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and Wampit Rivers. As Major Fleay attempted to juggle his forces and relieve the exhausted NGVR detachments, his orders from higher were clarified and work began on planning a number of raids in the area. At this stage it was believed that there were up to 2,000 Japanese troops at Lae and another 250 at
Salamua. Against this Kanga Force had a frontage of 700 men, although only 450 were fit for battle. Additionally, the requirement to defend the numerous tracks through the Bulolo Valley meant that Fleay had even less resources to achieve his mission.
26:
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by 71 troops of the 2/5th and the NGVR was more successful and resulted in at least 100 Japanese troops being killed for the loss of only three men slightly wounded. In addition, the
Australians captured a small amount of enemy equipment and a number of documents, including marked maps, sketches, and
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In this vein, on 29 June 1942, two raids were undertaken at Heath's
Plantation and Salamaua. The raid on Heath's Plantation at Lae, was carried out by 58 troops, mainly from the 2/5th Independent Company, but watchdogs warned the enemy of the raid, and subsequently the 2/5th's commander, Major Kneen,
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By June, Kanga Force was largely concentrated at Wau, although there were elements of the 2/1st and 2/5th spread out as far as Bulwa, and elements of the NGVR at Mapos. The NGVR was still watching the
Salamaua sector from Mubo, whilst other elements were covering the inland routes from the Markham
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to reinforce Kanga Force. Together with Howard's platoon and the NGVR, these units formed Kanga Force, and as the situation developed it was given the task to start a limited offensive to harass and destroy enemy personnel and equipment in the area. Supplies to Kanga Force were either flown in,
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As such, Fleay decided to maintain a large force in the Bulolo Valley and to launch a number of raids in the area. These would be concentrated on the
Japanese force at Heath's Plantation, where the Japanese formed an obstacle to any large-scale movement against Lae, on the Lae area to destroy
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agreed that it was time to launch the limited offensive that they had agreed upon. As a part of this offensive, MacArthur requested that ground raids be initiated against Lae and
Salamaua to destroy enemy installations and, if possible, to occupy the airfields. On 12 May, Major
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aircraft, dumps and installations and to test the defences with a view to operations on a larger scale in the future; on the
Salamaua area to destroy the wireless station, aerodrome installations and dumps.
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Following this, as problems with supply and sickness reduced the effectiveness of Fleahy's force, Kanga Force was eventually disbanded on 23 April 1943 and the individual units became part of the
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and renamed
Independent Platoon Port Moresby under the command of Captain Howard, was sent to reinforce the NGVR, who were at the time the only Allied troops in the
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and then later to start a limited offensive to harass and destroy enemy personnel and equipment in the area. With this in mind, the reinforcement platoon of the
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were concerned about the defence of the important air installation at Wau and to secure the crest of the Owen
Stanleys in that area. Consequently, the
247:, was appointed to command Kanga Force and was ordered to concentrate in the Markham Valley, in order to launch a surprise attack on Lae and Salamaua.
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Commando – Double Black: An
Historical Narrative of the 2/5th Australian Independent Company Later the 2/5th Cavalry Commando Squadron, 1942–1945
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A section of 'C' Platoon, 2/5th Independent Company, marching along a jungle track, west of Bulwa in the Bulolo Valley.(AWM Photo).
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to reinforce Wau and relieve Kanga Force, and on 16 January 1943 the Japanese launched an offensive against Wau, known as the
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After the raid, reconnaissance reports indicated that the Japanese were starting to reinforce Lae and Salamaua. The
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435:. He was a controversial appointment, as he was only twenty-five at the time and had only limited experience.
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612:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. 5. Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
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171:(NGVR), Kanga Force conducted a number of small scale raids and reconnaissance operations around
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was flown into Wau in October 1942 to reinforce Wau. Anticipating an attack by the Japanese,
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in small craft, transported up the river to Bulldog in canoes and then carried over the
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Fleay later achieved the rank of lieutenant-colonel and was awarded the
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before it was disbanded and the individual units became part of the
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depending on aircraft availability, or shipped to the mouth of the
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Where Australians Fought: The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles
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Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin (2008).
254:, under Major Kneen, were flown in from Port Moresby by the U.S.
159:, it was formed on 23 April 1942. Made up of elements from the
595:"Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942"
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172:
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Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942
701:– Australia-Japan Research Project, Australian War Memorial
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Military units and formations of Australia in World War II
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The New Guinea Volunteer Rifles NGVR 1939–1943: A History
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on 22 April 1943 and drove the Japanese from Salamaua.
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Military units and formations disestablished in 1943
676:. Loftus: Australian Military History Publications.
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A Bastard of a Place : The Australians in Papua
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South–West Pacific Area – First Year: Kokoda to Wau
576:
The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History
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745:Military units and formations established in 1942
195:high command to form a guerilla unit, known as
230:In May 1942, following the completion of the
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390:"Australian First Independent Company, 1942"
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725:South West Pacific theatre of World War II
699:New Guinea north coast, 1942 (Photographs)
674:New Guinea Experience: Gold, War and Peace
283:was killed and two men were wounded. The
191:In April 1942 a decision was made by the
88:700 men at full strength (450 effectives)
740:Ad hoc units and formations of Australia
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578:. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
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7:
657:. Broadbeach Waters: Pacific Press.
705:New Guinea Volunteer Rifles website
512:Coulthard-Clark 1998, pp. 236–237.
139:was the name given to a composite
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730:Papua New Guinea in World War II
629:. Sydney: 2/5th Commando Trust.
601:from the original on 2011-07-26.
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24:
555:Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1998).
325:, which left Wau to begin the
112:No battle honours were awarded
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559:. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
357:Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 237.
39:April 1942 – April 1943
433:Distinguished Service Order
256:21st Troop Carrier Squadron
169:New Guinea Volunteer Rifles
165:2/5th Independent Companies
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444:McCarthy 1959, pp. 84–107.
369:Dennis et al 2008, p. 297.
606:McCarthy, Dudley (1959).
476:McCarthy 1959, pp. 98–99.
467:McCarthy 1959, pp. 91–96.
297:2/7th Independent Company
252:2/5th Independent Company
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593:L, Klemen (1999–2000).
388:L, Klemen (1999–2000).
232:Battle of the Coral Sea
209:1st Independent Company
181:Australian 3rd Division
710:Digger History website
521:McCarthy 1959, p. 588.
503:McCarthy 1959, p. 538.
540:. Allen & Unwin.
536:Brune, Peter (2003).
485:McCarthy 1959, p. 96.
458:McCarthy 1959, p. 90.
422:McCarthy 1959, p. 89.
406:McCarthy 1959, p. 62.
327:Salamaua-Lae campaign
238:and American General
155:. Commanded by Major
127:Norman Lawrence Fleay
672:Huxley, Jim (2007).
625:Pirie, Andy (1993).
378:McCarthy 159, p. 86.
339:Australian commandos
211:which had sailed to
653:Downs, Ian (1999).
271:by native porters.
108:Battle honours
101:New Guinea campaign
80:Guerilla operations
494:Pirie 1993, p. 82.
683:978-0-9803204-5-9
585:978-0-19-551784-2
288:Japanese orders.
240:Douglas MacArthur
143:formation of the
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306:ordered the
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260:Wau Airfield
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245:Norman Fleay
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157:Norman Fleay
153:World War II
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97:World War II
197:Kanga Force
137:Kanga Force
93:Engagements
19:Kanga Force
719:Categories
529:References
234:, General
149:New Guinea
124:commanders
117:Commanders
312:Milne Bay
183:in 1943.
54:Australia
599:Archived
333:See also
205:Salamaua
177:Salamaua
167:and the
618:3134247
301:General
215:on the
187:History
151:during
122:Notable
44:Country
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293:Allies
227:area.
225:Bulolo
217:Macdui
141:ad hoc
59:Branch
36:Active
345:Notes
310:from
258:into
678:ISBN
659:ISBN
631:ISBN
614:OCLC
580:ISBN
561:ISBN
542:ISBN
203:and
175:and
163:and
85:Size
77:Role
69:Type
221:Wau
201:Lae
173:Lae
161:1st
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