The Kokoda track was the site of a four month battle between Japanese and Australian troops in the Papuan capital of Port Moresby in the July of 1942. With Japanese strategy put in place they began attempt capture of the city via a track over the Owen Stanley Range, prompting battles at Kokoda, Deniki, Isurava, Eora, Efogi, Templeton’s Crossing, Ioribaiwa and Oivi-Gorari, of which Kokoda was the most famous. It’s significance for Australia was huge, as was the role it played in the future of our nation: and each and every soldier that entered into that campaign should be commended for their efforts in keeping Australia within American support. The blood bath that occurred through the treacherous conditions has forever sealed the bond between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The beginning of all the turmoil that occurred during the Kokoda campaign was all thanks to Japan’s power hungry nature. The imperial army we determined to capture as much of Asia of they could, and after the failed attempt at bombing of Pearl Harbour, Hawaii in 1942 they decided the best approach to this was to capture Papua New Guinea, they only free country still left in the Asian continent, and one which conveniently had much needed airbases. With the fighting so close to Australian soil, it was vital that they defended Port Moresby with great intent, however with the fighting still occurring in Europe the poorly trained and unprepared 39th Battalion were all that was left to fight. These mainly eighteen and nineteen year old troops were sent off to the steep, wet and muddy Kokoda track that left from Port Moresby into the jungle and over the mountains amongst the Owen Stanley Range. For these considerably disadvantaged soldiers, along with the Papuan Infan...
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The Kokoda Track. 2014. The War in Papua: The Strategic Context. [ONLINE] Available at: http://kokoda.commemoration.gov.au/war-in-papua/. [Accessed 25 April 14].
...nce as to how the soldiers were directly impacted by the efforts at The Home Front. As a result, the first sub question; ‘Were the soldiers fighting in the Pacific influences also?’ was removed, leaving the following, more controlled set; ‘How did the challenges faced at The Home Front impact the relationships between the Australian people? Are such correlations still recognised today?’ Unlike the sources that were used to answer focus questions one to three, the information relating to the social effect of the war efforts by the Australian public, is all still valid and relevant to today. This is mainly due to the fact that the facets that were demonstrated during this particular time period, such as mateship and determination, continue to be reflected in modern day society and are the characteristics to which Australians are linked to by outsiders.
... to hold Port Moresby from the Japanese until the AIF assisted. Kokoda lead to the growth of the nation because of the conditions that the Australian troops had to go through was unbearable and amazing how they were still able to defeat the Japanese.
The complex issue of a track that crosses some of the most rugged and most isolated terrain in the world which is only passable by foot made the fight between the Australians and the Japanese. The kokoda track began along the gentle slope of Buna on the coast of the kokoda valley, but soon revolved into steep ridges, plunging to deep valleys, to dense rainforests with dripping moss and leeches. The kokoda track is a footpath across the Owen Stanley ranges in Papua New Guinea. It runs from the highland town of Kokoda to the Sogeri plateau about 25 miles east of Port Moresby. During the war neither the Japanese nor Australians had proper maps of the track over mountains, the tr...
The Kokoda Campaign, also known as the Battle that saved Australia, was a series of battles in which the Japanese fought the Australian and Americas for control over Port Moresby. Had the Japanese been successful in taking over Port Moresby, Australia would have been under serious threat. This was a significant event in Australian History because it was the first time the Australian Nation had been threatened by invasion. This was a significant event in Australian History because as it was a time to reflect upon those who put others lives before theirs for the safety of this Country.
Following the outbreak of the Pacific War in early December 1941, Darwin's defences were reinforced . In line with plans developed before the war, s...
Parks, G. (2005). The Importance of the Battle of Long Tan. Retrieved May 28th, 2014, from City of Parramatta RSL Sub-branch: http://www.parramattarsl.com.au/rsl9/BLTI.htm
The Anzac Legend is the source of the Aussie Fight and bravery that will live on for future generations to understand and to acknowledge their courage and bravery.
Unfortunately, with most if not all large-scale conflicts, a detrimental aftermath was soon sure to follow. Australia was by no means exempt from this, as made evident by the Australian veterans and
The Australian participation in WW2 was similar to that of WW1 in many ways. After the British declared war on Germany on September 3rd 1939, an Australian declaration of war was automatic. Aussie troops were soon sent to different parts of the world to help the British and other allied countries. It was not until late 1941 that they were recalled in order to defend the homefront. Darwin had been suddenly attacked by Japanese planes and small enemy submarines had snuck into Sydney Harbour. Darwin was repeatedly bombed by Japanese planes until July 1941, when along with American troops, the Aussies managed to drive them out of the Solomon Islands and northeastern New Guinea and eliminate a strong Japanese base at Rabaul. Without General MacArthur's troops, the enemy may very well have invaded Australia. This illustrates the importance of alliances.
Firstly, the Kokoda Battle was an important event because of its cultural significance to Australia. The Kokoda track stands as an icon for Australian participation in the Second World War, just as Gallipoli serves the same purpose for the First World War. In 1942, the Australian Territories of Papua and New Guinea were in law if not in public sentiment, as much a part of Australia as the Northern Territory. It is then quite true to say that Australian soil was invaded by the Japanese in 1942. The main objective of this battle was for Japan to capture Port Moresby via the Kokoda track and from there they would control the Pacific. This war was also very significant because of the mateship, loyalty and hard work the Australians did to protect our country even when they were “flat out” of energy, as evidenced by this quote
Good morning members of the Mt Gravatt show society. Did you know that World War Two is known as the most destructive war in history? It killed over 60 million people and had a lot more far-reaching impacts than any other wars. Published in 1988 in Inside Black Australia, an anthology of Aboriginal poetry, “The Black Rat” by a famous author and researcher, Iris Clayton, was a poem inspired by her father, Cecil, who fought in the war. The poem describes the depressing life of an Aboriginal soldier who helped off the German army at Tobruk at the time. The message in the poem is that the Aboriginal soldiers did not receive the benefits that European soldiers received, like farming lands after the war ended. This tells how unjust the European society was in Australia’s history.
The Oregon Trail was a very important aspect in the history of our country’s development. When Marcus and Narcissa Whitman made the first trip along the Oregon Trail, many Americans saw a window of opportunity. The Oregon Trail was the only practical way to pass through the Rockies. Pioneers crammed themselves into small wagons to try to make it to the unsettled land; however, 10% of these pioneers died on the way due to disease and accidents.
Schrijvers, Peter. Bloody Pacific: American Soldiers at War with Japan. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
Chisholm Trail When the railroads moved west to the Great Plains, the "Cattle Boom" began. Southern Texas became a major ranching area with the raising of longhorn cattle from Mexico. Cattle was branded by the rawhides who guarded them on horseback on the ranges. Before the Civil War, small herds of Texas cattle were driven by the cowboys to New Orleans, some as far west as California, and some to the north over the Shawnee Trail.
In the early morning of 19 February 1945, United States Marines assigned to the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Division led the initial assault on the Japanese controlled island of Iwo Jima, with the objective of capturing and securing the island. This was the beginning of one of the fiercest and bloodiest; and more decisively, the most strategically important battles fought during World War II. After the dust had settled, and the smoke had cleared, the causalities and losses were astounding. 6,821 U.S. Marines along with 18,844 members of the Imperial Japanese Army had paid the ultimate sacrifice. A decisive US victory on the island of Iwo Jima later played a pivotal role in the overarching defeat of the Japanese Empire and its Armed Forces (Morison, 1945).