Page 90 - History of War - Issue 29-16

AUSTRALIA’S THIN GREEN LINE

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Resupply was the other key factor affecting
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c cent of a unit’s ghting strength was typically Resupply was the other key factor affecting (unloaded) in the sweltering scrub. It was
stricken with jungle diseases at any one time. combat performance in the jungles of Papua. useless due to the distinct lack of Japanese
combat performance in the jungles of Papua.
stricken with jungle diseases at any one time.
Chief among these was dysentery caused by
Chief among these was dysentery caused by For the Australians, the closest resupply armour on the Track, something even a cursory
For the Australians, the closest resupply
the appalling conditions and diet along with a was anywhere up to 160 kilometres away examination of a map would have identi ed
the appalling conditions and diet along with a
was anywhere up to 160 kilometres away
lack of medical supplies to treat the condition. in Moresby. Everything had to be carried in – it was hardly tank country. Apparently that
lack of medical supplies to treat the condition.
in Moresby. Everything had to be carried in
Casualties from the ghting and from jungle on the backs of Diggers, Papuan porters particular Boys disappeared down a steep gully
Casualties from the ghting and from jungle
on the backs of Diggers, Papuan porters
disease and malnutrition on both sides were
disease and malnutrition on both sides were and pack animals or dropped from the air, in an unfortunate ‘accident’. Other weapons,
and pack animals or dropped from the air,
often evacuated by native porters. Papuans a very unreliable procedure that saw many like the Vickers medium machine gun that
often evacuated by native porters. Papuans
a very unreliable procedure that saw many
working for the Australians were known pallets disappear into the jungle. Food and could have been decisive in the early battles on
working for the Australians were known
pallets disappear into the jungle. Food and
affectionately, in the admittedly racist language
affectionately, in the admittedly racist language ammunition were often scarce and both had the Track, were inexplicably ordered to be left
ammunition were often scarce and both had
to be conserved where possible. The author’s
of the time, as the ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’.
of the time, as the ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’. to be conserved where possible. The author’s behind as they were thought to be too heavy to
own grandfather, then Lance Corporal Edward
The Australian Air Force was supposed to y own grandfather, then Lance Corporal Edward manoeuvre in the dense terrain.
The Australian Air Force was supposed to y
Farrelly, fought on the Track, and recalls
casualties out from Myola but refused to do Farrelly, fought on the Track, and recalls The ghting was tough and often at close
casualties out from Myola but refused to do
routinely having less than two full magazines
so, arguing it placed their aircraft at too great routinely having less than two full magazines range with the Japanese typically preferring
so, arguing it placed their aircraft at too great
for his Thompson sub-machine gun. The
a risk. Instead, the wounded were carried out for his Thompson sub-machine gun. The death rather than face capture and dishonour.
a risk. Instead, the wounded were carried out
by the Papuans. The Japanese forces treated
Diggers, like soldiers in any war, were also
by the Papuans. The Japanese forces treated Diggers, like soldiers in any war, were also An Australian veteran remembered the actions
the Papuan natives rather more brutally and
the Papuan natives rather more brutally and often saddled with gear that wasn’t t for the of one Japanese of cer: “One of the [most]
often saddled with gear that wasn’t t for the
as little more than slave labour – many died
as little more than slave labour – many died unique environment they found themselves in. extraordinary sights I’ve ever seen, [was] when
unique environment they found themselves in.
For example, Farrelly recalls carrying a .55
or were executed after they themselves fell ill
or were executed after they themselves fell ill For example, Farrelly recalls carrying a .55 we encircled these Japs so we could capture
Boys anti-tank ri e, only a tri ing 16 kilograms
through overwork. Boys anti-tank ri e, only a tri ing 16 kilograms the position and kill them all… A Japanese
through overwork.
of cer raced out with his sword, drawn sword,
“OTHER WEAPONS, LIKE THE VICKERS MEDIUM MACHINE GUN samurai sword, and one of our lieutenants
grappled with him, and his weapon jammed.
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DECISIVE IN THE EARLY BATTLES ON THE in every battle I suppose. And they grappled
“Just luck of the game, you know, it happens
TRACK, WERE INEXPLICABLY ORDERED TO BE LEFT BEHIND” together and any rate, someone else came up,
one of our chaps, and shot this Japanese who
Soldiers of the 7th Division
use horses to drag a 25
pounder gun into position
over the Owen Stanley Ridge
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