AUSTRALIAN MILITARY World War II –

“The Japanese beachheads at Gona and Buna by the 3 January 1943 were finally in Australian and American hands after almost two months of desperate fighting. One beachhead, however, remained to be taken, the best defended, not only in terms of its deep defence and network of supporting bunkers and slit trenches, but also by its large deep swamps and jungle. Hundreds of men had already been killed – Australian and American – in trying to take Sanananda. It was recognised that this beahhead was the worst of the three battlefields. Isolated pockets of Australians and Americans confronted well dug in and camouflaged positions, often on small ‘islands’ in the fetid and crocodile infested swamps. It would be another three weeks before Sanananda fell to the Australian and American forces. It was appropriately described by Sergeant Bill Spencer, 2/9th Battalion as: ‘A bastard of a place’.”

First Edition.

• 549 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm #240126

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 504-510) and index.

  • World War, 1939-1945 — Campaigns — Papua New Guinea
  • World War, 1939-1945 — Papua New Guinea — Participation, Australian
  • World War, 1939-1945 — Papua New Guinea — Participation, American
  • Sanananda (Papua New Guinea) — History — 20th century
  • Papua New Guinea — History, Military — 20th century
  • Australian