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Battle Of Kokoda Essay

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The beginning of the Second World War began on September 1st 1939 and ended on September the 2nd 1945. “All battles and all wars are won In the end by infantrymen.”1. The battle of Kokoda was a four month battle when the Japanese landed near Gona on the north coasts of Papua New Guinea on the 21st of July 1942. In the next two months Australian and New Guinea troops were pushed back past the mountains towards Port Moresby which was the Japanese objective so they could capture Port Moresby by a track over the Owen Stanley Ranges. (See appendix 1) The Australian soldiers were forced to rebel against the Japanese soldiers advancing deep into the jungle of Kokoda who landed at Gona on the north coast of New Guinea the Australians were forced to fight in horrendous conditions over the next four months. The main objective for the Japanese was to capture Port Moresby who at the time it was Australians main base in New Guinea. The easiest path of attack for the Japanese was through the rugged mountains and on to a path called the Kokoda trail. For another four months Australians and New Guinea soldiers fought the Japanese to keep them back from Port Moresby. The plan was to push the …show more content…

Despite Australia’s best efforts the Japanese were able to push past and almost all New Guinea and Australian troops were eliminated which resorted them retreating back to Isurava. Reinforcements were sent from Port Moresby which helped protect a track behind Isurava. At Isurava in the last few days of August troops were temporally able to hold back Japanese forces for a five day intense battle. During the five day fight Private Bruce Kingsbury was killed whilst attacking enemy forces in a push to drive enemy forces back. He was the awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, the first to be awarded for the New Guinea attacks. (See appendix

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