Extending over five years, 1st September 1939 to 2nd September 1945, World War Two, (WWII), which was fought throughout many campaigns, battles and attacks, caused large amounts of death and destruction on a global size as the Allied Forces, of whom came out victorious, fought against the Axis powers. The Battle of Kokoda was a significant battle in WWII for the Australian soldiers and the Australian population as a whole due to feats overcome by Australian militia which significantly influenced Australia’s national identity, as well as helping to shape and showcase the personality of the young boys who grew into men and the courageous acts completed by ‘true-blue aussies’ which saved the Australian mainland from isolation and invasion by the
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In 1942, there was a strong belief that a threat could occur, hence the evacuation of females and children from Darwin during 1941, this was throughout the government and public, and due to previous attacks, reserve armies were being formed and deported2 above, one of these to the island 500km North-east of Australia, to New Guinea. Newspaper headlines such as Border Morning Mail’s ‘Australia Ready to Meet Japanese Attack,’ (Oct. 1941), spreads the idea and acknowledgment of a possible invasion across the whole of Australia and also comments that the Australian government was preparing in case of an attack. Even the soldiers were aware of the importance of the battle of Kokoda for the Australian population as Jack Manol, (1998), says ‘I thought: Christ, there’s no-one between us and Moresby, and if the Japs(Japanese) get through us and get to Moresby there, Australia’s gone.’ This is evidence that the threat was so obvious and present that soldiers away from the mainland were aware of the threat and felt the pressure and need to protect their country. The ill-trained Australian soldiers fought extremely hard, and despite all odds, the Japanese, who largely outnumber Australians (1:5), retreated along the ~96km track through the Stanley Range after a four-month campaign, which …show more content…
Primary recounts, facts and images all help display these key points of how the battle in 1942 between the Imperial army and convict-heritage Australians fought it out in harsh conditions, with Australian’s returning victorious.
In 1942, there was a strong belief that a threat could occur, hence the evacuation of females and children from Darwin during 1941, this was throughout the government and public, and due to previous attacks, reserve armies were being formed and deported2 above, one of these to the island 500km North-east of Australia, to New Guinea. Newspaper headlines such as Border Morning Mail’s ‘Australia Ready to Meet Japanese Attack,’ (Oct. 1941), spreads the idea and acknowledgment of a possible invasion across the whole of Australia and also comments that the Australian government was preparing in case of an attack. Even the soldiers were aware of the importance of the battle of Kokoda for the Australian population as Jack Manol, (1998), says ‘I thought: Christ, there’s no-one between us and Moresby, and if the Japs(Japanese) get through us and get to Moresby there, Australia’s gone.’ This is evidence that the threat was so obvious and present that soldiers away from the mainland were aware of the threat and felt the pressure and need to protect their country. The ill-trained Australian soldiers fought extremely hard, and despite all odds, the Japanese, who largely outnumber Australians (1:5), retreated along the ~96km track through the Stanley Range after a four-month campaign, which …show more content…
Primary recounts, facts and images all help display these key points of how the battle in 1942 between the Imperial army and convict-heritage Australians fought it out in harsh conditions, with Australian’s returning victorious.