By late August 1942, the Japanese had built up their forces around Kokoda and had forced the 39th Australian Militia Battalion out of Kokoda and up into the steep mountains of the Owen Stanley Ranges. The Australian forces maintained contact with the Japanese forces as they moved progressively back from Kokoda to Deniki and finally to a strong defensive position between two creeks at the village of Isurava, approximately 8 hours march from Kokoda. In contrast to the Japanese who possessed a short supply line and growing numbers of fresh troops landed at Gona and Buna, the Australians faced an extended and uncertain supply line with over 8 days march by fit men to base. Wounds or sickness in this location meant a horror journey over some of the worst terrain imaginable before obtaining hospital treatment.
The Australian forces who had been in constant action for over 6 weeks, were sick, tired, weakened by casualties but still resilient. At Isurava they scraped holes in the ground with their helmets and bayonets, they piled earth and logs and waited for the storm to break. Of note is the fact that the militia who had been conscripted as a home defence force, found themselves overseas fighting a front line war in defence of Australia. This was possible due to the fact that Papua at that time was considered Australian territory whereas New Guinea to the north was off-limits to them as it was only Australian mandated territory.
The Australian high command, realizing the peril to Port Moresby dispatched the Australian 21st Brigade consisting of the 2/14th, 2/27th, 2/16th and supporting units to Papua. The Japanese attacks against the 39th at Isurava in late August, grew in intensity and the men began to wonder if they would survive. It was then when all seemed lost that the 2/14th arrived. The 39th recall the sight of the seasoned campaigners of the 2/14, tanned, fit, confident if not cocky, coming into the positions with an aura of professionalism and certainty. It was at that moment, that many 39th men accepted that they may survive.
The Japanese increased the intensity and determination of their attacks as Major General Horii decided to eliminate once and for all the opposing Australian forces. Over the next 5 days, attack after attack by the Japanese were met by machine gun, rifle, grenade and bayonet by the Australians. Losses on both sides were horrific, resulting in the deaths and wounding of many of the defending Australians.
The following men who lie buried at Bomana or listed on the memorial as having no known grave, gave their lives at a moment when Australia was directly threatened. Their sacrifice should never be forgotten.
