page_title: Kokoda Track campaign
section_title: Overview
hierarchical_section_title: Kokoda Track campaign / Campaign / Overview
caption_attribution_description: English: Australian War Memorial (AWM) catalog number 025958 Sourced from: http://www.awm.gov.au/database/collection.asp Copyright: The AWM record for this photo states that the copyright status is 'clear'. The photo was taken in 1942. AWM Caption: PORT MORESBY, PAPU, 1942-07. GROUP OF OFFICERS OF 30TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE. LEFT TO RIGHT:- LIEUTENANT-COLONEL O.A. KESSELS, OFFICER COMMANDING 49TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION, BRIGADIER S. H. W. C. PORTER, COMMANDING 30TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE; LIEUTENANT-COLONEL N. L. FLEAY, COMMANDING KANGA FORCE; LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. T. OWENS, OFFICER COMMANDING 39TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTARY BATTALION; AND MAJOR J. A. E. FINDLAY, SECOND-IN-COMMAND, 39TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION. Copyright: The AWM record for this photo states that the copyright status is 'clear'. The photo was taken in 1942. The AWM allows the use of images from its online database whose copyright has expired for non-commercial purposes only on the condition that the AWM's watermark is not removed. Higher resolution images may be ordered through the AWM (Source: email from the AWM to Nick Dowling 6 January 2006). SEE: http://cas.awm.gov.au/TST2/cst.acct_master?surl=1516766112ZZOFWIJCWWMS82214&amp;stype=4&amp;simplesearch=&amp;v_umo=&amp;v_product_id=&amp;screen_name=&amp;screen_parms=&amp;screen_type=RIGHT&amp;bvers=4&amp;bplatform=Microsoft%20Internet%20Explorer&amp;bos=Win32 The copyright has expired on this image. The AWM, however, requires that the AWM watermark is not removed and that permission be sought for commercial use. Higher resolution versions of this image may be ordered through the AWM Website at www.awm.gov.au
context_page_description: The Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought between July and November 1942 in what was then the Australian Territory of Papua. It was primarily a land battle, between the Japanese South Seas Detachment under Major General Tomitarō Horii and Australian and Papuan land forces under command of New Guinea Force. The Japanese objective was to seize Port Moresby by an overland advance from the north coast, following the Kokoda Track over the mountains of the Owen Stanley Range, as part of a strategy to isolate Australia from the United States.
  Japanese forces landed and established beachheads near Gona and Buna on 21 July 1942. Opposed by Maroubra Force, then consisting of four platoons of the 39th Battalion and elements of the Papuan Infantry Battalion, they quickly advanced and captured Kokoda and its strategically vital airfield on 29 July. Despite reinforcement, the Australian forces were continually pushed back. The veteran Second Australian Imperial Force 21st Brigade narrowly avoided capture in the Battle of Mission Ridge – Brigade Hill from 6 to 8 September.
context_section_description: In the early evening of 21 July 1942, Japanese troops landed close to Gona. The Japanese advance party moved rapidly towards Kokoda, reaching the Kumusi, at Wairopi in the afternoon of 23 July. The PIB and Australians engaged the advancing Japanese with ambushes. B Company, 39th Battalion assembled a force (including what remained of the PIB) to make a stand near Oivi on 26 July. One platoon remained at Kokoda. Threatened with encirclement, the force at Oivi withdrew south to Deniki. Having lost contact, the platoon at Kokoda also withdrew to Deniki on 27 July. With the force reassembled, it reoccupied the village unopposed on 28 July. The first battle at Kokoda was fought over 28–29 July. Repeated, determined attacks caused the Australians to withdraw to Deniki. Owen, commanding officer of the 39th Battalion, was mortally wounded in the fighting.
  There was a pause in the Japanese advance. Remaining companies of the 39th Battalion arrived overland and Major Allan Cameron, Brigade Major of the 30th Brigade was appointed to assume command of the force. He planned an attack for 8 August towards Kokoda, with three companies advancing on different lines. Two of the companies were held up and forced to retire. A Company was able to occupy Kokoda but, isolated and under attack, it withdrew during the night of 9 August. Companies of the 39th Battalion had withdrawn to Deniki by 12 August and were attacked the following morning. With the threat of envelopment, the battalion commenced to withdraw towards Isurava on the morning of 14 August.
  Meanwhile, the 53rd Battalion and headquarters 30th Brigade under Brigadier Selwyn Porter were sent as reinforcements. Two battalions of the 2nd AIF's 21st Brigade under Brigadier Arnold Potts were following. A defensive position was established by Porter at Isurava with the 30th Brigade to be relieved by the 21st Brigade force. As Potts' lead battalion approached, he took command of the combined force to effect the relief. However, the Japanese advance overtook events and, from 26 to 31 August, a battle ensued in which four Japanese battalions were committed. The 53rd Battalion failed to secure the eastern flank and, with the Japanese taking a commanding position to the Australian front, ultimately forced an Australian withdrawal. The 21st Brigade then fought a series of engagements between 31 August and 5 September as it withdrew from Eora Village to Templeton's Crossing.
  The Japanese had landed at Milne Bay on 25 August but, as the Australian position there firmed, the third battalion of Potts' 21st Brigade was released to join the fighting along the track. With this reinforcement, he determined to make a stand on Mission Ridge, running forward from Brigade Hill. In fighting from 6 to 9 September, two battalions of the brigade withdrew, narrowly avoiding encirclement while the 2/27th Battalion was feared lost until its remnants emerged from the jungle three weeks later.
  Following the battle, Potts was recalled to Port Moresby, with Porter being placed in command. The depleted 21st Brigade was withdrawn to Ioribaiwa Ridge. It was reinforced by the 3rd Battalion and awaited relief by the 25th Brigade, under command of Eather. Eather took command of the combined force but the Japanese attacked just as his battalions were taking up position—with fighting over the period 14 to 16 September. He obtained permission to withdraw and consolidate at Imita Ridge—the final defensive position along the Track. Meanwhile, American forces had landed at Guadalcanal on 7 August. Unable to support both operations, Horii was ordered to withdraw. When Eather attacked the Japanese positions on 28 September, he found them abandoned. The Australian forces cautiously pursued the Japanese withdrawal. The 16th Brigade was committed to the advance and direct command passed to the 7th Division, under Major General Arthur "Tubby" Allen.
  The 25th Brigade took the vanguard. On 10 October, Myola was occupied unopposed and contact was made with the Japanese defence. The 25th Brigade was held up at Templeton's Crossing from 16
caption: Officers of 30th Brigade, July 1942. Left to right, Lieutenant Colonel Owen Kessels 49th Battalion, Brigadier Selwyn Porter, Major Norman Fleay commanding Kanga Force, Lieutenant Colonel William Owen, 39th Battalion and his second in command, Major J. Findlay. (AWM 025958)
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