The Battles for Kokoda Plateau: Three weeks of hell defending the gateway to the Owen Stanleys

Description

'The Japanese attacked us, they mortared us, they shelled us...they did everything.' On 21 July 1942, a large Japanese reconnaissance mission landed along the north-eastern coastline of Papua, it would soon turn into an all-out attempt to capture Port Morseby. This is the powerful story of the three weeks of battle by a small Australian militia force, the 39th Battalion, supported by the 1st Papua Infantry Battalion and the Royal Papuan Constabulary, to keep the Japanese at bay. Outnumbered by at least three to one, they fought courageously to hold the Kokoda Plateau - the gateway to the Owen Stanleys. Critically short of ammunition and food and stranded in the fetid swamps and lowland jungles, they did everything they could to keep the Kokoda airstrip out of Japanese hands. Not far away, and desperately trying to reach the Australians, were two groups of Anglican missionaries trapped behind enemy lines. With each passing day the parties grew, joined by lost Australian soldiers and downed American airmen. Theirs is a story of tragedy and betrayal. Using letters, diaries and other first-hand accounts, from friend and foe alike, leading military historian David W Cameron, has for the first time written a detailed, compelling and provocative account of what occurred at the northern foot of the Owen Stanleys in late July and early August 1942. These are stories that deserve to be firmly embedded into the Kokoda legend.

David W. Cameron is a Canberra-based author. He graduated from the University of Sydney in Prehistoric Archaeology (First Class Honours) in 1989 and completed his PhD in Palaeoanthropology at the School of Archaeology, Australian National University, in 1995. David has written several books on primate evolutionary biology and Australian military history as well as over 70 internationally peer reviewed papers for various academic journals and book chapters. He is a former Australian Research Council academic at the Australian National University's School of Archaeology and the University of Sydney's Department of Anatomy and Histology. David has conducted numerous research and fieldwork projects in Europe, the USA, the Middle East and Asia.

'David Cameron not only leads the way for books on Australia in World War I he sets a standard for authors to emulate . . . A fine work of military and social history' The Australian on The Battle for Lone Pine 'We now have a powerfully written and well-illustrated book that focuses on this tragic action.' Sydney Morning Herald on The Battle for Lone Pine 'A riveting read.' Daily Telegraph on The Battle for Lone Pine 'A vivid picture of the hair-raising charge.' The Age on The Charge 'Brings the archives alive to tell the soldiers' stories in ways that do not sacrifice accuracy for accessibility.' Weekend Australian on Gallipoli 'Cameron has honoured the veterans by telling their stories.' Australian Defence Magazine on The Battle of Long Tan