Unheralded Victory: The Battle of Wau Jan - Feb 1943

The Battle of Wau is one of World War Two's forgotten engagements. One of the Pacific War's most interesting battles, at Wau the Australian Army and the Japanese Okabe Detachment fought a desperate battle for control of the airstrip, the only way in or out of the Bulolo Valley. This documentary examines the strategic background, the commanders, the forces and the battle, illuminating one of the Australian Army's great, and all but forgotten, victories. The first of many triumphs in 1943, Wau marked the end of Japanese offensive operations in the New Guinea campaign.

[@ThePrader]

As the son of a career US army soldier ( from private to Colonel), who fought in WWII in Europe ,the Korean war and Vietnam my dad told me stories about the Australian army units that fought with the battalion he commanded during the Vietnam war. Huge respect for all allied soldiers, but Australian soldiers held a special place in my dad's heart. He kept an "Aussie" hat hung on his "I love me wall" , right next to his shadow box with his medals and awards. After I received my commission as an officer he told me that should I ever get the chance, I should try to get assigned to "an Aussie" unit. Americans just have no knowledge of the huge contribution the Australian Forces made to the allied success in WWII. Thanks for this series.

[@ratbagsofrhythm]

It's really good to read your comments about the Australian forces' contribution to our alliances in the wars we've been involved in. So many times we hear "We saved you'all's asses in the '41-45 war" from muppets who get their 'facts' from war movies and Call of Duty. All of my old mates who've served beside US units have been vocal in their praise of the professionalism of US forces.

[@skip181sg]

Also to echo the chap who replied to you also very good to hear your comments. I can’t agree with him more. I too have over the years heard the same from misinformed Yanks who can only seem to sing their own praises BUT I would say everytime I’ve engaged with someone like you the mutual admiration is common. Some of the earliest defeats of Japanese Army units in the Pacific were inflicted by Australians and Papua New Guinea was largely held by Australian units. Would have been a disaster for Australia if New Guinea fell

[@ronjohnson1658]

Full respect to American forces who helped save Australia in WW2 - your Navy, Army , Marines and Air Force. Many thanks .

[@merlingeikie]

❤🇦🇺👍

[@wazzazv614]

My Uncle was killed here ,he was in the 2/3 Ind Company. He is still missed today. If only he could have lasted another 3 months he might have made it. They were all sent in a hurry and one minute they were here alive and then gone. The threat was real at the time and the men who fought honestly felt that this battle had tremendous strategic importance in the defence of Australia as well as New Guinea. RIP George Cavner! You were so loved.

[@markhill9275]

Mate, my Dad was 2/6th, a member of Honner force as well as doing many solo behind lines patrols. There is a book by Syd Tregellis -Smith called The Purple Devils that gives a history of the 2/ 6th.

[@damndirtyrandy7721]

I salute both of your relatives. This world doesn’t need any more wars, but, we need the camaraderie that such situations bring to men of different countries, like Australia/New Zealand/New Guinea and America.

[@stephenwalsh1332triumph]

​@@markhill9275 my dad had to meet his twin brothers at Newtown station just back from PNG in 45, dad didn't recognise them with their faces still covered in jungle rot, brave men,Lest we forget!

[@Lex-Hawthorn]

@@damndirtyrandy7721 you can leave the yanks out of that crew mate, they claimed all the history from everyone else. As if we weren't even there.

[@raymondtonns2521]

God bless your uncle and all the tenacious Aussies! a yank

[@bushranger51]

My uncle served with the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles in Lae, in the photo at 1:48 you can see him, no 4 in the front rank, from the left of the screen. He also fought at Wau. As an ex-digger myself, I'm so proud of him.

[@davidpbell]

And rightly so to be very proud. The Australian diggers, well led by motivated junior officers and supported with US material were almost unstoppable.

[@georgedoolittle7574]

"the Veterans of World War 1...with almost no military training and average age 35 by then...then proceeded to wage a guerilla campaign for the next 9 Months against the entire Japanese "Naval Army"..

[@ottodidact5056]

CHINA taking over Australia soon. No heroes left to defend her.

[@corvanphoenix]

@@ottodidact5056 Haha, well Mr.Self Taught, we'll have to agree to disagree.

[@ottodidact5056]

@@corvanphoenix China is taking over the whole world. On Madieros they are buying the seaside - perfect weather. Canada has a sellout PM. 22 % of University positions in Australia are taken by Chinese commies - engineering , science , medicine ..... and they stay

[@mitchellhawkes22]

Anybody who studies the Pacific War of WW2 realizes that the Aussies were the clear winner in the South Pacific. Their soldiers and allies made that happen. This dominion nation showed its worth time after time in this exotic theater. They are now masters of the region. Only China threatens the Aussies now. Let us hope the great Australian Nation always remembers its military past is epic, filled with honor.

[@davidt3698]

With the free peoples of the US, Japan, Canada, India, and the kiwis in agreement with Australians that totalitarian China cannot bully us. Knowing also the historical failure rate of authoritarian regimes dating back to the Persian invasion of ancient Greece, its hard to see the PRC prevailing. Maybe the PRC could consider encouraging their ethnic minorities rather than persecuting them.

[@stubi1103]

@@davidt3698 You forget Germany, we have some good stuff for combat...

[@andrewlong489]

The Australian army also show valor in the Vietnam conflict.

[@yvonnebotha6643]

@@stubi1103 My step dad was captured at Tobruk in the Battle of the Salient. He spent several years in an Italian POW camp. He loved the Germans but detested the Italians. What a strange world he lived in, one that he rarely mentioned until his untimely death at the age of 54. R.I.P. Dad, still remembered.

[@stubi1103]

@@yvonnebotha6643 Hello Yvonne, I rarely read that someone liked the Germans, after all we have a lot of guilt on us. I'm much more interested in the war in the Pacific because Japan committed equally terrible crimes against the Chinese and Koreans and the Allied prisoners, see Nanking 1937, Hong Kong 1941, Singapore in early 1942. What would have become of the Pacific if America hadn't defeated the Japanese? I don't want to think about it.

[@glenngrant7778]

I think that the efforts of the transport pilots and crew have been underappreciated by most of us. To fly a slow unarmed plane onto what would have been a fairly rough airfield in the middle of a battle and were within rifle range takes enormous courage and commitment . Not unlike the helicopter crews that picked up the wounded and dropped off ammo in later wars. Seriously underrated.

[@Hykoo79]

The best documentary I have seen about Papua New Guinea. Ur use of maps make it easy to follow, I don't know why more don't. Excellent stuff mate. Keep it coming please. Aussie Aussie Aussie mate.

[@philip48230]

Amen

[@ozdavemcgee2079]

There were a series of books published by in Oz just after WW2 that had every battle and of course a bit of govt propoganda because the Army published them. Every RSL used to have them in their reading room/ library into the late 80s. If you find a RSL with that go have a read

[@trevorguthrie3054]

Agree. No blaring music or fake war sound effects. Closer to Hardcore history podcast with details and the struggle of the individuals involved.

[@allanpennington7991]

Must never forget the efforts of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angeles

[@oakvue45]

My Dad was a crew chief on a C-47 flying with the 317th Troop Transport. He got a Bronze Star flying up to Wau during the battle, bringing in Aussies and ammo.

[@AustNRail]

Excellent example of bravery, thanks mate and thanks to your father.

[@raymondtonns2521]

@@AustNRail God bless em all!

[@MinnesotaGuy822]

Good on your dad; that's very honorable service. Logistics operations are every bit as essential to beating back and defeating an enemy as all the people working at the tip of the spear. Without fuel, aircraft, ships, tanks, APCs, and everything else doesn't move. Without food, shelters, climate-appropriate clothing, medicine, ammunition, tools, spare parts and everything else men (and now women) in combat need, they can't do their jobs. Two stellar examples of this universal truth are the German high command's sending their armies into a Russian winter (back when winters were colder), especially Stalingrad, without winter clothing and adequate food and the Japanese Army in Japan's WW2 Pacific campaigns sending their armies out without food. Both found out the hard way that "fighting spirit" only goes so far and that men must be adequately fed if they are to resist diseases and fight effectively. Their men paid horrible prices for their leadership's stupidity.

[@rolandgeorgetti7224]

As a Canadian, we proved our worth to the enemy! If I had a choice I would be extremely happy to have the Aussie’s on my shoulders. They could easily bring fear to all they face. Thanks Brothers!

[@awlwayzl8]

My Grandfather fought for Australia during WW1. Towards then end of his life, he finally opened up a little, about his experiences and thoughts. I asked him once, who he liked and didn’t like fighting beside, unsurprisingly his first response was the Kiwis, but he also said that the Canadians would never let you down, and if they were beside you, well that was one flank that you didn’t have to worry about. He also thought very highly of the Scots, but didn’t rate the English at all……they had let the Aussies down too often.

[@thegeneralist7527]

@@awlwayzl8 The English are the brains. Lol! Of course they aren't quite so good in a street brawl. That is what us colonials are for. Somebody has to do the dirty work, and if you are going to do it you might as well do it well.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

@@awlwayzl8tter bollocks . Scottish Irish and Welsh regiments in both wars were packed with English troops as those countries did not have the population to fill the ranks. It is just too easy to slag off the English. Look for Australian failures particularly at Singapore where the Diggers ran casting away their arms BEFORE the Japanese attacked and the then they went on the rampage being rounded up by British troops. Australia’s participation in WW2 was minimal and in the last year the army was reduced to a mopping up army, for that, blame that disgraceful General Blamey. Read proper history.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

​@@awlwayzl8Another moaning Aussie Having a go at the English soldiers. Just to remind you 702,000 British soldiers died in WW1 and most of them were English. You insult a gallant brother in arms just to feed your own ego. Shame on you Aussies. Remember this. The war would have still been WITHOUT Australia but NOT without the British.

[@johnkidd1226]

My father arrived on the docks at Liverpool with a Canadian regiment about the same time as an Aussie regiment. They formed ranks for inspection and eventually were told there was a delay waiting for the VIP. The Aussie commander said, "Right, lads, we're off for a pint. Send a runner when you're ready for us". My Dad loved the Aussies after that. His Canadian commander would never have dared to do that.

[@jeffreally2936]

I am an a U.S. soldier, I did serve with my Aussie Brother in Afghanistan but not under combat, my Father did in Vietnam, I cannot tell you how much respect I have with my Aussie Brothers, in fact I now live in the P.I. and my best mate is an Aussie from Brisbane. To my Aussies Brothers and Sisters, as an American, we love you all. Loyalty, Love and Respect and Honor.

[@tonybarnes3658]

@@jeffreally2936 PI? I’m an Aussie and can’t for the life me think what PI is! Please help Jeff!!

[@tonybarnes3658]

@@jeffreally2936 sorry forgot to add that we appreciate you guys too. Always a small bunch of fuckwits who say otherwise but as far as I’m concerned, we are proud to have you ‘yanks’ as mates! Cheers man, appreciate.

[@tonybarnes3658]

@@jeffreally2936 p

[@tonybarnes3658]

@@jeffreally2936 dammit bumped wrong button! Also have a bad feeling we’ll be closer than ever in the not too distant future if China keeps playing the bully.

[@scandarani2]

On the island of Crete in Greece (where I come from) Australians and Kiwis are venerated and shrines have been built to honor their participation in the battles against the Germans. When the Allied headquarters in Cairo ordered their evacuation by submarines and fishing boats (at night), on their way to the south shores of the island they would offer their guns and ammunitions to every village they passed so that the Cretans could continue their resistance against the Nazis..

[@scandarani2]

7

[@sophrapsune]

“Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks.”

[@safeman1231]

Nice to hear from you Michael, my father was one of the Australian troops sent to try to defend Greece.

[@bucephulus4600]

I e just recently been to Crete. I made sure I went to the Australian War Memorial and to Suda Bay to pay respect to our lads there who never made it off Crete. I found it very emotional sitting g on the anti-aircraft guns at the memorial. These young men were just so brave to have manned these things whilst planes bore down on them. To me, it is this generation that is the finest. Unbelievably the head of the Australian Defence Force allows male soldiers to wear women’s uniforms if they so desire. We have no longer a defence force, but merely an equal opportunity employer.

[@bradsmith9496]

Awesome recount. My father fought at Wau. He told me how, running low on ammunition, he and his mates had said their goodbyes, before the sky cleared and reinforcements landed just in time.

[@CFarnwide]

If you have any more details you would feel comfortable posting, they would be greatly appreciated!

[@peteryoung2070]

Top quality recount of operations. Narration was excellent. What a breed of Australian men. My Dad, may he be resting in peace, was a transport driver mechanic, carting men on one load through and over muddy tracks, the next load ammunition. I salute them all, they have my unending respect and admiration.

[@craighanson9694]

well done, about time some of these smaller but important smaller action get recognized. Well narrated you did well.

[@podaly]

My father fought with the US 32nd infantry at many battles across New Guinea from 1942-43 and was medevacced out. He had nothing but the highest praise for the Aussies and the Paupuan volunteers.

[@cancelcats2575]

Pat, your dad would be proud of having such a great, proud and respectful son such as yourself as we are of him mate. From Australia

[@podaly]

@@cancelcats2575 daughter, mate...and a disabled veteran. I really wanted to understand what those men went thru. The US has pretty much ignored the New Guinea campaign so I've dug up a lot of Australian sources. Aside from great respect for the AIF and militia and natives, I have come to understand my father's disgust and hate for Mac Arthur.

[@astrogerard2022]

@@podaly There is a doco on the Milne Bay battle on Utube where the narrator sums up MacArthur very well- good overall high level campaign planner but lousy in all other areas including both personal and ground level strategic management. He would literally freeze up with inaction if things weren't going to plan. A real premadonna.

[@HenriHattar]

Australians led off the US 32nd at Buna/Gona..the 32 nd would not fight at that point in the war, they DID and well,but they needed help to start with.

[@n1k1george]

Glad to see the Aussie troops get their recognition. The US may have armed and supplied the world but the commonwealth forces are too often glossed over in their hard-fought contributions to allied victory.

[@HenriHattar]

They did NOT arm the world at all, only in the very last 6 months of the war did US preponderance overtake that of the small island nation that was half the size of Idaho...England.

[@HenriHattar]

Australians were not armed or supplied by the US.

[@yumpinyiminy963]

The Australians were excellent fighters. Not enough exposure is told about their accomplishments.

[@corvanphoenix]

To be fair, dozens of nations & millions of people had moments of bravery we'll never know about. Australia has a bigger military history than non-Aussies or non-Commonwealth people tend to know about tho, so thanks for your respect. For what it's worth, German Field Marshel Erwin Rommel agreed with you. He said if he ever had to go to hell he'd want Australians to take it & New Zealanders to hold it. Clearly Rommel didn't go there or Heaven would be in serious trouble by now.

[@gkprivate433]

totally agree. They were smart, efficient and tenacious and resourceful.

[@GrrMeister]

@@corvanphoenix Not aware of Jacinda Ardern at the time !

[@anthonyeaton5153]

What is your source for that Rommel quote.

[@supernovaaust]

We like it like that. It's an important part of the whole approach.

[@4shink]

My daughter was a 28 year old athlete when she worked for 2 years in the Port Morsby area. She took occasional hikes on portions of the Kokoda track and said it was the hardest venture she ever experienced and that included hiking the Inca trail in Peru. She said the heat/humidity was just terrible and the slippery conditions of the track itself was very challenging going both up and down hill.

[@deepgardening]

The Inca trail ain't so bad if you have coca and good local rations. Those people know how to build a mountain track

[@nolareefman934]

Imagine navigating the track malnourished and suffering from malaria and then having to fight at the same time.. that was my uncle's experience

[@richardkeilig4062]

Great leadership, courage, dedication, and love of country made this victory possible. The conditions in this area were tough for both sides. War is horrible as many sons serving there nations paid the ultimate price. We must never forget what the Australians, the American air crews, and the natives who carried the wounded went through at this terrible place. I pray that no more wars occur. I am a son of an Australian war bride and a GI. I am honored to be a citizen of Australia and America. Lt. Colonel Richard H. K. JR. MS USAR

[@andrewmclean6721]

I just want to extend my warmest congratulations for an excellent account of a part of the war about which I, and many others knew so little. You have done your forefathers a great service. I will raise a glass tonight from a Scot to my Aussie cousins. Here's to Australia. Pro Libertas.

[@andrewmclean6721]

Not forgetting the Yanks and the Papuans.

[@davidt3698]

It was the Scotts and Canadians holding the flanks of 3RAR in the battle that saved the South Korean capital several years later.

[@MoatenGat]

Fascinating, I never knew about this battle or the Milne Bay one either. Great job on you material, and laying out the battle lines. Very easy to understand.

[@glennisbriant5676]

Yeah. My dad was a member of the militia at Wau. He said they had old guns and no bullets. The Australian army officer in charge said he would surrender for all of them. My dad and others said"bugger that". They had heard what had happened to people in Rabual. So they took off overland to the coast. Took six weeks. Got boats out to the missionary station on Yule Island. No food. Finally got to Port Moresby in the middle of an air raid.Jumped in to trench at the Post Office. Nearly drowned because it was full of water.

[@mitchellhawkes22]

Strange story of survival, it seems.

[@philhohnen6193]

I walked much of that area in the '60s, got scrub typhus, on the Akaifu River, so that retreat from Wau to Yule Island was heroic! Mission stations were a godsend for sole europeans sick in the jungle...

[@obriets]

I have to tell you that this is one of the better battle accounts I’ve seen on YT. Your map and satellite images bring the battle to life. Well done! I find this theater fascinating. Flying over the area repeatedly in Microsoft Flight Simulator has given me a wonderful perspective of the region. I highly recommend using it for any serious history buff trying to understand the terrain.

[@philip48230]

Amen

[@SunnieSnell]

i love smart ideas

[@derekbaker3279]

Fantastic! The graphics really enhanced my understanding the 'big picture' strategic importance of the battle, of each tactical situation, plus the challenges the fighting men faced as they attempted to maneuver in battle & move supplies forward. I also am impressed with the way you spoke frankly about the battles while showing respect for the fighting men on both sides. 👍👍

[@robertmchugh4639]

True historians are hard to find. The fellow here has a good start.

[@johnharrop5530]

So proud of my father who had 1009 days in combat during the Second World War as a vickers machine gunner rat of Tobruk ,he also fought in the Pacific with the 2/2 machine gun battalion, his name is Arthur Harrop,my profile pic is of him

[@JayM409]

You can still see the defences of Tobruk to this day. The Anti-tank ditch and the oval forts can be clearly seen on Google maps.

[@johnharrop5530]

@@JayM409 thanks for the good idea,I’ll have a look today

[@JayM409]

@@johnharrop5530 - If you know the number of the fort your Dad was in (if he was in a fort), I can help you find it. I have a book with a map showing all the forts by their number.

[@JayM409]

@@johnharrop5530 - www.google.com/maps/@31.9519277,24.0125584,1578m/data=!3m1!1e3

[@johnharrop5530]

@@JayM409 I haven’t got the book with info my brother has it , thanks anyway

[@jaymeseaston8117]

This is the best examination of a land battle that I've seen. The maps reflected the narrative and provided the best overview of the context and over all illustration of the battle space. I feel so positive in my opinion because the rest are so inadequate to be useless. I can't say how inadequate that most other WW2 websites are compared to the outstanding and most excellent graphics and narrative that hypohystericalhistory has brought to this mostly unknown battle.

[@anselmdanker9519]

Thank you for highlighting the Australian army fighting in New Guinea in WW 2.Keep up the great work.

[@colinjohnstone6469]

Both My great uncles died there 1 of malaria and the other was KIA, my family never spoke of them I only found out this yr when I started looking into my grandfathers service history as I knew my grandfather was a purple devil of the 2nd /6th, he never really talked about his time there he always said he just wanted to forget. so I thank you for making these vids as it has helped with timelines as most of the old videos can't be trusted as they were heavily censored and use as propaganda pieces.

[@darrenmonks4532]

Well done - again! I did 4 years infantry reserves back in the day. Now I'm 51 and I've been a secondary history teacher for 27 years (ATAR/HSC). My main interest is military history, especially Australian. I have 2 giant bookcases chocker-block with non-fiction books to prove it. You've set the benchmark for this topic on YTube, and thank you for your informative videos, showcasing our military exploits (and mishaps) to the world. 10/10.

[@michaelward9880]

The New Guinea campaign has been widely overlooked in the U.S. as well. Good documentary. Thanks.

[@deepgardening]

A contribution the Aussies made that we often overlook is that they kept McArthur out of our way for most of the war.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

@@deepgardeningMacArthur kept you out of the way he was not a fan of the `Aussies and is in record as saying Those Australian won’t fight.

[@laurencetilley9194]

The original commandos were the 1st Independent Company. The 1st Independent Company was formed in May/June 1941 and was trained at No7 Infantry Training Centre at Tidal River on Wilsons Promontory. It was commanded by Major James Edmunds-Wilson. Survivors of the 1st Independent Company were incorporated with the 2/5th. Many men of the 1st Independent Company were taken prisoner, sent to Rabaul or died when the Japanese passenger ship the Montevideo Maru was sunk by the USS Sturgeon off Luzon. Further reorganisations took place, 2/5th, 2/3rd and 2/6th Independent Companies into the 2/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment, which was attached to the 7th Division. Thank you for this brilliantly researched documentary.👌

[@RonsonDalby]

My father was in the 2/7th Commandos (double brown diamonds). It's interesting that that they became part of the 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment while the 2/6th Commandos (double purple diamonds - The Purple Devils) became part of the 2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment,

[@bradywomack9751]

This really is some of the best informational material I’ve yet found covering the New Guinea campaigns. Great work.

[@grahamklemke2622]

My father, William Douglas Klemke was a member of the 2/3rd Commandos and fought in this battle and most of the campaigns the 2/3rd were used. I think Maj George Warfe was the CO of the 2/3rd....

[@JasonDouglasRalph67]

My grandfather, Ken O'Keeffe was also at Wau, with the 2/5.

[@ironsideeve2955]

Thanks fellas.

[@riftsoft7730]

My father was in the 2/4

[@gregmcgrath4859]

My dad, Jack McGrath , was in the intelligence section of the 2/3 commandos. Fought with them through to Salamaua, then attached himself to the 7 Div to go up the Ramu valley.

[@jimwilson6757]

My great uncle Don was also with the 2/3rd. Peter Pinney’s account of this battle in his book “The Barbarians” is the finest book about Australians at war I’ve ever read, along with his further accounts of his time as a commando in the South Pacific theatre. George Warfe was the CO, referred to in Pinney’s book as “The Mad Major”

[@javiersoto4215]

Ive just discovered your channel and you are without a doubt up there with the likes of Mark Felton history videos. Great research, please continue.

[@yt.personal.identification]

That is some high praise indeed...and wholly justified.

[@ironsideeve2955]

Yup agreed

[@gregs7562]

Definitely

[@laurencetilley9194]

I agree Javier, this guy could become the Aussie version of the brilliant British military historian and author Dr Mark Felton

[@ironsideeve2955]

@@laurencetilley9194 fuckin' a. great to see some others interested in our nations history.

[@johnsmith9161]

You have done a outstanding job I have heard of these battles but never understood their significance.Your videos need to be put on display in the Australian War Museum.

[@AllTheGoodNamesGoneReally]

Amazingly done! Here in Europe the focus is too much on the European theatre and the war in the Pacific is covered marginally. I learned a lot today! Greetz from Austria to Australia ;-) We don't have Kangaroos lol

[@theparks6541]

Would love to see you cover more battles like this dude.

[@brianwilliams3345]

As an aussie, big thanks to those American supply plane pilots, they saved the day. Respect.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

And thank you to the Fuzzy Wuzzy Natives as well . A Tireless thankless job in supporting supplies to locations

[@glenberry2218]

Australians were and still are great allies. God bless.

[@xenaguy01]

Brian As an American, I'm a bit ashamed that I knew basically nothing about either this battle nor Milne Bay. I'd been led to believe it was AU with US forces, that stopped the IJA in New Guinea. Now I discover it was all AU forces with USAAF support in both battles.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

@@xenaguy01 The Americans were down around Buna - but - most of the forces in New Guinea were Australian. .

[@LuvBorderCollies]

Respect back at ya. I also apologize for any drunken US Army troops who messed with your neat hats in Vietnam.

[@havennewbowtow8835]

Excellent work sir, very much brings it to life. These Aussies really were the first to put a halt on the empire of Japan. The aura of invincibility was literally drained during these smaller engagements. Great to have these dramatised.

[@mitchellhawkes22]

The Japanese never seemed to learn they were not invinceable. They kept on fiercely defending indefensible positions til the end of the war. So, every allied soldier needed to know that factoid.

[@daijones101]

This is a brilliant documentary. My father and my father-in-law as well as my uncle were all involved in this campaign. My dad was RAAF stationed at Bulolo. My father-in-law was with the 2nd 7th independent company and my uncle was a major with the 2nd 6th Battalion

[@markhorrell9213]

My dad was 2/7 too. He said it was a good fight. He was lightly injured there and the wound got infected but the medics sorted it with sulpha powder n penecillin. A bayonette graze l recall

[@elbowomar2430]

Most comprehensive of the ground actions if ever seen wonderful work thank you.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Yes including some the stories when the Aussies deserted at Singapore or refused to fight in the jungle.

[@ianwigmore2675]

Excellent production, great graphics and very well narrated at a good tempo. thank you.

[@thomascampbell4730]

Excellent documentary! Very professional. Worthy of the fighting men who turned back the Japanese and destroyed the myth of their invincibility.

[@jayartz8562]

Thanks for that, my Grandfather spent 42-46 in New Guinea.

[@mitchellhawkes22]

That extra year after the war ended in '45 must have been a drudgery for the poor guy.

[@rupben01]

This is a great account and a army engagement I never knew about in the Pacific Campaign. Thank you so much for this.

[@TomSmith-lf8tr]

Another outstanding summary. Little jingoistic chest thumping. Just the truth, well told..My parents lost both of their younger brothers (602 and 605 squadrons respectively) We who have the privilege of living in freedom owe a debt that can never be fully repaid.

[@964cuplove]

Quite interesting documentaries, I hope you continue these Australian themed docs about WWII

[@tomhath8413]

My mother was a US Women's Army Corp Lieutenant in New Guinea and The Philippines. Of course by the time the WACs arrived most of the Japanese were gone, but she told some stories about the transport plane pilots she met. They were hardly more than boys, hurriedly trained and often wondering if they were worthy of the huge responsibility they carried. But they did their job because in the end they were the best the Army had and the job had to be done.

[@safeman1231]

We called them biscuit bombers

[@Karate_Shark]

Brilliantly done. Keep the content coming! ❤️

[@peterdavey8348]

Excellent. I knew nothing about this battle. Very well described. Thank you.

[@philip48230]

One of the best small unit tactical history descriptions of WWII battles, even 20th century military events. Well done.

[@briandavies1809]

In 1965/66 I worked in Lae & spent a lovely weekend there in July, it was so cold had 3 blankets on the bed. The Wau hotel had a bounced cheque framed above the bar issued by Errol Flynn who was a notorious womaniser in PNG & left debts everywhere.

[@badpossum440]

well he was an Aussie after all.

[@jackrussell1168]

@@badpossum440 Tasmanian ;-)

[@harryhatter2962]

Errol was a womaniser every where,,,,died broke and his body was found by his 15 y o girlfriend!

[@harryhatter2962]

@@jackrussell1168 Tasmania is a STATE! of Australia.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

The Command and locating Company positions around the Airfield by Gen Morten were brilliant . Staggered apart any Company could support by attacking or Enfilade the other . I would not have thought of that in a Jungle War.

[@7ismersenne]

I've just discovered your channel. These are very well presented videos. Your use of maps and terrain photos is very effective. It gives a very clear idea of how the battle developed. I also like your even handed praise of the soldiers on both sides. Many thanks for an admirable account.

[@CFarnwide]

Thank you for the upload! It’s refreshing to hear more about the Australian contributions in the Pacific Theater. Your presentation and thorough research is extremely well done.👍

[@anthony9thompson]

This is an underappreciated channel

[@iffracem]

Got sent to Lae in the late 80's to train some PNG defense force mechanics in the maintenance and repair of plant equipment. While there managed to get some time off and went on a discovery tour around the local area. There is so many wrecks of planes and equipment still around the area, well worth the time to hunt them out if you get the chance, even if it's just to appreciate the terrain these men fought in.

[@theobessiris9681]

I have just discovered this channel. Great videos about WW2 battles involving Australians. There are not many documentaries out there on this subject. I hope you do many more including WW1, Korea, Vietnam etc. Again great effort!!!

[@treesroars2317]

This sounds like One of th greatest battles of WW2. Thank you mate Your doing a great job please keep it up.

[@mitchellhawkes22]

It was the battle that freed up Gen. MacArthur's forces, who, after Wau was secured, charged rapidly west along the north coast of New Guinea for the next year, experiencing success after success. Wau was the foundation that made it all happen.

[@georgedoolittle7574]

@@mitchellhawkes22 "Wow" is right. The entire Japanese position at Rabaul was not only at risk but now suddenly doomed and goes to show the importance of having the support of your Local Population both at home and abroad in any martial affair. The War between the US Navy and US Army and US Army Air Corps was legendary in this Theater leading to what some Historians regard as a "colossal waste of resources in the Pacific" but from what I've read on this matter and being well presented here "nothing succeeds like success" as well. *The Japanese Land Forces were a long way from Home!* no doubt. And to call their Commanders pure evil to their fighting men would be an understatement...let alone to the Japanese People back home. Reminds me of more than a few ahem "Americans" at the moment in point of fact.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

If that is the case why after studying WW2 for more than 60 yearsv I’d never heard of it, it was a minor battle.

[@michaelcampin1464]

My greatest respect to my Australian brothers in arms. Capt C Coy 42 RM

[@michaeltelson9798]

The strength of this series is not just the narrative but the appropriate photos and illustrations used. There are some other series that slap dash photos there are categorically wrong and even inappropriate to the narrative. Again , I praise this series as being an in-depth view of a hard fought and difficult campaign that doesn’t get much daylight.

[@andrewwhite3538]

Another great video, really enjoyed this account of a battle I new little about. A great example of combined operations between Australian and US forces.

[@jakepollard9996]

Really interesting, thanks for putting in the time to make this

[@jakepollard9996]

I'm happy as it is, but if you're interested in feedback, If you can be bothered, one thing that would make it a little bit easier to follow would be having the arrows/circles be updated on movements as you talk about them instead of static images. Can do this with screen recording. Can totally appreciate it if you cbfed doing that. It's great as is

[@alec2726]

Really well said and well presented. Thank you! This video and similar should be presented in schools as to who were the real Australians of the Year and it doesn't matter what year!

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

Over the past 50 years i have read some about the Kanga force the battle of Wau. Never in such great detail. Excellent video!

[@danr1920]

Sadly Americans like me have no idea that Australia did fright bravely and substantially in WW2. We like to hear about our own victories. thanks for the video.

[@richardfinlayson1524]

Good vid mate,good on you. My dad was a navigator in Beaufort bombers in New Guinea, he passed away about six years ago, him and his twin sister would have been 100 this year, their Dad was at Gallipoli.take it easy.☮️☯️

[@philhohnen6193]

Flying into Wau was hazardous in Dakotas, because their ceiling was about 11-12 000', high Owen Stanley Range mountains, with peaks above the cloud, and the grass strip was steeply uphill for landing and downhill for take offs. Weather in the NW monsoon was terrible, it rained most afternoons. Cloud cover was low and blanketing. Malaria must have affected the allies too, as would tropical ulcers from leech bites in the wet undergrowth.

[@craigkdillon]

I am sure one big reason this battle is unknown is because it involved Australia, and not the US. Unfortunately, the battles that involved our allies, tend to get ignored. I am sure most Americans are unaware that Australia was deeply involved in WW2. But, then the Anzacs should be used to that treatment. The Anzacs are also ignored in the actions in WW1, supporting the UK. Indian and Sikh actions in WW2 are also mostly untold and ignored. Pity.

[@sueneilson896]

Very true. The major reason that history has overlooked the fact that Japanese advances were stopped, and then reversed by mainly outnumbered Australian actions, was that this is not the story that Douglas Macarthur wanted told. He had a strategy of constantly denigrating Australian actions, and leadership, and later in the war, diverted Australian troops to minor roles. This strategy worked, as many major victories such as this have been forgotten. It has been conjectured that Macarthur had a deep seated inferiority complex, dating back to when he served as an inexperienced junior officer under Australian command during WW1 on the western front, and learned how to be a soldier from the very experienced and effective Aussi officers there. He also , in hindsight, had a flawed narcissistic/psychopathic personality, which although very interesting historically, influenced many of his decisions for the worst. His actions against American veterans during the depression, and his megalomania that led to his termination as Allied leader during the Korean war are the best known examples. Ultimately, he is remembered as the man that led the Allies to defeat the Japanese, but as an individual, he had many flaws, as do most great men.

[@craigkdillon]

@@sueneilson896 I greatly dislike MacArthur. His treatment of the Bonus Army was shameful. Nice to see someone who knows about that small item of history. His defense of Philippines during the Japanese assault was incompetent. He should have been kicked out of the military, instead of Admiral Kimmel. BTW - Nimitz, Halsey, Spruance and the Navy were the ones who defeated the Japanese -- NOT Macarthur. He led the American forces, but, please show me one battle, one campaign, by MacArthur that led to the defeat of Japan?? The Navy was always ahead. MacArthur mostly tended to his press clippings, and PR activities.

[@greghenderson6782]

@@craigkdillon Yes, the Bonus Army was a disgraceful and terrible event. Roosevelt should have ordered him to stay in Corregidor and ordered Wainwright to fall back to Australia.

[@bushjustice6649]

Constantly referred to as british troops in egypt,africa........large percentage were australian and new zealanders

[@tsubadaikhan6332]

Kind of replying to all here. I can't remember where I was reading it, but Australia's Prime Minister at the time, John Gorton, recognised that McArthur was flawed, but his shameless self promotion was an asset. Without McArthur constantly trumpeting his victories back Stateside, it would have been easy for the US Press & Public to be consumed by the European theatre, & ignore the Pacific. McArthurs self aggrandisement kept interest, money, men, & materiel all flowing to the Pacific. Never forget, aside from Guadalcanal, the first US Marines had to load their own ships in New Zealand because the workers were on strike, & before they saw the Japanese they had to fight the Australians at the Battle of Brisbane. Our stubborn belligerence can be handy in a fight, but if the American Public had of found out their boys were fighting ours, we may have been up shit creek without a paddle. Both Gorton & McArthur didn't want that to happen. We still would've beaten the Japanese on our own, but it would've taken a lot longer... :)

[@DanielCPhillips]

Another well researched, well explained , very detailed and excellent explaination, of an important part of Australia's wartime history. Thank you very much for this - and keep up the excellent work!

[@podaly]

Brilliant coverage of the campaign! Well done!

[@thomashenley2980]

Just outstanding work Mate, thank you my Uncle John flew Mosquitoes in the Pacific for the RAF during that time..

[@MrChrisStarr]

Fantastic! Please cover the subsequent campaigns!

[@johnf4954]

You do a fine job with your documentaries. Here in the US, the campaigns you cover receive very little historical attention. I have learned a great deal by watching them.

[@mattsmith-ri3lp]

My grandfather fought with the 2/7th. Nice to see in specific detail the trials he experienced

[@johnmarlin7269]

I've really enjoyed this entire series on the New Guinea campaigns. Very well presented and detailed. Learned so much.

[@steveg4334]

Excellent documentary. Great detail on these poorly covered battles.

[@yvonnebotha6643]

Thank you for your excellent presentation of this little known battle! Beautifully narrated and highlighted with maps and photos!

[@Bob_Betker]

I hope this doesn't end up to be a double post but my first comment seemed to have vanished. This was a great episode on a battle that is unknown to most Americans. You did a great job of integrating the photos and maps with your narrative. Too many documentaries, either don't have maps showing the area of operations or they show them once and it doesn't reflect what has transpired and makes it much more difficult to follow events. Great job, keep up the good work. BTW, you might want to consider doing a campaign overview of the New Guinea campaign, showing how all the battles you have narrated in an overall historical context.

[@hypohystericalhistory8133]

I dont know what happened to your comment mate, i certainly didnt delete it. Sometimes youtube has issues with comments. Thankyou for the kind words, they are very much appreciated. Yeah I might do an overview once I've finished the series; I want to do one on how the Papuan and New Guinea campaigns are treated by popular history in general as well, but ive got a few more episodes to do first.

[@bobsmalser8304]

Textbook infantry tactics and execution. This battle deserves wider coverage in the various infantry schools.

[@steel5791]

Philip Bradley's video of this campaign, and particularly the maps and illustrations give an added appreciation to the difficult terrain (to BOTH sides) and the depth of the Australian contributions to the victories in the Pacific. One insight that gave a realization shock was that for the Japanese soldier, and Aussie defender, it was a battle after three weeks of hacking through the jungle to simply exist, whereas the Aussie relief battalion from Port Mosby was able to 'fly in' in one-hour (thanks to USA Air) refreshed for battle.

[@jerrycallison6125]

Excellent documentary. Thanks for bringing light to a neglected, but vital part of history. The Aussies were given short shrift by the English (as they tended to do with so much of the commonwealth), but the Aussies always made good account of themselves. Love getting to see more of their side of the battles.

[@Errr717]

WOW what a battle! Tactics learned in the Great War still worked. Creeping artillery cover is definitely a WWI tactic.

[@richardputz3233]

I've watched your channel before but just scribed today .Well worth it !

[@mirimar69]

Highly informative. Great deal of effort, well done. Love the maps!

[@glennharris1980]

Excellent presentation, thankyou for covering these lesser known actions

[@davewalter1216]

Excellent - I've read at least three accounts of Wau and this made more sense than any of them.

[@kcharles8857]

Great stuff! Keep it coming.

[@elkabong6429]

Thank you for the fantastic job you have done on this overlooked battle!

[@oldranger649]

I like the Australian view of MacArthur.

[@waylandforge8704]

Excellent descriptive narration and graphics. Well done

[@GM-fh5jp]

Another brilliant episode...very well done mate. Our Army is small but with the brave American pilots supporting them they showed real courage and grit in defeating a highly skilled enemy in the battle for Wau. Let's hope the Chinese generals have learned a lesson from this...don't fuck with the Allies.

[@AJHyland63]

Very little is posted about Australian campaigns in the Pacific whether naval, air or land forces. To see historical documentaries nowadays, one would think that Australians stopped fighting in 1943 in both the pacific and European wars, swamped by the American presence in both. More needs to be told about Australian participation in all theatres, their sacrifices, and the importance of their wins toward the overall defeat of the Axis powers.

[@awf6554]

Australia didn't stop fighting, but was certainly sidelined to backwater campaigns after New Guinea. Apart from our airmen serving with the RAF that is.

[@anthonykelly5352]

Great work as always, an educational and entertaining presentation. Cheers

[@scroggins100]

Great mate. Thanks for your efforts. Lest we forget.

[@David-il9xw]

You say Wau, I say wow. Whenever the map view shifted to a photo, all I saw were hills, mountains, rising upwards without ever reaching the horizon.

[@TrumpAndKamila]

I didn’t know how full on this battle was. It pays to have dug in positions in depth. I’ve been camping around the area and there were big piles of artilary shells in the jungle closer to Salamoa. Did they drag the 25 pounders that far from away? Pretty rough terrain? Did the Aussies have motors? Amazed the dakotas worked so hard.

[@davidensign5172]

Excellent presentation. Thanks for your effort. Well done to the Australian forces for your courage and sacrifice!

[@ivan7453]

In particular, the battle of Milne Bay. Being an absolute prima donna, it must have gotten right up Douglas MacArthur's nose knowing that Australian forces had been the first Allied nation to defeat the Japanese and not his own US forces.

[@kurtbjorn3841]

Who cares who was first? Ultimately, the final victory was allied.

[@steveperreira5850]

MacArthur was a buffoon by and large. The invasion of the Philippines was a casualty disaster. For no good reason. Almost certainly more civilians were killed then would have been had we just bypassed and gone on to win the war sooner up north.

[@steveperreira5850]

Kurt Bjorn : I’m glad the Australians were first because it’s their territory and they should fight to defend it. They did a good job.

[@academyofnaturaljustice8939]

DEBUNKED as commy propaganda.....MacArthur saved Australia by taking the fight to New Guinea. Milne bay was an ally effort, created by MacArthur. A joint ally air base defended by Australian ground forces. The Japanese attack gave Australians the opportunity to prove the Japanese claim wrong, that Australians were weak soldiers. The reinforcing of New Guinea was MacArthur's idea, he didn't stop there either, smashing the Japanese all the way back to Tokyo, island by island, taking everything back until he got the Japanese surrender. The he went after the commies. All historically documented. MacArthur was a war hero, who made hero's. Australians owe the USA a huge debt of gratitude for not only sending there best general to defend us, but military aid, otherwise it was chopsticks.

[@awf6554]

@@academyofnaturaljustice8939 BS. Macarthur ensured we were supplied with US support. Apart from that, any Australian general would have done a better job during the Kokoda/Milne Bay/Gona&Buna battles. Too many Aussies think it's somehow "Australian" to kow tow to the US in the name of anti communisism. It's down right embarrassing and a kick in the teeth to our fiercely independent diggers.

[@bluejeans8001]

Awesome presentation. Well done and thanks for sharing.👍👍👍

[@crogerday]

Excellent story telling of a previously obscure campaign Thank you