In early 1942 the Japanese set their sights on capturing Papua and New Guinea. A series of defensive battles at Milne Bay and along the Kokoda Track, as well as the naval victories in the Coral Sea and at Midway Island put the Japanese on the back foot. Then followed a series of Allied offensive operations that drove the Japanese back and provided the springboard for General Douglas MacArthur’s successful advance into the Netherlands East Indies and the Philippines.
A one day conference held on 16 April 2016 examined this critical period of Australia’s military history. This conference included fresh analysis and insights from a highly informed and relevant range of historians and veterans.
Dr Adrian Thelfall, author of Jungle Warriors: From Tobruk to Kokoda and beyond, how the Australian Army became the world’s most deadly jungle fighting force was the keynote speaker.
Keynote: The Utterly Unknown: How the Australian Army adapted to jungle warfare 1941-45 – Dr Adrian Threlfall, Lecturer, Victoria University and author of Jungle Warriors
Dr Ian Pfennigwerth examined the naval aspects of the campaign, James Bowen the land aspects and Dr Mark Johnson the air force aspects.
Sea Power and the Campaigns in Papua and New Guinea 1942-45 – Dr Ian Pfennigwerth, Historian
The Kokoda Campaign: Japan’s Second Attempt to Capture Port Moresby – James Bowen, Historian and consultant to the Battle for Australia Commemoration National Council
Neil Sharkey and David Howell considered how the campaign is remembered and interpreted.
Understanding the Kokoda Track Battles – Neil Sharkey, Curator of Exhibitions, Shrine of Remembrance
Most significantly, a panel of three veterans from these battles shared their experiences and perspectives. The veterans were John Akhurst, Wallace Carr and Bill Stewart (pictured right to left below with Daryl Clarke on far right).
The conference programme is available here.
The Conference sponsors were Kokoda Historical and Big Sky Publishing.
Contact Military History and Heritage Victoria about this article.
