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Australian Troops
A small force of Australian soldiers had been sent up the Kokoda Track in June to protect the airfield at Kokoda. -
Japanese landed at Gona
On the 21st of July, 1942, the Japanese troops landed at Gona and pushed out, heading for the small settlement of Kokoda and its important airfield. The Japanese expected to advance over the mountains and take Port Moresby within weeks. -
Australia wanting upon more troops
After waiting for more troops to arrive, the Japanese attacked the Australians at Isurva and Alola. After the Austalian forces returned from the desert war, fought bravely to resist the Japanese advance, then the Australian forces now strengthened. -
Australians Troops Stopped the Japanese in Milne Bay
While the battles took place along the Kokoda Track, other Australian troops had stoppped the Japanese at Milne Bay in August, 1942 on the eastern side of New Guinea. The Japanese had landed there in an attempt to capture the harbour and airfield, Milne Bay was the first land battle lost by the Japanese in World War II. -
Defence of the Australian forces against the Japanese military
In late August, about 1000 men of the 7th Divison took over the defence of the Kokoda Track against about 7000 advancing Japanese. -
Japanese Faced Exhaustion
By September, 1942, the Jpanese started to face exhaustion, with the lack of food left and many soldiers suffering from illness. The situation began to favour the Australians, as the Japanese now faced the problem of supply from their original landing base on the other side of the Owen Stanley Range. -
Australain Flag Flew
By November 1942, the Australian flag flew at the village of Kokoda. -
Japanese were considered cleard
The fighting continued with help from the United States, and by early 1943, the Japanese were cleared from Buna, Gona and Sananda on the north coast of Papua.