Nevertheless, when the battalion was deployed overseas in 1943 after undertaking defensive duties in the Tweed Valley in New South Wales and training at Caboolture, Queensland, they were sent to New Guinea where they arrived in Port Moresby in March. They subsequently took part in the fighting around Lae and Salamaua, during which time they advanced up the Missim Trail from Bulwa, before launching an attack on a heavily fortified Japanese position on Bobdubi Ridge on 30 June 1943. From there the battalion went on to capture "Old Vickers", which was a key to the Allies taking Salamaua.