ad hoc
Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning literally 'to this'. In English, it typically signifies a solution for a specific purpose, problem, or task rather than a generalized solution adaptable to collateral instances. (Compare with '' a priori''.)
C ...
formation of the
Australian Army
The Australian Army is the principal land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (CA), wh ...
that served in
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...
during
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 ...
New Guinea Volunteer Rifles
The New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR) was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was initially raised as a unit of the Militia from white Australian and European expatriates in New Guinea upon the outbreak of the Second World War in 19 ...
(NGVR), Kanga Force conducted a number of small scale raids and reconnaissance operations around Lae and
Salamaua
Salamaua () was a small town situated on the northeastern coastline of Papua New Guinea, in Salamaua Rural LLG, Morobe province. The settlement was built on a minor isthmus between the coast with mountains on the inland side and a headland. The c ...
before it was disbanded and the individual units became part of the Australian 3rd Division in 1943.Dennis et al 2008, p. 297.
History
In April 1942 a decision was made by the
Australian Army
The Australian Army is the principal land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (CA), wh ...
high command to form a guerilla unit, known as ''Kanga Force'', whose job it would be initially to conduct a reconnaissance of Japanese troops at Lae and
Salamaua
Salamaua () was a small town situated on the northeastern coastline of Papua New Guinea, in Salamaua Rural LLG, Morobe province. The settlement was built on a minor isthmus between the coast with mountains on the inland side and a headland. The c ...
and then later to start a limited offensive to harass and destroy enemy personnel and equipment in the area. With this in mind, the reinforcement platoon of the 1st Independent Company which had sailed to
Port Moresby
(; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New ...
on the ''Macdui'' and renamed Independent Platoon Port Moresby under the command of Captain Howard, was sent to reinforce the NGVR, who were at the time the only Allied troops in the Wau-
Bulolo
Bulolo is a town in Wau-Bulolo Urban LLG, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. It was once an important gold dredging centre in the former Territory of New Guinea,Battle of the Coral Sea, General
Thomas Blamey
Field marshal (Australia), Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey, (24 January 1884 – 27 May 1951) was an Australian general of the First World War, First and Second World Wars, and the only Australian to attain the rank of field marshal.
Bl ...
and American General Douglas MacArthur agreed that it was time to launch the limited offensive that they had agreed upon.McCarthy 1959, p. 89. As a part of this offensive, MacArthur requested that ground raids be initiated against Lae and Salamaua to destroy enemy installations and, if possible, to occupy the airfields. On 12 May, Major Norman Fleay, was appointed to command Kanga Force and was ordered to concentrate in the Markham Valley, in order to launch a surprise attack on Lae and Salamaua.
On 23 May, the 2/5th Independent Company, under Major Kneen, were flown in from Port Moresby by the U.S. 21st Troop Carrier Squadron into Wau Airfield to reinforce Kanga Force. Together with Howard's platoon and the NGVR, these units formed Kanga Force, and as the situation developed it was given the task to start a limited offensive to harass and destroy enemy personnel and equipment in the area. Supplies to Kanga Force were either flown in, depending on aircraft availability, or shipped to the mouth of the Lakekamu River in small craft, transported up the river to Bulldog in canoes and then carried over the Bulldog Track by native porters.
By June, Kanga Force was largely concentrated at Wau, although there were elements of the 2/1st and 2/5th spread out as far as Bulwa, and elements of the NGVR at Mapos. The NGVR was still watching the Salamaua sector from Mubo, whilst other elements were covering the inland routes from the Markham and Wampit Rivers. As Major Fleay attempted to juggle his forces and relieve the exhausted NGVR detachments, his orders from higher were clarified and work began on planning a number of raids in the area. At this stage it was believed that there were up to 2,000 Japanese troops at Lae and another 250 at Salamua. Against this Kanga Force had a frontage of 700 men, although only 450 were fit for battle.McCarthy 1959, p. 90. Additionally, the requirement to defend the numerous tracks through the Bulolo Valley meant that Fleay had even less resources to achieve his mission.
As such, Fleay decided to maintain a large force in the Bulolo Valley and to launch a number of raids in the area. These would be concentrated on the Japanese force at Heath's Plantation, where the Japanese formed an obstacle to any large-scale movement against Lae, on the Lae area to destroy aircraft, dumps and installations and to test the defences with a view to operations on a larger scale in the future; on the Salamaua area to destroy the wireless station, aerodrome installations and dumps.
In this vein, on 29 June 1942, two raids were undertaken at Heath's Plantation and Salamaua. The raid on Heath's Plantation at Lae, was carried out by 58 troops, mainly from the 2/5th Independent Company, but watchdogs warned the enemy of the raid, and subsequently the 2/5th's commander, Major Kneen, was killed and two men were wounded. The raid on Salamaua by 71 troops of the 2/5th and the NGVR was more successful and resulted in at least 100 Japanese troops being killed for the loss of only three men slightly wounded. In addition, the Australians captured a small amount of enemy equipment and a number of documents, including marked maps, sketches, and Japanese orders.
After the raid, reconnaissance reports indicated that the Japanese were starting to reinforce Lae and Salamaua. The Allies were concerned about the defence of the important air installation at Wau and to secure the crest of the Owen Stanleys in that area. Consequently, the 2/7th Independent Company was flown into Wau in October 1942 to reinforce Wau. Anticipating an attack by the Japanese,
General
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...
Thomas Blamey
Field marshal (Australia), Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey, (24 January 1884 – 27 May 1951) was an Australian general of the First World War, First and Second World Wars, and the only Australian to attain the rank of field marshal.
Bl ...
ordered the 17th Brigade from Milne Bay to reinforce Wau and relieve Kanga Force, and on 16 January 1943 the Japanese launched an offensive against Wau, known as the
Battle of Wau
The Battle of Wau, 29 January – 4 February 1943, was a battle in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. Forces of the Empire of Japan sailed from Rabaul and crossed the Solomon Sea and, despite Allied air attacks, successfully reached Lae, ...
.
Following this, as problems with supply and sickness reduced the effectiveness of Fleahy's force, Kanga Force was eventually disbanded on 23 April 1943McCarthy 1959, p. 588. and the individual units became part of the 3rd Division, which left Wau to begin the Salamaua-Lae campaign on 22 April 1943 and drove the Japanese from Salamaua.