669:, commanded by Lieutenant Bob Johns. Assisted by clear fields of fire and the defensive qualities of their position, the Australian platoon was able to hold off the first assault and fighting continued throughout the day, with several attacks going in, before the Japanese assault was pushed back. At the height of the assault, the Australian brigade commander – Dougherty – approved a withdrawal, but the 2/27th's commanding officer, Bishop, determined that a counter-attack might restore the situation. Amidst heavy rain, the Australians counter-attacked with two platoons hitting the Japanese flanks. This allowed reinforcements to be pushed through to John's Knoll in the early evening. With ammunition running dangerously low for the Australian defenders, supplies were hurriedly pushed forward during the early morning, being brought up by native carriers across the Faria River. Casualties for the Australians amounted to seven killed and 28 wounded, while Japanese losses were 200 killed.
38:
678:
173:
142:
163:
128:
615:, supported by the 26th Artillery Regiment and the 27th Independent Engineer Regiment. The II/78th and two companies of the III/78th were deployed forward around Kankiryo and Shaggy Ridge, with the I/78th spread out around Saipa and Yokopi and the remaining two companies of the III/78th at Yaula. In addition, the 239th Infantry Regiment held the rear around Madang, Erima and Bogadjim, along with 2,000 unassigned reinforcements. Overall, this was a force of about 12,000 men.
661:
positioned at several locations to fire on John's Knoll from the east, west and south. There were also several artillery pieces positioned to the north-east on the other side of the main branch of the Faria River, which were positioned in a manner that allowed them to fire along the length of Trevor's Ridge on to the
Australian position on John's Knoll at a distance of 5,800 yards (5,300 m).
686:
advance through the
Finisterres continued towards Shaggy Ridge, a 5,000-foot (1,500 m) heavily wooded razor-back feature, that dominated the Japanese defensive position. A series of minor clashes followed as the Japanese withdrew towards the main defensive position around the Kankiryo Saddle, pursued by the 21st Brigade.
660:
from the
Japanese main defensive position around Kankiryo, leaving late in the day on 11 October, to attack from the east. They would attack the flank of the Australian position on John's Knoll, which was known as "Key Point 3" to the Japanese. In support, they had four heavy machine guns, which were
689:
By the end of
October, the 25th Brigade became the spearhead of the 7th Division. While the Australians waited for actions around the Huon Peninsula to conclude, they limited their actions to patrolling in order to prevent the Japanese in the area from launching an attack on the vital Gusap airfield
555:
and
Kankiryo. When the Australians pushed onto the ridge, they cut off the Japanese supply line and in an effort to restore the situation, three companies of Japanese troops launched a counter-attack, supported by heavy machine guns, mortars and artillery, early on 12 October, focused mainly on the
664:
Throughout the night, in front of their position on John's Knoll, the
Australians had detected the movement of the Japanese force, and in the early morning a patrol was sent out. In the morning haze, the two groups briefly clashed, and then the Japanese artillery pieces and machine guns opened up.
627:
in the 9th
Division area, the Australian and Japanese commanders in the Markham and Ramu Valleys were ordered by their respective commands to limit their operations to minor actions, as the focus of the fighting, and resources, remained elsewhere. After concentrating his division in early October,
556:
single
Australian platoon holding John's Knoll. Fighting raged throughout the day before flanking attacks defeated the attack, allowing reinforcements to be brought up to the beleaguered position throughout the night, followed by a desperately needed resupply of ammunition the following morning.
685:
Author Philip
Bradley wrote that the fighting at John's Knoll was "a key defensive action" of the campaign. Following the fighting on John's Knoll and Trevor's Ridge, the Japanese, having failed to re-establish their supply route, were forced adopt a defensive posture. Meanwhile, the Australian
588:, which had advanced along the coast from the east of Lae. Heavy rain had held up the Australian advance and much of the garrison had managed to withdraw inland, prior to the capture of the town. To follow these forces up, the 9th Division's focus then shifted to the
655:
The capture of John's Knoll threatened the
Japanese supply lines between their forward positions along the Surinam River and, as a result, Captain Shoichi Kagawa, in command of II/78th, was ordered to retake the position. Consequently, Kagawa dispatched three
694:
pushed towards Orgoruna throughout November. In mid-December, the Australians—who had managed to ensconce themselves on the southern slope—were ready to launch their assault on Shaggy Ridge, starting with an attack on the
699:, by elements of the 21st Brigade, which had taken over from the 25th. Throughout December and into January 1944, a series of actions were fought along the steep ridges, culminating with the capture of the
644:, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Bishop, leading the way, having been relieved of road construction duties around Kaigulin. Throughout 11 October, around Pallier's Hill, elements of the
665:
Two companies, equaling roughly 200 men, attacked the position in the first wave under the cover of heavy mortar fire. The main assault fell on John's Ridge, which was being held by an understrength
648:
had clashed with Japanese troops that were threatening to cut off the 2/27th's supply line to the south. Meanwhile, the 2/27th had continued to advance, securing two features to the east of
521:
652:, these were dubbed "John's Knoll" and "Trevor's Ridge" by the Australians. Shortly afterwards, the 2/27th came under heavy attack by Japanese troops, starting early on 12 October.
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The fighting around John's Knoll and Trevor's Ridge took place as the Australians advanced towards the main Japanese defensive positions around
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was assigned to the same task in the Ramu Valley. In mid-October, the 21st Brigade's advance began with the South Australians from the
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and its associated infrastructure. Pushing out past the Mene River towards the Eapia River, while commandos from the
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and Marawasa, to carry the Australian advance through the Ramu Valley and into the Finisterre Range, towards
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Native carriers bringing supplies across the Faria River to the Australians on John's Knoll after the battle
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636:, was tasked with probing actions along the Faria River towards the Kankiryo Saddle. At the same time, the
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On Shaggy Ridge. The Australian 7th Division in the Ramu Valley: From Kaiapit to the Finisterre Ranges
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1027:
Grant, Lachlan (2014). "Operations in the Markham and Ramu Valleys". In Dean, Peter (ed.).
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524:, which consisted of series of actions fought by Australian and Japanese troops in the
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707:. Following this, the Australians pushed north towards Bogadjim and Madang, which was
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580:, as part of a pincer undertaken in conjunction with Major General
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During September 1943, Australian forces from Major General
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advanced through the foothills of the Finisterre Range from
1031:. London: Cambridge University Press. pp. 233–254.
966:. South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press.
781:
779:
730:
728:
522:
Markham and Ramu Valley – Finisterre Range campaign
42:Australian troops on John's Knoll after the battle
1010:. Series 1 – Army. Vol. 6. Canberra:
934:
910:
826:
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611:The area was defended by two battalions of the
18:
985:. Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
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8:
1029:Australia 1943: The Liberation of New Guinea
1088:Battles of World War II involving Australia
516:was fought from 12–13 October 1943 during
324:
310:
302:
237:
223:
215:
15:
983:The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles
628:Vasey ordered offensive patrolling. The
248:Markham, Ramu & Finisterre campaigns
1093:Battles of World War II involving Japan
898:
886:
874:
862:
850:
838:
809:
724:
592:, while the 7th Division—following the
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797:
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544:on the northern coast, following the
514:Battle of John's Knoll–Trevor's Ridge
19:Battle of John's Knoll–Trevor's Ridge
7:
1053:. Melbourne, Victoria: Grayflower.
1103:Australia–Japan military relations
14:
1008:Australia in the War of 1939–1945
171:
161:
140:
126:
36:
981:Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1998).
1:
520:. The battle was part of the
276:John's Knoll–Trevor's Ridge
1119:
1051:South West Pacific 1941–45
1003:The New Guinea Offensives
962:Bradley, Phillip (2004).
646:2/14th Infantry Battalion
642:2/27th Infantry Battalion
343:
256:
198:
188:2/27th Infantry Battalion
181:
154:
119:
46:
35:
23:
1083:1943 in Papua New Guinea
474:Neutralisation of Rabaul
440:Markham-Ramu-Finisterres
1012:Australian War Memorial
692:2/6th Commando Squadron
608:on the northern coast.
548:in mid-September 1943.
526:Territory of New Guinea
68:Territory of New Guinea
1000:Dexter, David (1961).
682:
613:78th Infantry Regiment
193:78th Infantry Regiment
155:Commanders and leaders
680:
625:Battle of Finschhafen
199:Casualties and losses
935:Coulthard-Clark 1998
913:, pp. 245––246.
911:Coulthard-Clark 1998
827:Coulthard-Clark 1998
747:Coulthard-Clark 1998
496:Bombing of Hollandia
335:New Guinea campaign
1098:October 1943 events
949:, pp. 359–360.
937:, pp. 245–246.
901:, pp. 104–118.
749:, pp. 241–245.
85: /
683:
632:, under Brigadier
594:capture of Kaiapit
528:as the Australian
501:Western New Guinea
54:12–13 October 1943
1078:Conflicts in 1943
1038:978-1-10747-088-0
973:978-0-19-555359-8
853:, pp. 64–65.
841:, pp. 85–87.
812:, pp. 66–84.
572:, advancing from
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460:Bombing of Rabaul
380:Goodenough Island
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1047:Keogh, Eustace
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711:in mid-April.
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634:Ivan Dougherty
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590:Huon Peninsula
582:George Wootten
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546:capture of Lae
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182:Units involved
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177:Shoichi Kagawa
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956:Bibliography
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899:Bradley 2004
894:
887:Bradley 2004
882:
875:Bradley 2004
870:
863:Bradley 2004
858:
851:Bradley 2004
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839:Bradley 2004
834:
810:Bradley 2004
805:
793:
766:
754:
742:
688:
684:
663:
654:
650:Shaggy Ridge
638:25th Brigade
630:21st Brigade
622:
610:
586:9th Division
570:7th Division
566:George Vasey
563:
553:Shaggy Ridge
550:
530:7th Division
518:World War II
513:
511:
489:
433:
421:
416:Bismarck Sea
390:
370:Kokoda Track
286:Shaggy Ridge
275:
120:Belligerents
26:World War II
923:Dexter 1961
798:Dexter 1961
759:Dexter 1961
705:Crater Hill
623:During the
479:Admiralties
455:New Britain
167:John Bishop
92: /
30:Pacific War
1072:Categories
947:Keogh 1965
786:Grant 2014
771:Keogh 1965
735:Keogh 1965
715:References
560:Background
445:Wewak Raid
281:The Pimple
209:200 killed
206:28 wounded
720:Citations
673:Aftermath
658:companies
490:Take Ichi
434:Chronicle
385:Buna–Gona
375:Milne Bay
365:Coral Sea
204:7 killed
134:Australia
89:6°S 147°E
1049:(1965).
709:captured
602:Bogadjim
538:Bogadjim
536:towards
391:Lilliput
59:Location
24:Part of
1059:7185705
1020:2028994
667:platoon
540:, near
466:1944–45
397:Merauke
266:Kaiapit
111:victory
94:-6; 147
1057:
1035:
1018:
989:
970:
697:Pimple
619:Battle
606:Madang
574:Nadzab
542:Madang
484:Emirau
291:Madang
261:Nadzab
145:
131:
109:Allied
105:Result
604:near
598:Dumpu
534:Dumpu
271:Dumpu
148:Japan
80:147°E
1055:OCLC
1033:ISBN
1016:OCLC
987:ISBN
968:ISBN
703:and
512:The
422:I-Go
403:1943
347:1942
51:Date
584:'s
578:Lae
568:'s
411:Wau
77:6°S
1074::
1014:.
1006:.
817:^
778:^
727:^
66:,
28:,
1061:.
1041:.
1022:.
995:.
976:.
325:e
318:t
311:v
238:e
231:t
224:v
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