Australian Military History

The Japanese thrust had managed to drive a wedge between the 24th Brigade and the 20th Brigade of the 9th Division. But the fighting had left the Japanese battered and unable to launch a coordinated follow up attack. Over the following days, the Australians would regroup and reinforce with the intention re-establishing their defensive line and pushing the Japanese back in preparation for the attack on Sattelberg. But the Japanese have never been known for giving up without a fight. It would take hard fighting to shift them from their hard earned positions.https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=46029761&view_as=patron Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having been forced out of Finschhafen and Jivevaneng, the Japanese forces on the Huon Peninsula launched a counter-attack, aimed at recapturing the Australian-held Scarlett Beach. This is where stores and reinforcements were being landed by the Australian and American forces. Lose Scarlett Beach and the entire area would become precarious. Fortunately, a plan of the coming offensive had been discovered on a dead Japanese officer and so General Wootten knew roughly where and when things were going to happen. But knowing this, and being able to do something about it, were two completely different things. His already stretched 9 Division would be severely tested. https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=46029761&view_as=patron Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the fall of Finshhafen, the 20th Brigade of the 9th Division was keen to push on to their next major objective in the Huon Peninsula campaign; Sattelberg. It appeared that the Japanese who had retreated were all heading in that direction, so all haste was needed in order to prevent them from settling in. Unfortunately, the areas which the Brigade had already seized were only thinly held and far from secure. Support was coming in the form of one battalion from the 24th Brigade, but until they arrived no proper offensive action could be undertaken. Meanwhile the Japanese were hatching plans to retake all that they had lost. The question of supply would decide the fate of the whole campaign.https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/patreon.com/user?u=46029761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born in New Zealand, Nancy Wake grew up in Australia. At her first opportunity she took off overseas and, after training as a journalist, found herself with a front row seat to the rise of Nazi Germany. When war broke out and Germany captured Paris and Northern France, Nancy and her husband went to work helping Allied soldiers flee occupied France to England. In the process Nancy became the Gestapo's most wanted operative. Forced to flee, leaving behind her husband, Nancy arrived in England and joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE). There she began to really make trouble for the Germans, including an epic bicycle ride that would go down in history as one of the most audacious acts of the French resistance during the war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the 15th Brigade all be annihilated, the 14th and 8th Brigades tried desperately to hold onto their gains. But with their right flank open and the left under intense counter attack, the scattered parties were in a desperate situation. Spirited defensive counter attacks held the Germans at bay for a while, but diminishing supplies and the strength of German attacks snuffed out the pockets one by one. And then, when the Germans reoccupied their own trenches behind the Australians, cutting them off from their own front lines, things started to fall apart. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the initial attack halted, the men of the 5th Australian Division set about holding onto what they had managed to take. But confusion and lack of communication meant that the commanders back from the fighting didn't fully understand the situation. In ignorance of the true situation further attacks were ordered, then cancelled. But the battered 15th Brigade didn't get notified of the cancellation until it was too late. https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/patreon.com/user?u=46029761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As promised, something to break up the Fromelles episodes a bit. I present unto Thee an attempt to explain the structure of the Australian Army throughout the years. I shall unravel the mysteries that surround battalions, platoons and Brigades, what's the difference between Non Commissioned and Commissioned ranks and just how it all combines to make the whole thing work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With all the planning done and dusted, there was nothing left to do except get going. The British 183rd and 184th Divisions, forming the right flank of the attack went forward and were almost immediately stopped in their tracks. The next in line was the Australian 15th Brigade, whose task was to attack the underside of the Sugarloaf. The preparatory bombardment had inflicted no serious damage on the Sugarloaf and the 15th would bear the brunt of the fire coming from that position. The 14th and then the 8th Brigades, further along to the left had some limited success, but time and manpower were wasted searching for the German second line trench. https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/patreon.com/user?u=46029761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 1st July 1916, General Haig launched his now infamous Somme Offensive. The opening days had been disastrous and something needed to be done to assist the British troops currently struggling against the strong German defence. To the north of the Somme, a salient jutting into the British lines, just near the little village of Fromelles. It was decided that a strong demonstration here would prevent the Germans from moving troops to the south to reinforce on the Somme. And so a demonstration was planned, and then cancelled, and then reinstated but with a different objective, then back to the original plan, but not yet, to then suddenly be urgent. Such was the back and forth and changing of plans that became the Battle of Fromelles.Website - https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/Patreon - patreon.com/user?u=46029761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taken on strength with the Royal Australian Navy between the wars and named for her sister ship who had sunk the German raider Emden during WW1, HMAS Sydney (II) gained fame as lucky ship during operations in the Mediterranean Theatre in World War 2. Involved in a number of actions in that theatre, including the sinking of the Bartolmeo Colleoni, while barely sustaining any damage herself, she came to be considered invincible. This reputation followed her into the waters off Western Australia and in action against a German raider, the Kormoran. The result would be the opposite of her sister ship's meeting with the Emden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I am talking with Mal Murray, Peter Harrower and Jim Smith, veterans of the fighting at Fire Support Base Coral. No more needs to be said. Enjoy.https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/patreon.com/user?u=46029761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In January 1968, the North Vietnamese Forces launched the Tet Offensive. They suffered server casualties during the opening phases of this attack and to replenish their forces, they required uninterrupted infiltration routes. Obviously, Western Forces, including Australians, didn't want this to happen. So in May troops from 1RAR, with Australian and New Zealand artillery, were sent out to establish Fire Support Base Coral. The Vietnamese forces hit Coral before the defenders were properly prepared and an epic battle ensued. Shortly after that, 3RAR went further afield to establish Fire Support Base Balmoral. They also came under heavy attack. Between them, these twin battles would become Australia's most intense and most costly battle of the Vietnam War. https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/episodespatreon.com/user?u=46029761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the evacuation of Greece, New Zealand, British and Australian troops prepared to defend the airfields of Crete. The Australians concentrated on the central area of the island, with the 2/1st and 2/11th Battalions responsible for the defence of the airfield at Retimo. When German paratroopers began to fall from the sky on the 20th May 1941, it signaled the beginning of several days of hard, bitter fighting as the Allied forces attempted to deprive Germany of yet another conquest. https://historyguild.org/https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/patreon.com/user?u=46029761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the fighting at Pinios Gorge was reaching its peak, the majority of W Force moved back through Larissa heading for the next defensive position on the Thermopylae - Brallos Pass Line. Initially, this line was where the Allied Forces planned to halt the German advance through Greece, however the situation soon changed and the stand along this line was now responsible for delaying the German advance long enough for W Force to be evacuated from Greece. Fail and the entire force would be captured and any further attempt to stop the Germans in this theatre would be lost. https://historyguild.org/https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/https://www.patreon.com/user?u=46029761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Germans pushing through the Metaxas Line, their invasion of Greece gained momentum as they pushed south. The British, Australian and New Zealand troops of W Force were falling back to their next defensive line, but with the Germans hot on their heels, a delaying action was needed. The junction town of Larisa was vital for the retiring troops and a German thrust on the eastern flank, aimed through Pinios Gorge, threatened the town and W Force's withdrawal. They had to be held for two days if the Allies were to have any chance. https://historyguild.org/the-battle-of-pinios-gorge-a-tough-fight-to-delay-the-german-advance/https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/patreon.com/user?u=46029761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the defence lawyer for Morant, Handcock and Whitton during the Boer War, the story of Major Thomas is often overshadowed by events of the Courts Marshall. As a prominent figure in the small rural town of Tenterfield, Thomas raised a contingent of mounted troops for service in South Africa and saw action on many battlefields, including The Siege of Elands River. The result of his service and the outcome of the Morant trial left Thomas a broken man, largely shunned by the community who once lauded him.https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/patreon.com/user?u=46029761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Hill 317 in the safe hands of 3RAR, all that remained was for the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers to take Hill 217 and 3RAR to take Sierra feature and The Hinge. The previous day's fighting had shown that Hill 217 would be a tough nut to crack and although the Fusiliers managed to seize the position, they were unable to hold onto it in the face of a massive Chinese counter-attack. The outcome of the battle would be determined by 3RAR. If successful, the entire Maryang San complex would be secured. Fail and the whole plan would need to be revised. The pressure was on Lt Col Hassett and his troops. https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/amhp.media@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Hill 355 secured, the focus of the fighting turned to the main objective, Hill 317 and its neigbouring feature Hill 217. 3RAR would make the assault on Hill 317 while the Northumberland Fusiliers attempted to take Hill 217. In order to take Hill 317, 3RAR first had to secure features known as Tango, Uniform and Qubec. The fighting to take these features would test the strength of 3RAR, severely reducing their numbers before they could make the main attack and seize Maryang San. https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1951 the combatant nations of the Korean War had finally come to the negotiating table, raising hopes that the Korean War would soon be over. But when negotiations broke down, the troops went back to fighting. General Van Fleet wanted the UN troops to advance and push the Chinese troops back. US troops pushed forward at Punchbowl, and shortly thereafter the 1st Commonwealth Division, including the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) launched its attack on the Maryang San complex.The first phase involved the attack on Hill 355 by the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and the Shropshire Light Infantry. 3RAR's role in this opening move was intended to be a supporting role, but when the Borderers and Shropshires were held up by heavy fire, C Company of 3RAR was sent in to help.https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the Second AIF headed to war, a little known photographer named Damien Parer was with them. Having made a reputation in the fledgling Australian film industry, Parer was selected as an official war photographer for the Department of Information. He would go on to record many of the iconic images of Australian troops in that war. But the bureaucracy of the DoI would eventually see Parer resign and take up a role with Paramount News, a move which would bring about his untimely death on the island of Peleliu. https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the port town of Rabaul captured by the Japanese, the men of Lark Force began their retreat. Two main escape routes developed, one to the north and the other to the south. All of the survivors experienced hardships over the coming weeks. Those who went north and came under the energetic leadership of Lt Appel were the lucky ones, being evacuated after only a few weeks. Those who headed south faced a much tougher trek, with some destined to fall victim to Japanese atrocities at the Tol Plantation. Warning - contains description of the massacre at Tol. https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you would like to support the petition to erect a memorial to the Coastwatchers at Hamilton on the Brisbane River, please follow this link. https://www.epetitions.brisbane.qld.gov.au/petition/view/pid/1246CheersWarwick Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The war in Europe seemed a long way off for the inhabitants of New Britain and there was no real urgency from the Australian Chiefs of Staff to secure this vital island. A token force was sent to Rabaul to observe any movement and to report back to Army HQ. But in December 1941, Japanese forces bombed Pearl Harbor and began their conquest of the Pacific. Rabaul was now under threat, but you wouldn't know it. The Defence Chiefs decided not to reinforce Lark Force, or even provide them with adequate resources to defend the port town. Lark Force commander, Colonel Scanlan, had not even made plans for a withdrawal should the Japanese force arrive anytime soon. And arrive they did, and a spirited yet doomed attempt to defend New Britain was undertaken. https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/Links to the Office of Australian War Graveshttps://www.dva.gov.au/wargraves https://www.dva.gov.au/recognition/office-australian-war-graves/war-cemeteries-and-gardens-remembrance/gardens-remembrancehttps://www.dva.gov.au/recognition/office-australian-war-graves/war-cemeteries-and-gardens-remembrance/war-cemeteries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By the morning of the 7th August 1915, British troops were landing at Suvla Bay, , the left assaulting column was taking off for its part in proceedings, New Zealand Troops were waiting to attack Chunuk Bair and men of the Australian Lighthorse were preparing to charge at The Nek. This day would be one of farce and heartbreaking tragedy. The Commander of the Suvla Landing would start the day with a satisfying snooze while his troops foundered onshore and the left assaulting column would follow a guide on a short cut that ended up adding three hours to the advance and getting the troops lost. At The Nek, two Lighthorse Regiments would be destroyed and the following day would see the destruction of the New Zealanders on Chunuk Bair. https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With all the planning in place, it was time to put it all into action. Starting with a diversionary attack from Tasmania Post, the Allied attempt to break out from the Anzac Beachhead began. In the afternoon of 6th of August, the Australians charged forward at Lone Pine, initiating what would become five days of brutal fighting. As darkness fell, the main assault headed off for its attack on Chunuk Bair. Timing was crucial. Chunuk Bair had to be taken before dawn, but a series of delays, navigational errors and command failure, saw the New Zealanders waiting at the edge of their objective, with the sun rising. It was all starting to unravel before it had really begun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By August 1915, the Gallipoli Campaign had ground to a halt. Thousands of Allied troops had advanced not much further than they had on the first day of the Landing back in April. Something needed to happen to get this thing rolling again and bringing it to a successful conclusion. The British Commander of the expedition, General Sir Ian Hamilton was presented a modest plan from the Anzac Commander General William Birdwood, for an attack out of the Anzac position. Hamilton had been offered seven more Divisions to reinforce his beleaguered campaign, and in Birdwood's plan he saw the nucleus of a plan that would blow the campaign wide open. The August Offensive would be his last throw of the dice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the battle on a knife's edge, General Windeyer has to decide where to send his 20th Brigade for the best chance at finally breaking into Finschhafen. Between the Bumi River and the village lay a number of ridges and valleys, not to mention strong Japanese positions. And gnawing away at the back of Windeyer's mind is the potential threat from Sattleberg. If the Japanese broke through from there, then the 20th Brigade's supply centre and only chance of escape would be lost. But his only option was to attack and hope that reinforcements arrive in time to secure his flank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having established themselves around the Scarlet Beach and securing the village of Katika, the troops of the 20th Brigade began to push south towards Finschhafen. In their way stood the Bumi River, guarded by Japanese troops as members of the elite Japanese Marines. It was a tough fight just getting there, but a beachhead was soon established. However, the entire battle was now in danger of collapse. Far from being forced onto the defensive, it was becoming apparent that large numbers of Japanese troops were preparing to attack the beach head at Scarlet Beach, the Brigade's only avenue of supply. The 20th Brigade needed reinforcement, but pedantry at higher command would delay the dispatch of troops by a vital three days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Lae and Salamaua now in Allied hands, the next step in the expulsion of the Japanese from New Guinea would take place in Finschhafen. The 9th Division's 20th Brigade, veterans of Tobruk and El Alemein, would be the men tasked with making this amphibious attack. With assurances from that the US navy could land the men at the exact spot, the landing craft moved towards the beach in the pre-dawn light. Only a handful would be landed at the appropriate spot while the rest would have to sort themselves out quickly if they were going to push the Japanese back from the beachheads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the main focus of Australia's involvement in Vietnam tends to be on the army, the army lads could not have done their job without the support from the Royal Australian Air Force. Whether it was the transport of men and materiel provided by Wallaby Airlines, the combat support of 9 Squadron, the bombing provided by 2 Squadron or the medical evacuation by the medical squadron, the RAAF was there from the start in 1964 and were the last to leave in 1975. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having held off the Chinese offensive overnight, the Australians of 3RAR were in a tricky spot. They were running dangerously low on ammunition and medical supplies and the extraction of their wounded was problematic. Despite having given the Chinese a bloody nose, 3RAR had no choice but to fall back. But to withdraw while in contact with the enemy is one of the most difficult military operations to conduct. With the easier route cut off, the only way out was along the ridgelines. And then enemy weren't going to make it easy for them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In April 1951, as troops from 3RAR were resting and preparing for Anzac Day commemorations, the Chinese army launched its largest offensive since its entry to the Korean War. The UN front collapsed and soon the Australians on the right of the Kapyong Valley, with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Regiment on the left with some minor support units in between, would soon be all that stood between the Chinese army and a devastating victory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Yule, Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday everyone. If you can't be good, be good at it. And if you're not in bed by midnight, go home......The link to the Hardtack Podcast episode on the Sandakan Death March is here:https://open.spotify.com/episode/43rA9mjEdnNMN8rdR1p6wy?si=e3450ddc61b149c8Or alternatively, search Hardtack Podcast where ever you get your podcasts. Cheers everyone, see you next year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming from a long line of Indigenous servicemen, going all the way back to the Boer War, Reg Saunders joined the Second AIF in 1940. He would see action in Greece, avoid capture for eleven months on the island of Crete, and fight his way through the Salamaua Campaign. Along the way, he would be come the first aboriginal soldier to received a battlefield commission. When the Korean War broke out, Reg once again volunteered to fight. He would lead his company during the ferocious fighting at Kapyong as well as other hard fought battles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After weeks of heavy fighting, only Gona had been successfully wrenched from the Japanese forces. The Australian 21st and 25th Brigades were worn out, and in front of Buna, the Americans were going nowhere. General Blamey had one more Brigade left to throw into the fight, the 18th Brigade. But their battalions were scattered between Milne Bay and the surrounding islands. Eventually they would be bought into the fighting at Buna, where the Japanese had been holding off every attempt by the US 32 Division. If this Brigade was also worn out, then the campaign to evict the Japanese from New Guinea would come to a grinding halt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Allied forces checked at Buna and on the Sanananda Track, the campaign hinged on the Australian attack to seize the westernmost village on the Japanese beachhead, Gona. The 25th Brigade, already exhausted from the fighting across the Owen Stanley Ranges, was tasked to seize Gona, but the attack would soon wear down the 25th as well as the 21st Brigade which was sent in to relieve them. It would all come down to one final throw of the dice. This episode is sponsored by History Guild in conjunction Military History and Heritage Victoria. Go and check them out at:https://historyguild.org/https://www.mhhv.org.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By late 1942, the Allies had pushed the Japanese forces back along the Kokoda Track and were now down on the coastal plains of northern New Guinea. The Japanese may have been retreating, but they intended to hold the vital beachheads from Gona down through Sanananda to Buna. The fight to take the beachheads would be bloody and brutal, but first the Australians and their American comrades had to get there. This episode is sponsored by HistoryGuild.org. Also, check out Military History and Heritage Victoria at MHHV.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Delta Company, 6RAR move into the rubber plantation near Long Tan, 11 Platoon surprises a Vietnamese patrol and the first shots of the Battle are fired. With orders to chase the fleeing enemy, 11 Platoon unknowingly heads directly towards the North Vietnamese HQ. The next three hours would become an example of the best, and some of the worst, of the Australian military and their New Zealand comrades. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the newly established 1st Australian Task Force settled in to Nui Dat, work started on neutralising the Viet Cong activity in the area. The Viet Cong had other ideas. They wanted to draw out the Australians and engulf them with overwhelming numbers. Despite the mounting evidence, Brigadier Jackson didn't believe the North Vietnamese Army had arrived in Phuoc Tuy Province, even after a mortar attack was unleashed on the Task Force Base. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

G'day everyone. Follow this here link to tune into the story of our most humiliating military defeat. https://anchor.fm/hsmh/episodes/Episode-03-The-Great-Emu-War-e1m08lk Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the backs of the victories of Menin Road and Polygon Wood, the 1st Anzac Corps pushed on towards the dominating feature of Broodseinde Ridge. This time though, they would have the men of the 2nd Anzac Corps fighting alongside them. The Battle would see the Allied troops looking down upon green pastures for the first time in three years, bringing hope that the war may soon be over. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following on from the success of the Battle of Menin Road, the 4th and 5th Australian Divisions took over from the 1st and 2nd Divisions to launch the attack at Polygon Wood. But the day before the battle is to commence, a strong German counter attack seized the ground which elements of the 15th Brigade were to attack from. It was a precarious situation which needed to be rectified immediately or else the whole attack could be thrown into confusion. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1917, General Haig began what would become known as the Third Battle of Ypres, with the intention of capturing the village of Passchendaele. But getting to the village would require a series of bite-and-hold battles. In September, the 1st and 2nd Australian Divisions, along with British and South African Divisions, launched the third in the series of assaults, at Menin Road. For the first time in history, two Australian divisions would be fighting side-by-side. If they were to ever have this chance again, they would have to prove just how formidable they could be. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the 1st Battle of El Alamein the 9th Australian Division was tasked with the capture of Ruin Ridge. Despite heavy fighting during the opening stages they achieved some of their objectives, but their successes obliged General Rommel to divert large numbers of troops to contain the Australian advance. The fighting then became desperate, leading to heavy casualties and the near decimation of one battalion.This episode is sponsored by History Guild. To check out their informative website, head to HistoryGuild.org. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

With control of the towns of Lae and Salamaua the troops of the Imperial Japanese Army were able to maintain control of shipping in and around the north coast of New Guinea and the island of New Britain. From here they had the potential to launch another attempt to capture Port Moresby. For the Allies, having pushed the Japanese back across the Owen Stanley Ranges and out of Buna, Gona and Sanananda, the opportunity to push the Japanese out of Salamaua and Lae. But the terrain would be just as formidable an enemy as the Japanese. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

To all our veterans, young and old, thank you for your service and have a good day tomorrow. Lest We Forget Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia's 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) joined the UN Forces in Korea as they pushed north into North Korea. Their first battle in the was was the highly successful Battle of the Apple Orchard. Leading the UN Forces north, along with the Argyll and Sutherland Regiment and Middlesex Regiment of the 27th Commonwealth Brigade, they pushed the North Koreans back almost to the Manchurian Border. But when the Chinese entered the war on the side of the North Koreans, 3RAR played a major role in halting their advance. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Allied armies fought across North Africa, first against the Italians and then the Vichy French and Rommel's Afrika Korps, one squadron of the RAAF was there from the beginning. No. 3 Squadron was the first RAAF squadron to leave Australia and played an important part in many of the important battles from 1940 to 1943 across North Africa, Tunisia and Sicily.This episode is sponsored by History Guild. To find out more about History Guild, go to https://historyguild.org Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having been forced to abandon the position at Isurava, Maroubra Force conducted at textbook fighting withdrawal to Efogi. The subsequent Battle of Mission Ridge nearly bought Maroubra Force to disaster and the fighting moved south to Ioribaiwa. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

While researching for an upcoming episode, I came across a couple of incidents involving No. 3 Squadron in World War 1. I thought they were interesting so I'm sharing them in this bonus episode. Enjoy. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the Japanese army captured the village of Kokoda, the 39th Militia Battalion fell back to the next defensive position at Isurava. Exhausted, battered and bruised, the 39th dug in and waited. As the Japanese headed south, the 2/14th and 2/16th Battalions of the AIF were making their way north to relieve the 39th. The defence of New Guinea would be determined by which force arrived first. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.