The Australians Bougainville Campaign 1945 The Bougainville Campaign is sometimes pushed aside for the glory of Kokoda or El Alamein. However we must remember that 65,000 Japanese soldiers perished there. That is twice the loss sustained by Australia in the entire war. Australians accounted for over 18,000 of those Jap losses. Check this site with many photos and the history. Bougainville Campaign: A Pictorial History of II Corps, 1944/45 In 1942 the advancing Japanese army occupied Bougainville until it was partly recaptured by the United States USMC and US Army in 1943/44. On 1 November 1943, the US 3rd Marine Division landed at Torokina on the northern side of Empress Augusta Bay and secured the beachhead. The Marines were relieved by the US XIV Corps on 15 November. In March 1944, a full scale Japanese offensive against the American positions was repulsed but the Americans did not extend their perimeter further and were in the same positions when the Australian II Corps under the command of Lieutenant General Stanley Savige took command in December 1944. In late 1944, the Americans (who pulled their (2) divisions out for service in the Philippines) estimated that 12,000 Japanese remained in the islands, the Australians estimated that 25,000 remained but in fact there were 40,000 of whom 8,000 were in the forward area. Japanese records showed that 18,300 of their troops died in the Bougainville campaign during the time the Australians were there (from Dec 44). The Australians lost 516 killed and 1,572 wounded. More than 23,000 Japanese surrendered on Bougainville and Buka Islands at war's end; a total of 40,000 had been killed or died of illnesses since late 1943.
Considering that the Australians fought in some of the worst terrain in the world one can well understand their occassional reluctance to accept and carry out inane orders.
Kyt It may have been more than occasional disobedience. I have interviewed some veterans who say that there were serious discipline problems in the Australian army on Bougainville towards the end of the war. Incidentally it is a beautiful island, lovely people, and unmolested battlefields to tramp over. Years ago I saw the plane Yamamoto was shot down in and I hear that it is still there. Bougainville is well worth a visit.
