Show Notes
Having been forced out of Finschhafen and Jivevaneng, the Japanese forces on the Huon Peninsula launched a counter-attack, aimed at recapturing the Australian-held Scarlett Beach. This is where stores and reinforcements were being landed by the Australian and American forces. Lose Scarlett Beach and the entire area would become precarious. Fortunately, a plan of the coming offensive had been discovered on a dead Japanese officer and so General Wootten knew roughly where and when things were going to happen. But knowing this, and being able to do something about it, were two completely different things. His already stretched 9 Division would be severely tested.
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More from Australian Military History
Having failed in their initial attempt to seize the German positions, the Australian 2nd Division made preparations for another attempt. However the date for this attempt was to be determined by the rate of preparation. As numbers of engineers went forward to prepare the jumping off and approach trenches, the casualty toll continued to rise. Some Brigade commanders chaffed at the delay, but General Brudenell White would not commit the Division until all efforts were made to ensure success.
Bram Connolly is a former infantry and Special Forces soldier, joining the Australian Army in 1991. In his new book 100 Ways I Almost Died, Bram covers the sometimes amusing, often terrifying ways his life was held in the balance both in training and on operations.
Last episode we briefly covered the fate of the 2nd Division's attack on the 28th July 1916, based upon the information which trickled back to Brigade HQ. This time, we look in depth to examine the front line solider perspective and see what went wrong.
Major Hashida's Notebook tells the story of a newly trained Japanese intelligence officer's time in Australia prior to the outbreak of the Pacific War. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
G'day everyone. Just a quick one to apologies for the lack of episode this month. Got snowed under with other stuff and then got crook. Back on deck next month. Cheers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.