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The Battle for Isurava

Fighting in the clouds of the Owen Stanley 1942

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The Battle for Isurava

By: David W. Cameron
Narrated by: Steve Shanahan
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‘You are trying to survive, shirt torn, arse out of your pants, whiskers a mile long, hungry … you carry your boots because there’s no skin on your feet. But when you look around at some of the others – hell! They look crook! … you dig a number of holes in the ground and bury your dead. Nothing would be said, but you think ‘maybe it will be my turn next’.
Within 24 hours of the Japanese invasion of northern New Guinea at Gona in July 1942, the Australian militiamen of ‘B’ Company, 39th Battalion, spent four weeks fighting a delaying action against a crack Japanese force outnumbered by three to one. By mid-August, the rest of the battalion had arrived, and these men took up a position at Isurava, in the heart of the cloud covered mountains and jungles of the Owen Stanley Range.
The battle for Isurava would be the defining battle of the Kokoda Campaign and has rightfully been described as Australia’s Thermopylae. It was here that Australia’s first Victoria Cross in the Pacific war was awarded when the Japanese conducted several ferocious attacks against the Australian perimetre.
The outnumbered and poorly equipped Australians managed to hold back the Japanese advance for almost a week; only then did these battle scared and weary men begin a month long fighting withdraw towards Ioribaiwa Ridge just north of Port Morsby. However, their sacrifice provided time for the Australian 25th Brigade to be brought forward — finally forcing the Japanese to withdrawal just as they glimpsed the lights of Port Morseby.
Using diaries, letters and other first-hand accounts and following on from The Battles for Kokoda Plateau, leading military historian David W Cameron continues his detailed and riveting account of the war in the Owen Stanleys in 1942.©2022 David W. Cameron (P)2022 W. F. Howes Ltd Military World War
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All stars
Most relevant
Important Australian history, well told from both sides. I look forward to the next in the series

Pain and suffering

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an absolutely brilliant reading of our finest hour's in the ANZAC tradition. should be taught in schools

outstanding

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It took a while but you get stuck into the story, and then you can't put the book down. well written and read, highly recommended.

An excellent book

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So good to hear the true history of the 39th Battalion and the unimaginable conditions they were forced to endure. The arrival of the 2/14th and 2/16th to support the 39th was classic "nick of time" stuff where legends were born. The true account of the pitiful leadership offered by General Blamey back in Australia highlights just how distant from reality this old fool was particularly as he goes on to blame and then disband the 39th for the loss of Kokoda. The military prowess of the Australian Army is and always was built on the character and strength of the fighting troops and not the senior officers behind them. I don't think I could have been as tough as these guys if I was in their position. Our freedom was very expensive indeed. A great read.

Battle history well written and read.

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Well resourced, and with the accountants from the Japs added in, made a very pleasant history lesson on this battle. Well worth listening to ..

The battle for Isurava

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