On the Kokoda Trail PTO (id:#65569)

(ASL 13 - Rising Sun (2021) ID: 60)   [next]   [previous]

Deniki, Papua, New Guinea 1942-08-09 (2 others)

Overview:

The Japanese held the north coast of eastern New Guinea, the Australians under General MacArthur, the south. Between them loomed the rugged Owen Stanley Mountain range, across which ran the Kokoda Trail from Port Moresby to Buna, forming the only practical north-south route on that end of the island. As Yokoyama Force pushed southward along the trail, the Allies' Maroubra Force strove to halt or at least delay it. The first clash came on July 23rd at Awala, where Papuan reconnaissance troops and an accompanying platoon of Australian militiamen were thrown back. By early August the scattered elements of Maroubra Force had fought a series of delaying actions and had been forced back to prepared positions at Deniki, four miles south of Kokoda. There, with most of its native troops "gone bush," it was joined by the remainder of the militia battalion, thus uniting Maroubra Force for the first time. A three-company counterattack was then launched, recapturing Kokoda and its vital airfield; this success proved shortlived when on the next day the Japanese assaulted Deniki.

Defender: Australian (B, C and D Companies, Australian 39th Battalion and 1st Papuan Infantry Battalion and Papuan Constabulary)  

Errata (source)