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The Battles for the Kokoda Plateau
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- Опубліковано 18 бер 2023
- The Battles for the Kokoda Plateau
With David W. Cameron
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'The Japanese attacked us, they mortared us, they shelled us…they did everything.'
On 21 July 1942, a large Japanese reconnaissance mission landed along the north-eastern coastline of Papua, it would soon turn into an all-out attempt to capture Port Morseby. This is the powerful story of the three weeks of battle by a small Australian militia force, the 39th Battalion, supported by the 1st Papua Infantry Battalion and the Royal Papuan Constabulary, to keep the Japanese at bay. Outnumbered by at least three to one, they fought courageously to hold the Kokoda Plateau - the gateway to the Owen Stanleys. Critically short of ammunition and food and stranded in the fetid swamps and lowland jungles, they did everything they could to keep the Kokoda airstrip out of Japanese hands.
Not far away, and desperately trying to reach the Australians, were two groups of Anglican missionaries trapped behind enemy lines. With each passing day the parties grew, joined by lost Australian soldiers and downed American airmen. Theirs is a story of tragedy and betrayal.
David W. Cameron is a Canberra-based author. He graduated from the University of Sydney in Prehistoric Archaeology (First Class Honours) in 1989 and completed his PhD in Palaeoanthropology at the School of Archaeology, Australian National University, in 1995. David has written several books on primate evolutionary biology and Australian military history as well as over 70 internationally peer reviewed papers for various academic journals and book chapters. He is a former Australian Research Council academic at the Australian National University's School of Archaeology and the University of Sydney's Department of Anatomy and Histology. David has conducted numerous research and fieldwork projects in Europe, the USA, the Middle East and Asia.
The Battles for Kokoda Plateau: Three Weeks of Hell Defending the Gateway to the Owen Stanleys
by David W. Cameron
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One of the best two hours I've spent watching WW2TV to date. Bar none. Maps, detail, the personal stories of soldiers, Papuan constables, Missionaries, downed airmen, and the implacable Japanese and their accounts sprinkled amongst it all. Solid gold, every minute of it, Woody. Mr. Cameron's approach is one of the best I've witnessed to date, no offense to Dr Blood, or Buttar!
That was an excellent presentation from David, and one of the best live sidebar contributions for some time. I enjoyed every slide & map (lost count of how many). What a great guest and episode Woody @WW2TV.
Many thanks!
Much thanks Phil!
Doc Vernon must have been a remarkable man. I hope when I'm 61 that I'm still capable of walking an extremely difficult route like he did from Port Moresby to Kakota. He seems to embody the highest ideals of practicing medicine. He knew there was going to be combat and therefore there would also be wounded needing medical care. Without regard for his own safety and perhaps his own exhaustion, he continued on towards the fighting to be there when he was needed. I imagine if he were alive to ask today, he might say, well why else did I go to medical school and become a doctor, if not to be there in that moment when I was most needed? Thank you doctor.
Well said.
Look up Colonel Edward "Weary" Dunlop a doctor/surgeon on the Thai-Burma Railway who stood up to his Japanese captors for the sake of his fellow POWs, and cared for POWs long after the war finished.
This was absurdly good. I listened to it hanging on to every word for 2 hours. Please, bring David back again sometime! The way he explains things in a narrative way just engrosses you so much, that’s what stood out to me about it. Long time watcher Paul, you are doing incredible stuff. Sharing your streams with my friends right now.
Thans for the kind words - Dave
Outstanding presentation by David Cameron. He really highlighted the importance of the Kokoda Track, and I look forward to his next appearance and expansion of the Papua campaign. It would be great if the original track could be traced using GPS.
P.S. it was Frederick Spencer Chapman of Force 136, who wrote "The Jungle is Neutral" in 1948, and that was used by Mike Calvert to help form the Malayan Scouts, later 22 SAS for the Malayan Ermegency in the 50s. (I had title wrong in sidebar😊).
01:37:28 it was the Alamo Scouts who discovered the photo negatives of the execution of Sgt Siffleet (see WW2TV video: Jungle Missions - The Alamo Scouts).
Much thanks! Cheers - Dave
Excellent presentation by David Cameron, once again Peter Brune (author) comes up and good to see a fellow author acknowledging another. Personally, I have just returned from the Beachhead Campaign area and visiting some lesser visited sites and visiting areas where my father served. Great episode.
Thanks GW!!
Thank you Glenn
The Japanese Army were well trained in light infantry tactics that worked better in jungle terrain than the logistically challenging, western, firepower-based tactics. The Japanese in fact did jungle training in Formosa before the invasion of the Philippines but I have never read that it was more widespread than that. As the war went on the western armies mastered the logistic challenges of fighting in restricted terrain and developed and disseminated new tactics to deal with the jungle. Saying the Japanese soldiers were "natural jungle fighters" should be taken as a statement of respect for their abilities even if it puts nit pickers in a tizzy by only being mostly true.
The Japanese used wide flanking moves as part of there infantry assault tactics if confronted by a blocking force, something the Australians picked up on very quickly and used themselves against the Japanese as the Papua Campaign progressed and in later doctrine.
I think it was all part of the way that the western allies tended to underestimate the competence of the Japanese ability to adapt to jungle so quickly that made them seem so formidable early on. Even though they were brutal by western standards didn't mean that they were unintelligent brutes.
Well said.🌟 We covered a lot of this in UK research on the "nationality factor" - how some simple tactical skill (or lack of it) gets exaggerated into one side having an almost racial superpower. I forget the name of the author but just before Malaya he said to his bosses something like: "I think it's wrong to write off an entire nation as having buck teeth and rickets." Sure enough, a few months later, the same lazy racism was using "natural jungle fighters" as an excuse to hide British tactical defeats.
Very much enjoyed this show, thank you Dr. Cameron. Excellent. Sobering. Reading through the contemporaneous chat I am again struck with how limited is our understanding of Japanese assumptions/aims/logistics, etc. No doubt the lack of IJN and IJA survivors/diaries/memoirs contributes mightily to this gap along with victors rightfully controlling the narrative. I look forward to when Woody meets with success in his quest to find willing Japanese 2nd WW historians (if they exist) to broaden the WW2TV community's understanding .
Japanese diaries and communications were translated both during and after the war. There was also an Australian-Japanese Research Project which resulted in a 2004 publication ajrp.awm.gov.au/AJRP/ajrp2.nsf
Lex McAulays 2 books on the campaign (Blood and Iron/ To the Bitter End) also reference the Japanese diaries and documents as part of the text.
Thank you David!
Great video! My mum's Uncle fought with the 2/16th in New Guinea and was reportedly killed while using his Bren Gun to cover his fellow soldiers withdrawal R.I.P.
Hopefully you will continue these awesome step by step documentaries following the full campaign! Thank you!
What can what say about a historian who so thoroughly knows his subject except to say brilliant! I have never really understood the difficulties of fighting in the Owen Stanley mountains as I do now. The Aussies put up such a wonderful delaying action against a determined and brutal enemy. I am personally glad they were on our side during the Pacific war. To think that General Macarthur actually reported to Washington DC that the Australians "Did not want to fight." What a pity. I can't wait to hear from David again!
David gives an incredibly detailed and moving presentation. I am so grateful that WW2TV gives a platform for Australian historians to share the important role that their country played in WW2.
Ive heard from Vets "If Macarthur had a Grave here I would piss on it "
Growing up I knew about a dozen WW2 vets. Half of them had fought in the ETO and the other half, the PTO. The ETO vets held little animosity towards the Germans - many owned Mercedes/BMW cars. Those who fought in the Pacific, however - even forty years on - couldn't talk about the Japanese without getting worked up and to a man...would not permit anything Japanese in their homes. I didn't understand at the time. Now I do.
My Granddad was lucky (in one way but not most) in that he was POW in Japan so he saw how they treated their own people. He still had the scars but wasn't as bitter as many veterans. That said, I never bought a zaibatsu car, just to be one the safe side 🙂.
Exactly how my father felt. He was in Burma in 44 and 45. In later life one of his best friends was a Fallschirmjager whose son married my sister.
@@CardboardCockney Nice to see there's still Cardboard Cockneys out there. 👍 I'm a Plastic Paddy like Joe Biden.
@@dermotrooney9584 Born in North London, bought up in Southend and lived most of my life in Wiltshire. The nickname comes from the fact my Estuary accent allegedly becomes stronger the closer I get to London or Southend. Ironically none of those places would qualify me as a Cockney!!!
Excellent as usual , glad it stopped before the 53rd entered the fray though
Yes, lets never mention anything that wasn't covered in glory.
@@neddyladdy I've a personal attachment through my grandfather to it ........ I can tell you all the gory details if you'd like .......... I suppose your grandfather was in the 1st marines or 82nd Airborne or some wank like that
Thanks Mathew - 53rd will be discussed in the next presentation if WW2TV will have me again - also appreciated your side bar comments!!
Amazing historical account- I knew it my Heymann having one in nursing Price in her name at Royal Canberra hospital. However this is the most comprehensive account of the tragic death. Lest we forget!
Outstanding presentation.
Thank you for this in depth retelling of Kokoda!
My hat is off in tribute to these unsung warriors.
Anchorage, Alaska
Thanks Michael!
@@DavidCameron-wz4xf Even we Yanks must never forget the sacrifices of our Brothers down under.
Grateful for all your work, and like others who posted a response.
I hung on every word.
Read "Ghost Mountain Boys" on the US Army 32nd Division (made up of Wisconsin & Michigan National Guard units) who paralleled the later Australian attack across the mountains on the Kapa Kapa Track.
The conditions were equally horrific and the unit suffered over 100% casualty rate between combat losses and medical debilitation. Inadequate training, insufficiant equipment, natural obstacles and tropical disease all took their toll. The cherry on top of this sundae of misfortune was the destruction of their artillery and their logistic support when the coastal ships carrying it were all sunk before they could be offloaded.
Yep just finished writing a book on Buna - 'Ghost Mountain Boys' is a great book!
I've read that book, it's absolutely chilling. It's miraculous that those men, sick and poorly equipped as they were, finally succeeded in taking their objectives at Buna.
I've read the book . Really horrendous conditions . Poor preparation totally MacArthur's fault . However no fighting no wounded & no Japanese to contend with . Unlike Kokoda .
Have a great trip, I'm looking forward to glider's week. Not sure if it's widely known but the glider attack on pegasus bridge is a good story that's the only one I ever read about cannot wait to hear more on the gliders 👍
Ayatosan Maru - there's a ship where the Maru, "prayer for a safe completion of the voyage", was for naught.
A fantastic presentation by David, such knowledge and detail. Such brilliant chat in the side bar. Sadly only caught this on a rerun. I never knew how important the Kokoda campaign was. Thanks David and Paul
Much appreciated Kevin!
Discovered this channel through The History Underground. Thank you, guys. :^)
You are welcome Cody. I hope you enjoy our back catalogue
David Cameron's new coming release is The Battle of the Japanese Beachheads-Gona. This will be a great topic.
Thanks again GW - appreciated
@@DavidCameron-wz4xf I have just returned from the area researching and retracing my fathers service.
Lovely stuff! Thanks again.
Thanks Dermot!!!
As an American, I'll plant my flag now that the correct name is the Kokoda Trail.
Tracks are for racing. Horse, auto, cross country, etc. Trails are for walking, hiking, trudging, etc. There was no racing at Kokoda.
I'm just taking the piss. Call it what you like, we can all agree it's the same place by either name.
As an Australian, I can confirm that there was an almost unbelievable amount of 'racing' along The Track ... but we call it 'the runs', better known in polite or medical circles as dysentery. It was so dreadful that the diggers would cut the seats out of their pants, or leave them off entirely.
The sight of an untrousered Aussie holding an Owen gun would've almost certainly struck fear into the most battle-hardened of Japanese soldiers.
Simply excellent!
Excellent presentation thanks David throughly enjoyed that one 👍
Appreciated! Thanks Allan
Wonderful presentation!
Fantastic detail and research. Many thanks. I learned a lot
Just added koka plat to my wish list
Woody/David. Thank you for such an interesting presentation! This theatre of war is not my main interest so have little in depth knowledge. This presentation has gone a long way to putting that right. Despite being long presentation, David’s style of presentation made the time fly by. Thanks, Bob
It was a great presentation, I am still reading Hells Battlefield and his maps and description of the trail/ track was helpful, I looked up David Howells and will try and get there while I’m fit enough to cross the trail.
Thanks!!
Good luck with the trip!
@@dermotrooney9584 made contact and planning for next year.
This is just tip top stuff. Grand strategy is all good and well but coming down into weeds is a much more sobering and equally valuable way to learn some history. On a technical point, in my world "Great Fighters" dont behead nuns nurses and children.
Story relayed to me has the boy at Buna being put in a weighted rice bag and dropped off shore.
Thank you Stephen - much appreciated!
Fair point. My Granddad was FEPOW. Sad to say a great fighter can also be a horrible human being. It's a blessing that so many of the men who fought that war learned to be great fighters without losing their humanity.
This is a Jungle that is constantly 35 degrees hot ,close to the Equator of the Sun ,cools down to 20 overnight after a Thunderous Rainstorm barrage
Excellent
As ever fascinating and informative. The Japanese mystique, I believe, easy to comprehend. Early jungle victories against the I’ll prepared, violent atrocities, a ❤
Very much appreciated Jon
A pilot with a Thompson laying in ambush. It shows that you are "all in". As far as comparing the other theaters with this the nazis were terrible but I've never heard of German medical officers beheading POWs. The Japanese were vile
German medical officers didn't carry sabres. That said some of the "medical experiments" carried out in concentration camps were truly horrific.
Thank you.
Some bits of that were nasty and horrible.
I only listened, didn't watch. Thank you Mr Cameron.
@WW2TV plîs invite them back.
This is added to comment below. Flying fingers of chaos and very frustrated apology. Later in war it was realized japanese died in quantity due to sickness and starvation and pigheadedness. It was like an egg cracking. Till it cracked it was invulnerable and easily seemed masters of their world. I also think their vicious cruelty without absolute victory was imponderable to the Allies so at first they had to take them at face value. I do not understand why the Australian military were so denigrated by some of their own. Always a great presentation and another apology for my eight thumb writing capacities
As a Yank living Down Under, I’d love to walk the Track….
Superbe
Let me redo interrupted comment below. Japanese mystique due to early jungle successes against ill prepared and poorly trained for landscape, savage atrocities, a fatalistic attitude leading to fighting till they died, caused by brutal training as was a willingness to absorb huge casualties made them seem beyond human. It was only later on that it was realized many starved to death a
It take's Paul @WW2TV less than 5 minutes to go down the Rabbit Hole and start the drinking off very early in the morning.
Do we need to do an intervention for you Paul?
😉
Could you do a video on Hungarian paratroopers at some point?
If I can find an expert
That’s great, much respect to the natives across the Pacific for their support of the allies. British empire isn’t great. But the Japanese empire is worse
Please tell me that the Japanese and Papuan traitors were punished for the atrocities they committed.
Got the answer to that at the end...
Its the same with the Nazis. The vast majority of those guilty of the worst crimes never faced trial
Pretty wrong analysis David! The Japanese would have invaded Australia, no question. The Navy pushed it, the Army didn't want to take forces from China to do it. Second, in military logic, if they'd taken Moresby after smashing Australian defence, would there have been any opposition in Tokyo to landing in Queensland?
Surely it's a matter of opinion? You say he is wrong, David would say he isn't
@@WW2TV yes of course it's opinion and I shouldn't have used the word "wrong". Sorry! Also should have added my admiration for the rest of David's analysis. It's just that this question of Japanese intentions if they'd taken Port Moresby has been contentious in Australia for some time. Your work, particularly participating with people like David, has really added to the understanding of what happened in New Guinea alongside the other campaigns - thanks. Consider that the Japanese in the critical February-April 42 period could scarcely believe themselves what they'd achieved, and there is documented active consideration of invasion. There was, in Japan at that time and recently in Australia, a lot of debate about how many divisions they would have needed to take the continent, at least the northern half, but if the Americans had lost Coral Sea, a close-run thing, the Japanese would have taken Moresby and I can't see them then doing anything other than invading. In that event it seems logical they wouldn't have needed Guadalcanal. Also, the loss of the New Guinea bases would have hamstrung MacArthur and Blamey in their great offensive that destroyed the Japanese XVIII Army in 43-44. This would be an interesting discussion for you with a Japanese historian!
I enjoy your product, never realized what a bigot McArthur was, what a glory hound, if he was willing to listen he could have saved more lives
Mr. Cameron's overly casual posture and delivery is annoying and his speech is not clear. Pity , I was hoping to hear this presentation.
Well we have plenty of other shows
Go look up Owen Stanley Mts. Some BRUTAL terrain. great show.
I'd take a year in the desert over one day in the dense jungle.