Chaforce was an ad hoc Australian

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...

force formed during the

Kokoda Track Campaign The Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought between July and November 1942 in what was then the Australian Territory of Papua. It was primar ...

of the Pacific War,

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. It was nominally of battalion size but consisting of only three rifle

companies A company, abbreviated as co., is a legal entity representing an association of people, whether natural, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common purpose and unite to achieve specific, declared go ...

and a headquarters element, it was therefore proportionally smaller, with an initial strength of 407 all ranks. After withdrawal of the 21st Brigade from fighting along the Kokoda Track, Brigadier

Arnold Potts Brigadier Arnold William Potts, (16 September 1896 – 1 January 1968) was an Australian grazier and army officer who served in the First World War and led the 21st Brigade of the Second Australian Imperial Force during its defence of the Koko ...

proposed that a special force be raised to conduct a long range penetration and harassment of the Japanese line of communication between Wairopi and Buna–Gona. The force was raised with each battalion of the 21st Brigade ( 2/14th Infantry Battalion, 2/16th Infantry Battalion and 2/27th Infantry Battalion) contributing a rifle company drawn from the fittest of those recently withdrawn from the fighting, having been relieved by the 25th Brigade as the Australian forces withdrew to Imita Ridge following the

Battle of Ioribaiwa The Battle of Ioribaiwa took place between 14 and 16 September 1942, during the Kokoda Track campaign in Papua during the Second World War. Involving forces from Australia, the United States, and Japan, the fighting centred on a high feature ...

. The force was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Challen and named for this officer. Challen had been

brigade major A brigade major was the chief of staff of a brigade in the British Army. They most commonly held the rank of major, although the appointment was also held by captains, and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section dire ...

of the 21st Brigade and had been appointed to command the 2/14th Battalion after Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Key had been killed in action. The plan called for the force to move forward to

Myola Myola is a locality on the Kokoda Track in the Territory of Papua and the modern state of New Guinea. It is one of two closely located dry lake beds located near where the Kokoda Track crosses the crest of the Owen Stanley Range – also known as ...

, where it would cross into the head-waters of the

Kumusi River The Kumusi River (also known as the Kamusi River) is a river located in the Oro Province of Papua New Guinea. Known for its width and its strength, the Kumusi has had a significant impact on the history of the Oro Province. It was a significant fac ...

, whence it would traverse the valley toward Wairopi. The plan was approved by

New Guinea Force New Guinea Force was a military command unit for Australian, United States and native troops from the Territories of Papua and New Guinea serving in the New Guinea campaign during World War II. Formed in April 1942, when the Australian First Arm ...

on 7 October 1942 but approval was subsequently rescinded due to a lack of aerial reconnaissance and concerns about the fitness of the force, even though the force had arrived at Myola on 18 October and an advance patrol from there had already deployed. Major General Arthur Allen proposed employing the force to conduct a less ambitious close flanking mission but this too was vetoed on 24 October. When the proposed independent mission had been definitely cancelled, Challen was recalled to command the 2/14th Battalion. The Chaforce companies were mainly employed as work parties in support of the 16th Brigade as it advanced on Kokoda. Author, Raymond Paull, notes significant disaffection in the ranks as a result that they were considered fit for these duties but not for the fighting for which they had volunteered. Major General George Vasey, had replaced Allen in command of the 7th Division. He decided that Chaforce should reinforce the depleted battalions of the 25th Brigade for the advance on Gona. Each of the force's rifle companies was attached to a battalion of the brigade. The force was to never engage the Japanese as a unit. The 21st Brigade reinforced the 25th Brigade in front of Gona. The Chaforce companies rejoined their parent units when the 25th Brigade was withdrawn from the fighting.

Citations

References

* * {{Refend Military units and formations of Australia in World War II Kokoda Battles of World War II involving Australia