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Australian Forces move to Kokoda
Small force of Australian soldiers sent up to Kokada via the Kokoda Track to protect an airfield in the village. The force was made up of 400 soldiers from the 39th Battalion who were mostly 18 or 19 years old and not fully trained soldiers (Militia). Japanese believed they could take Port Moresby. -
Japanese Land in Gona
Japanese troops land at Gona. They then pushed out toward Kokoda and its airfield. The Japanese expected to advance over the Owen Stanley Range and into Port Moresby in weeks. Shortly after the defending Australians were forced to withdraw. -
Japanese attack Isurava and Alola
Japanese attacked Isurava and Alola. The Australian forces, now re-enforced by the 7th Division who had just come back from desert warfare in Lybia. -
7th Division Takes Over
1000 men from the 7th Division take over defence of the Kokoda Track against about 7000 advancing Japanese Soldiers. The Australians were ordered to fall back to the Imita Ridge, their last defencive poisiton only 40v kilometres from the Japanese target Port Moresby. -
Japanese Retreat From Kokoda.
By September the Japanese soldiers began to face supply problems, exhaustion and illness. The campaign was beginning to favour the Australians due to supply issues from their original landing point on the other side of the Owen Stanley Range. -
Australians Retake Kokoda
After a series of losses in the Pacific, the Japanese began a slow retreat. The Australian militia, 39th Battalion and the 6th and 7th Divisions of the Secind AIF fought in some of the worst battle Australian troops would see in World War 2, eventually advancing and taking the village of Kokoda. -
Japanese Forced out of Papua New Guinea
With the help of the United States, the Australians pushed out the Jaoanese from Buna, Gona and Sanananda, clearing them from Nothern Papua New Guinea.