Dowsett’s War, Part 5 – New Guinea
Papua, New Guinea, WWII
Additional information on the actions and struggles of the Australian troops in New Guinea.
“Festering swamp and sodden jungle, snakes, crocodiles, myriads of scorpions, centipedes, ants, leeches, typhus bearing mites, malaria; this stone age land of
tropical diseases and appalling climate was the setting for a campaign that would cost the Japanese 100,000 lives. And it was the Japanese who chose to campaign there.”From New Guinea – The Tide is Stemmed by John Vader.
1943-01-02. Papua, Giropa Point. Australian manned M3 General Stuart tanks attacking Japanese pillboxes in the final assault on Buna. Men of D Company, 2/12th Battalion, fire on 25 Japanese defenders (not seen), using Bren Mk 1 machine guns and SMLE No. 1 Mk 3 rifles, who are fleeing from a wrecked pillbox 150 metres away. The pillbox was destroyed by the General Stuart tank also seen here. In the foreground in the heat of battle are Private J. Searle and Corporal G. G. Fletcher. This photograph was taken by…
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Posted on September 29, 2015, in WWII and tagged 1940's, Australia, family history, History, Military History, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 17 Comments.
Pacific Paratrooper 
Good post.
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Thank you.
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I was happy to see your blog again. It has been awhile Glad to see ya.
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Same here, I had to google your name to re-find you!
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Glad we reconnected.
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Excellent piece of history, having been in Papua New Guinea’s highlands in 69, I can attest to the formidable terrain and conditions, those men would have fought under, albeit my time did not entail the horrendous conditions those men were under.
Great post.
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But you sure have a better idea than most of us, first-hand experience. Is that where you trained for Nam?
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Wasn’t trained there gp, but it gave me a great insight into the type of conditions my predecessors served under.
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I can only imagine. The triple-digit heat index we get around here can’t compete with the jungle. (Bless the man who invented air-conditioning!!)
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Telling quotation – and to think Roy Dowsett was one of many
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Very true, Derrick. The Kokoda Track and New Guinea will be a part of their history and that of WWII till the end of time.
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This was another place my grandfather fought. I can’t even begin to imagine. Nowadays, if you see three mosquitoes in the yard, most of us are done for the night. Thank you for reposting.
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I had to smile at that mosquito comment, Christopher – mainly because it’s SO true!! I appreciate your visit.
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Absolutely terrible conditions to fight in. If being at war against the Japanese wasn’t bad enough, they had to combat nature too. Worthy indeed.
Best wishes, Pete.
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That was how the Pacific War was for these men and so many others; another stack of problems to overcome that Europe did not. Thank you for such interest here, Pete!!
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