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The Significance Of The Kokoda Campaign

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The significance of Kokoda for Australia is emphasized through the battles Australia fought, those who lost their lives as well as the major effects of the Kokoda Campaign. This essay will thoroughly investigate the Pacific theatre of war as well as the importance and impact the Kokoda Campaign had on Australia.

Many parties were involved in Kokoda. These parties include; Japanese, Papuan, Australian and The Americans. Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Americans were all opposing against the Japanese. There are numerous causes for the Campaign of Kokoda. One possibility is that after the Japanese tried to capture Port Moresby by sea, they thought of a new tactic. They thought that if they could go on land through Kokoda they would be successful. …show more content…

The Japanese tried to cross this river but many were unsuccessful, or others were shot by Papuan Patrols (Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Richard Reid, 2015) By the 17th of November the 16th and 25th Battalions triumphantly crossed the Kumusi River. The Japanese then retreated and withdrew, therefore ending the Campaign of Kokoda. The Kokoda Campaign started on the 21st of July 1942 when Japan landed at Gona and the first fighting occurred between the Papua Infantry Battalion and the Japanese. Kokoda was fought through the locations of Buna, Gona, Oivi, Kokoda, Isurava, Efogi and Owen’s Corner (Department of Veteran Affairs) (See Appendix 1) At Isurava, Australia was able to hold the Japanese in a 5-day period of intense fighting and combat in August. The Australian’s aim was to defend Port Moresby and ensure the threat to Australia of invasion would cease. The Papuan People and The Americans were very helpful in making sure this aim was …show more content…

Rations were made and fuel, a common commodity was reduced. The issuing of Personal Identification was also applied seeing as the threat for invasion was still very real. Clothing, footwear, butter, tea and sugar were rationed, thus meaning that fewer goods were being bought. When Americans were in Transit, they lived in Australia, therefore meaning shops were forced to open, boosting economy and introducing new tastes and fashion. The introduction of rations made sure all of the goods were evenly and fairly divided. According to the Curtin Government in order for Australia to survive, they had to “Populate or Perish” (1942). If these actions weren’t taken then it could be said that Australia would be much worse off than it is

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