The 1942-43 defeats of the Japanese at, Kokoda,
Milne Bay, around Buna and at Wau opened the way for the Allies to plan
and mount the advance on the major objective of Lae, New Guinea. This
large Japanese base sat on the coast near the mouth of the Markham River
at the southern end of the Huon Peninsula. By capturing this area, the
Allies would be able to develop airfields in the Markham Valley to
support subsequent advances along the north coast.
In May 1943, General Douglas MacArthur,
Commander-in-Chief of the Allied forces in the South-West Pacific Area,
issued a directive for the attack on Lae. Australian forces were to
capture Lae, and then continue with two advances at the same time, one
around the coast of the Huon Peninsula and the other inland following
the Markham and Ramu Valleys. The latter would culminate with the
capture of one of the key features, Shaggy Ridge.
Ahead of the land attack Allied bombers
mounted a strong campaign against the Japanese base and lines of
communication, weakening the defences. The first action by Allied troops
was a paratroop drop, the first in New Guinea, on 5 September 1943. The
American 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, and some gunners of the
Australian 2/4th Field Regiment, were dropped over the Markham Valley,
and seized an abandoned airfield at Nadzab. Work quickly commenced to
prepare the airstrip for transport aircraft to land more troops.
Pushing Back To Shaggy Ridge
The Markham Valley & The Huon Peninsula
