KOKODA TRAIL

The Japanese landed on the north coast of Papua New Guinea at Gona, with a force of 1500 men on July 21, 1942. The Japanese required a forward base at Kokoda. This they would use for their drive over the ranges along the "Kokoda Trail" to Port Moresby.

The Japanese plan was to cross the Owen Stanley Range. The Japanese would then attack and occupy Port Moresby. From here, the Japanese would have a staging post to attack Australia.

Kokoda is a small plateau on the north-east slopes of the Owen Stanley Range. A small Australian force known as "Maroubra Force", arrived at Buna on July 21st, 1942.

The first engagement between the Australian and Japanese troops was on the 23rd. The Australians were completely outnumbered and were forced to begin a long fighting withdrawal over the next two months.

Howver, things changed when the Australians recieved 25-pounder guns brought from Moresby to Imita Ridge. Soon, the Japanese were on the run. The Japanese were finally completely beaten in November 1942.

The Japanese General, on the Kokoda Trail, was drowned crossing a fast flowing river near Kokoda. The Australians had inflicted the first and only defeat, on land, of the Japanese

Those Ragged Bloody Heroes: From the Kokoda Trail to Gona Beach 1942

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