Honner and Pryor were both wounded. Pryor, wounded in the throat and chest, attempted to drag Honner, who was wounded in the thigh and could not move easily, but Honner ordered him to return to get help. Private W. H. G. Bennett remained to protect Honner while the other two privates accompanied Pryor. Honner managed to crawl 230 metres (250 yd) to some long kunai grass and hide there. The Japanese sent out patrols to find the two men, and they fired into the kunai grass where he was hiding, wounding him again, this time in the left hand. Bennett was about to make a one-man attack on the Japanese when the patrols withdrew and returned to the banana plantation. [30] [31]

Pryor reached D Company, whose commander, Captain G. O. O'Day, immediately set out with Lieutenant A. R. Avery's 16 Platoon. Avery found Bennett and Honner, who was covered in blood and black ants. Honner refused to be carried out under fire, as this might endanger the stretcher bearers. Instead, he used Avery's radio to arrange an attack on the banana plantation by A, C and D Companies, which was delivered at 18:00. While the fighting was going on, the stretcher bearers tended to Honner's wounds, and carried him back. Seven Australians were wounded in the action, including Honner, who was flown out from Gusap the next day; 26 Japanese soldiers were killed, and one, wounded, was taken prisoner. Water was found in the A Company area, although some was also sent forward by jeep. [30] [31] [29] The wounded, including Honner, were taken to the dressing station at Kaigulan 2 by jeep. The last one did not arrive until after midnight. [20]

Meanwhile, the main body of the 2/16th Infantry Battalion had crossed the Surinam River by 15:15. Lieutenant J. Scott's 18 Platoon scouted towards Dumpu, but reported at 16:40 that it was still occupied. Major W. G. Symington then brought the rest of D Company forward for an attack on the village. There was no opposition, although one Japanese straggler was killed. They found food, clothing and ammunition, and, in the latrines, evidence of dysentery among the Japanese troops. D Company had Japanese rice and tinned fish for its evening meal. [32]

Aftermath

Despite various obstacles, the 21st Infantry Brigade advanced from Kaiapit to Dumpu, which it had captured on the original target date. The Japanese had not delayed it, nor relieved the pressure on the 51st Division. Japanese plans for capturing Bena Bena had to be permanently shelved. [32] An airstrip was developed at Dumpu, which would assume great importance in the logistical support of the subsequent fighting in the Finisterres. Between 15 September and 5 October, the 21st Infantry Brigade reported 5 dead and 8 wounded. Another 34 men were evacuated sick with malaria, and 85 with fever, mostly scrub typhus. By 1 November, however, another 318 were evacuated with malaria and 327 with fever, many of whom had contracted it in this campaign. [13]

After some debate, the engineers decided to build an advanced base for two fighter groups and a medium bombardment group near the junction of the Ramu and Gusap Rivers, at a site called Gusap. The US 872nd Airborne Engineer Aviation Battalion was flown in to develop it. This unit had air-portable equipment for just such a mission. With the exception of the 21⁄2-ton trucks, 31⁄2-ton carryalls and D4 tractors, which made the trek overland, all equipment was flown in by C-47s. Initially the engineers attempted to improve the existing strip, which they called No. 1, but this site was found unsuitable for large volumes of traffic, so another site was selected 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) away, which became No. 2. This location proved suitable for more airstrips. To construct an all-weather strip, the US 871st Airborne Engineer Aviation Battalion was flown in from Nadzab. The all-weather strip was completed by January 1944, at which time the two battalions were joined by a third, the US 875th Airborne Engineer Aviation Battalion. [33] Machine gunners from the 6th Machine Gun Battalion were deployed to the airfield in a defensive role. [34]

The US 49th Fighter Group's 8th Fighter Squadron, equipped with P-47s, moved to Gusap on 29 October, followed by the P-40s of the 7th Fighter Squadron on 16 November, and the P-47s of the 9th Fighter Squadron on 16 December. The 35th Fighter Group's 39th Fighter Squadron and 41st Fighter Squadron, also equipped with P-47s, followed on 27 and 31 January 1944. The A-20s of the 312th Bombardment Group joined them in December and January. The base at Gusap "paid for itself many times over in the quantity of Japanese aircraft, equipment and personnel destroyed by Allied attack missions projected from it". [35]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ ANGAU was the Australian Army unit responsible for civil affairs in the Territory of Papua and the mandated Territory of New Guinea. It hired and controlled local labour and advised commanders on matters peculiar to New Guinea. [21]
  2. ↑ Where a group of villages in New Guinea had a name, the individual villages that comprised them were given numbers to distinguish them. [27]

Notes

  1. ↑ Dexter 1961, pp. 415–416.
  2. 1 2 3 Willoughby 1966, p. 221.
  3. ↑ Dexter 1961, p. 414.
  4. ↑ Dexter 1961, p. 422.
  5. ↑ Dexter 1961, p. 426.
  6. ↑ Watson 1950, p. 190.
  7. 1 2 3 Dougherty 1943, p. 2.
  8. ↑ Dexter 1961, p. 682.
  9. ↑ Dougherty 1943, p. 5.
  10. ↑ Willoughby 1966, p. 225.
  11. ↑ Dexter 1961, p. 423.
  12. 1 2 Dexter 1961, p. 428.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Markham and Ramu Valley Campaign". Australian War Memorial. War Diary, 2/16th Infantry Battalion, AWM52 8/3/16/25. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "September 1943". Australian War Memorial. War Diary, 2/27th Infantry Battalion, AWM52 8/3/27/67. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  15. 1 2 Dexter 1961, p. 429.
  16. ↑ Dexter 1961, p. 430.
  17. ↑ Dougherty 1943, pp. 5–7.
  18. ↑ Dexter 1961, p. 431.
  19. 1 2 Dexter 1961, p. 433.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Adm Report on Operations – 21 Aust Inf Bde – 15 Sep to 31 Oct 1943". Australian War Memorial. War Diary, 21st Infantry Brigade, AWM52 8/2/21/24. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  21. ↑ Dexter 1961, p. 66.
  22. ↑ Dexter 1961, p. 434.
  23. 1 2 Dougherty 1943, pp. 8–10.
  24. ↑ Dexter 1961, p. 438.
  25. ↑ Dexter 1961, pp. 434–435.
  26. ↑ Dexter 1961, p. 439.
  27. 1 2 3 Dexter 1961, p. 440.
  28. ↑ "Patrol Report". Australian War Memorial. 3 October 1943. War Diary, 2/16th Infantry Battalion, AWM52 8/3/16/27. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  29. 1 2 3 "Summary of Events". Australian War Memorial. 4 October 1943. War Diary, 2/14th Infantry Battalion, AWM52 8/3/14/69. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  30. 1 2 3 Bradley 2004, pp. 46–48.
  31. 1 2 3 Dexter 1961, pp. 440–442.
  32. 1 2 Dexter 1961, p. 443.
  33. ↑ Casey 1951, pp. 171–174.
  34. ↑ Dexter 1961, pp. 594, 684.
  35. ↑ Wolf 2011, p. 381.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">57th/60th Battalion (Australia)</span> Infantry battalion of the Australian Army

The 57th/60th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army which served during the Second World War. It was formed in 1930 as part of the Militia by the amalgamation of the 57th Battalion and the 60th Battalion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">21st Brigade (Australia)</span> Infantry brigade of the Australian Army during World War II

The 21st Brigade was a brigade-sized infantry unit of the Australian Army. It was briefly raised in 1912 as a Militia formation providing training as part of the compulsory training scheme. Later, it was re-formed in April 1940 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, the unit was raised for service during World War II. As part of the 7th Division the brigade's constituent units were raised from volunteers from several Australian states. After rudimentary training in Australia, the brigade deployed for the Middle East in October 1940. Defensive duties were mounted along the Libyan border in early 1941, before the brigade was committed to the Syria-Lebanon campaign, fighting against Vichy French forces. In early 1942, following Japan's entry into the war, the brigade returned to Australia. After a period of defensive duties in Australia, it was deployed to New Guinea and subsequently played a key role in the Kokoda Track campaign, delaying the Japanese advance towards Port Moresby and then joining the pursuit as the Japanese withdrew towards Buna–Gona. In 1943–1944, the brigade took part in the capture of Lae and the Ramu Valley–Finisterre Range campaign. Its final campaign of the war, came in the final months when it took part in the Balikpapan landings. It was disbanded in 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landing at Scarlet Beach</span> 1943 landing in New Guinea

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2/14th Battalion (Australia)</span> Military unit

The 2/14th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army that served during World War II. Part of the 21st Brigade, 7th Division, the battalion was raised from Second Australian Imperial Force volunteers drawn mainly from the state of Victoria. After completing training in Australia in 1940, the battalion deployed to the Middle East where it was stationed in Egypt and Palestine before it saw action against the Vichy French in Syria in June and July 1941, in a short lived campaign. Garrison duties in Lebanon followed before the battalion was withdrawn to Australia in early 1942 as Australian forces were concentrated in the Pacific to respond to the threat posed by Japan's entry into the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of The Pimple</span>

The Battle of the Pimple was part of the Markham and Ramu Valley – Finisterre Range campaign, which consisted of a number of battles fought by Australian and Japanese troops in Papua New Guinea in World War II. Fought on 27 and 28 December 1943, the battle took place as the Australians advanced towards the Japanese strong hold around Shaggy Ridge, and was a preliminary phase in their eventual capture of that position in January 1944. Supported by artillery, mortars, machine guns and fighter-bomber aircraft, the assault was made across a narrow frontage, which was usually not much wider than a single section. Two companies of Australian infantry were committed to the attack, with one securing the initial crest, while the other exploited the position and secured several other smaller features throughout the two days of fighting. In the aftermath, Japanese artillery harassed the Australians holding the position, and subjected them to several counter-attacks, which were eventually defeated.

The 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion was one of four pioneer battalions raised as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force during World War II. Raised in 1940, the battalion served in the Middle East during the Syria–Lebanon Campaign against the Vichy French in mid-1941, fighting mainly as infantry. In 1942, the battalion was committed to the defence of Java, fighting against the Japanese and was all but destroyed following the capitulation of the defending garrison. Rebuilt in 1943, it later took part in the Salamaua–Lae and Finisterre Range campaigns in 1943–44 and the Borneo campaign in 1945 before being disbanded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of John's Knoll–Trevor's Ridge</span>

The Battle of John's Knoll–Trevor's Ridge was fought from 12–13 October 1943 during World War II. The battle was part of the Markham and Ramu Valley – Finisterre Range campaign, which consisted of series of actions fought by Australian and Japanese troops in the Territory of New Guinea as the Australian 7th Division advanced through the foothills of the Finisterre Range from Dumpu towards Bogadjim, near Madang on the northern coast, following the capture of Lae in mid-September 1943.

The Battle of Lababia Ridge was fought from 20–23 June 1943 in the Territory of New Guinea during World War II. Part of the Salamaua–Lae campaign, the battle involved Australian and Japanese troops who clashed on the ridge, which was about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Salamaua, near Mubo, over the course of several days. The battle was fought in conjunction with several other actions in the region as the Allies attempted to draw Japanese attention away from Lae, where they launched seaborne landings in mid-September 1943, in conjunction with airborne landings around Nadzab. The fighting around Lababia Ridge took place at the same time as the Battle of Mubo, after two battalions of Japanese infantry launched a counter-attack on a depleted Australian company. The Australians, supported by Royal Australian Air Force fighter-bombers, managed to hold off the initial Japanese attacks before being reinforced by another depleted company. Fighting continued over the course of three days before the Japanese withdrew.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Madang</span> Part of New Guinea campaign of World War II

The Battle of Madang, fought between early February and late April 1944, was the break-out and pursuit phase of the Markham and Ramu Valley – Finisterre Range and Huon Peninsula campaigns, which were part of the wider New Guinea campaign of World War II. After overcoming the Japanese defences around Shaggy Ridge, the Australian forces descended the steep slopes of the Finisterre Range and pursued the withdrawing Japanese towards Bogadjim and then Madang on the north coast of New Guinea. There they linked up with US and Australian forces that had advanced along the coast from the Huon Peninsula, while the remnants of three Japanese divisions withdrew towards Wewak, where further fighting would take place throughout late 1944 and into 1945.

References

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