Maroubra Force
Encyclopedia
Maroubra Force was the name given to the Australia
n infantry
force that defended Port Moresby
, Papua New Guinea
from the Japanese
, and was involved in the Kokoda Track Campaign
of the Pacific War
, World War II
. It was one of many units forming the body of the New Guinea Force
, the main Allied army formation in the South West Pacific Area
during 1942.
Formed on 21 June 1942, it consisted of the Papuan Infantry Battalion
, 39th Battalion and the 53rd Battalion
and was under the command of Major General
Basil Morris
.
The 39th Battalion was sent overland via the Kokoda Track
to secure the Buna area and prepare to oppose an enemy advance. The Papuan Infantry Battalion of about 280 native troops with white officers, was already north of the Owen Stanley Range
at the entrance of the Kokoda Track. On 21 July 1942, the Japanese landed on the northeast coast of Papua and the Papuan Infantry Battalion was overwhelmed by the Japanese troops, and the entrance was captured on 29 July 1942.
Maroubra Force then successfully fought a month long delaying action through the debilitating terrain of the Owen Stanley Range
, before being reinforced and finally driving off the Japanese just outside of Port Moresby. Maroubra Force was relieved by the 16th and 25th Brigades
, which undertook the subsequent counter-offensive which drove the Japanese back to their beachheads at Buna
, Gona
and Sanananda
on the Papuan north coast.
At the Battle of Buna-Gona
in November 1942–January 1943, Maroubra Force in turn relieved the 18th
and 25th Brigades besieging Gona
, and successfully crushed the Japanese beachhead
there.
Maroubra Force was commanded first by Brigadier Selwyn Porter
(30th Brigade), then Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Honner
(39th (Militia) Battalion) and finally Brigadier Arnold Potts
(21st Brigade). Brigadier Potts was later relieved of his command in controversial circumstances.
At its peak strength, Maroubra Force consisted of the 39th Battalion, the 53rd Battalion, and the 21st Brigade
(2/14th Battalion, 2/16th Battalion and 2/27th Battalion). The 53rd Militia Battalion saw action briefly during the Battle of Isurava but was defeated and subsequently withdrew greatly demoralized, especially after the commanding officer and many senior officers of the 53rd were killed in action.
The Kokoda and Buna-Gona battles took a heavy toll on the soldiers of Maroubra Force. As an example, following both battles the 39th Battalion mustered barely 30 survivors (from a nominal strength of 600–800), the remainder either dead, missing, wounded, or in hospitals in Port Moresby and northern Australia suffering from disease and exhaustion.
Maroubra Force, Lieutenant Colonel Honner, and Brigadier Potts were instrumental in the successful defence of Australia, and are sometimes cited as "the men who saved Australia", alongside the U.S. Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, whose actions at the Battle of the Coral Sea
also staved off Japanese efforts to capture Port Moresby.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
force that defended Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
from the Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
, and was involved in the Kokoda Track Campaign
Kokoda Track campaign
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 between Japanese and Allied—primarily Australian—forces in what was then the Australian territory of Papua...
of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was one of many units forming the body of the New Guinea Force
New Guinea Force
New Guinea Force was a military command unit for Australian, territory of Papua and territory of New Guinea troops serving in the New Guinea campaign during World War II. Formed in April 1942 it was responsible for planning and directing all operations within the territory up until October 1944,...
, the main Allied army formation in the South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific theatres of World War II, during 1942–45...
during 1942.
Formed on 21 June 1942, it consisted of the Papuan Infantry Battalion
Papuan Infantry Battalion
The Papuan Infantry Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army formed on 27 May 1940 in the territory of Papua, during World War II, in order to fight the Japanese. The unit was slow in forming, with its first members posted in March 1941. By 1942 it consisted of only three...
, 39th Battalion and the 53rd Battalion
53rd Battalion (Australia)
The 53rd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised in 1916 for service during World War I the battalion served on the Western Front until the end of the war, before being briefly amalgamated with the 55th Battalion and then eventually disbanded in 1919...
and was under the command of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Basil Morris
Basil Morris
Major General Basil Moorhouse Morris CBE, DSO was an Australian Army officer. He was the Australian military administrator at Port Moresby at the start of the Imperial Japanese advance along the Kokoda Track after the invasion of Buna-Gona and successfully delayed the Japanese advance until Second...
.
The 39th Battalion was sent overland via the Kokoda Track
Kokoda Track
The Kokoda Trail or Track is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs overland — in a straight line — through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea...
to secure the Buna area and prepare to oppose an enemy advance. The Papuan Infantry Battalion of about 280 native troops with white officers, was already north of the Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea. It was seen in 1849 by Captain Owen Stanley while surveying the south coast of Papua and named after him. Strictly, the eastern extremity of the range is Mount Victoria , which was climbed by Sir William...
at the entrance of the Kokoda Track. On 21 July 1942, the Japanese landed on the northeast coast of Papua and the Papuan Infantry Battalion was overwhelmed by the Japanese troops, and the entrance was captured on 29 July 1942.
Maroubra Force then successfully fought a month long delaying action through the debilitating terrain of the Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea. It was seen in 1849 by Captain Owen Stanley while surveying the south coast of Papua and named after him. Strictly, the eastern extremity of the range is Mount Victoria , which was climbed by Sir William...
, before being reinforced and finally driving off the Japanese just outside of Port Moresby. Maroubra Force was relieved by the 16th and 25th Brigades
25th Brigade (Australia)
The 25th Brigade was a brigade-sized infantry unit of the Australian Army that served during the Second World War. Raised in July 1940 and consisting of three infantry battalions, the 25th Brigade served in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, New Guinea and Borneo before being disbanded in...
, which undertook the subsequent counter-offensive which drove the Japanese back to their beachheads at Buna
Buna, Papua New Guinea
Buna is a village in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. It was the site in part, of the Battle of Buna-Gona during World War II, when it constituted a variety of native huts and a handful of houses with a airstrip...
, Gona
Gona
-History:Gona was the site of an Anglican church and mission.During World War II, Imperial Japanese troops invaded on 21–22 July 1942 and established it as a base. Three missionaries were captured at Gona, Father James Benson, May Hayman and Mavis Parkins. The two women and a six year old boy were...
and Sanananda
Sanananda
-History:Occupied by the Imperial Japanese in 1942 during World War II and became a heavily fortified defensive area.Liberated by the Australian Army and US Army on 18 January 1943 during the Battle of Buna-Gona.-References:**...
on the Papuan north coast.
At the Battle of Buna-Gona
Battle of Buna-Gona
The Battle of Buna–Gona was a battle in the New Guinea campaign, a major part of the Pacific campaign of World War II. On 16 November 1942, Australian and United States forces attacked the main Japanese beachheads in New Guinea, at Buna, Sanananda and Gona. Both forces were riddled by disease and...
in November 1942–January 1943, Maroubra Force in turn relieved the 18th
18th Brigade (Australia)
The 18th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army, which served during the Second World War. The brigade was raised on 13 October 1939 and was one of the first three infantry brigades of the Second Australian Imperial Force to be formed. Initially commanded by Brigadier Leslie...
and 25th Brigades besieging Gona
Gona
-History:Gona was the site of an Anglican church and mission.During World War II, Imperial Japanese troops invaded on 21–22 July 1942 and established it as a base. Three missionaries were captured at Gona, Father James Benson, May Hayman and Mavis Parkins. The two women and a six year old boy were...
, and successfully crushed the Japanese beachhead
Beachhead
Beachhead is a military term used to describe the line created when a unit reaches a beach, and begins to defend that area of beach, while other reinforcements help out, until a unit large enough to begin advancing has arrived. It is sometimes used interchangeably with Bridgehead and Lodgement...
there.
Maroubra Force was commanded first by Brigadier Selwyn Porter
Selwyn Porter
Major General Selwyn Havelock Watson Craig Porter CBE, DSO was an Australian Army officer and chief commissioner of Victoria Police.-Early life:...
(30th Brigade), then Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Honner
Ralph Honner
Lieutenant Colonel Hyacinth Ralph Honner DSO, MC , known as Ralph Honner, was a distinguished Australian soldier during the Second World War...
(39th (Militia) Battalion) and finally Brigadier Arnold Potts
Arnold Potts
Brigadier Arnold William Potts DSO, OBE, MC was an Australian grazier who served in the First World War and led 21st Brigade of the Second AIF during its defence of the Kokoda Trail during the Second World War...
(21st Brigade). Brigadier Potts was later relieved of his command in controversial circumstances.
At its peak strength, Maroubra Force consisted of the 39th Battalion, the 53rd Battalion, and the 21st Brigade
21st Brigade (Australia)
The 21st Brigade was a brigade-sized infantry unit of the Australian Army. Formed in April 1940 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, the unit was raised for service during World War II...
(2/14th Battalion, 2/16th Battalion and 2/27th Battalion). The 53rd Militia Battalion saw action briefly during the Battle of Isurava but was defeated and subsequently withdrew greatly demoralized, especially after the commanding officer and many senior officers of the 53rd were killed in action.
The Kokoda and Buna-Gona battles took a heavy toll on the soldiers of Maroubra Force. As an example, following both battles the 39th Battalion mustered barely 30 survivors (from a nominal strength of 600–800), the remainder either dead, missing, wounded, or in hospitals in Port Moresby and northern Australia suffering from disease and exhaustion.
Maroubra Force, Lieutenant Colonel Honner, and Brigadier Potts were instrumental in the successful defence of Australia, and are sometimes cited as "the men who saved Australia", alongside the U.S. Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, whose actions at the Battle of the Coral Sea
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged...
also staved off Japanese efforts to capture Port Moresby.