On 26 August 1942 the Japanese moved forward from Deniki, a body of some two and a half thousand soldiers, against the 39th Battalion (whom were now under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Honner), plus elements of the 49th and 53rd Battalions, an Australian force of approximately four hundred members. The Japanese force made contact with the outer positions of Maroubra Force at Isurava and began frontal attacks against the dug-in defenders with the aid of a mountain gun and mortars.
The 2/14th Infantry Battalion (hardened Regular Army soldiers whom had recently fought in the dessert) had been dispatched from Myola the previous day with orders to relieve the 39th. The first Company of approximately ninety men reached the position at Isurava in the middle of the afternoon on 26 August. Although the intent was for the 2/14th to relieve the 39th, the 39th were forced to stay on as several times the Japanese threatened to break through the perimeter.
Brigadier Potts (Brigade Commander of the 21st Brigade), who had taken command of Maroubra Force, soon realized that the Japanese were launching a major attack and decided to deploy the complete 2/14th at Isurava, while also bringing up the 2/16th to Myola where it would be held in reserve. By the time the 2/14th Battalion had deployed the Japanese were able to field a force some five thousand strong.
Japanese tactics were to hold the enemy in place with frontal attacks, while feeling for the flanks, with a view to cutting off enemy forces from the rear. At this stage Japanese reconnaissance had revealed a parallel track that by passed Isurava, (this track was defended by the Australian 53rd Battalion), The Japanese determined that his track was suitable for an outflanking maneuver and a subsequent attack in that direction was launched.
However, the Japanese were on a strict timetable; any delays in finding the Australian flank meant the gradual debilitation of the Japanese force due to from combat casualty, fatigue, disease and starvation. As a result, Maroubra Force endured four days of violent attacks at Isurava from aggressive, well-trained and well led Japanese troops.
As dawn broke on the 27th August, the Australians defending Isurava were subjected to heavy mortar and mountain gun fire as the Japanese launched a number of probes against the 39th and 2/14th Battalion’s defensive position.
As the morning progressed, the attacks began to penetrate the defences; however, the deployment of further elements of the 2/14th Battalion restored the situation and by nightfall the Australian perimeter had been re-established.
The situation on the right flank, where the 53rd Battalion was guarding the alternate track, was critical. A Japanese force was sent to open this route, and met with success, they Infiltrated the 53rd Battalions perimeter. The Japanese managed to achieve a break in and rolled up the Australians' positions, killing a number of the battalion's senior officers, including its Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Ward.
As a result of this loss, communications between the companies broke down rendering coordinated action impossible and 53rd gave ground and retreated back to the track junction behind Isurava. Although the Japanese failed to exploit the situation, the way to Alola was open to them and as a result Potts was forced to bring up the 2/16th Battalion to plug the gap.
On 28th of August, the fighting continued along the front and flanks of the Australian position at Isurava. The Japanese commander could see that the Australians had brought up reinforcements; he decided to commit the two battalions he had been holding back in reserve (another 1200 men).
The following day, the Japanese attacked with the equivalent of six battalions, the Japanese were able to lay down considerable volumes of mortar and machine gun fire in support of their assaults. Unable to respond with similar firepower, the Australian perimeter under severe pressure began to shrink.
It was during this stage of the fighting that Private Bruce Kingsbury of the 2/14th made a unique individual contribution to the campaign and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross as a result.
His citation read, in part:
Private Kingsbury, who was one of the few survivors of a platoon which had been overrun ... immediately volunteered to join a different platoon which had been ordered to counterattack. He rushed forward, firing the Bren gun from his hip through terrific machine-gun fire, and succeeded in clearing a path through the enemy. Continuing to sweep enemy positions with his fire, and inflicting an extremely high number of casualties upon them, Private Kingsbury was then seen to fall to the ground, shot dead by the bullet from a sniper hiding in the wood.
Eyewitnesses said that Kingsbury's actions had a profound effect on the Japanese, halting their momentum. However, as Australian casualties mounted and ammunition ran low, with the Japanese coming close to making a breakthrough on the alternate track and the Australian positions treatened with encirclement. Maroubra Force withdrew towards Port Moresby along the Kokoda Track with the Japanese hard on their heals.
Brigadier Potts relieved the exhausted 39th and 53rd Battalions; they were ordered to make their way back to Port Moresby. The 53rd, whose performance during the fighting had come to be seen in less than favorable light, was reduced to being used for reinforcements and work parties; however, the 39th subsequently returned to the battle when the forward troops were under pressure.
The 2/14th Infantry Battalion (hardened Regular Army soldiers whom had recently fought in the dessert) had been dispatched from Myola the previous day with orders to relieve the 39th. The first Company of approximately ninety men reached the position at Isurava in the middle of the afternoon on 26 August. Although the intent was for the 2/14th to relieve the 39th, the 39th were forced to stay on as several times the Japanese threatened to break through the perimeter.
Brigadier Potts (Brigade Commander of the 21st Brigade), who had taken command of Maroubra Force, soon realized that the Japanese were launching a major attack and decided to deploy the complete 2/14th at Isurava, while also bringing up the 2/16th to Myola where it would be held in reserve. By the time the 2/14th Battalion had deployed the Japanese were able to field a force some five thousand strong.
Japanese tactics were to hold the enemy in place with frontal attacks, while feeling for the flanks, with a view to cutting off enemy forces from the rear. At this stage Japanese reconnaissance had revealed a parallel track that by passed Isurava, (this track was defended by the Australian 53rd Battalion), The Japanese determined that his track was suitable for an outflanking maneuver and a subsequent attack in that direction was launched.
However, the Japanese were on a strict timetable; any delays in finding the Australian flank meant the gradual debilitation of the Japanese force due to from combat casualty, fatigue, disease and starvation. As a result, Maroubra Force endured four days of violent attacks at Isurava from aggressive, well-trained and well led Japanese troops.
As dawn broke on the 27th August, the Australians defending Isurava were subjected to heavy mortar and mountain gun fire as the Japanese launched a number of probes against the 39th and 2/14th Battalion’s defensive position.
As the morning progressed, the attacks began to penetrate the defences; however, the deployment of further elements of the 2/14th Battalion restored the situation and by nightfall the Australian perimeter had been re-established.
The situation on the right flank, where the 53rd Battalion was guarding the alternate track, was critical. A Japanese force was sent to open this route, and met with success, they Infiltrated the 53rd Battalions perimeter. The Japanese managed to achieve a break in and rolled up the Australians' positions, killing a number of the battalion's senior officers, including its Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Ward.
As a result of this loss, communications between the companies broke down rendering coordinated action impossible and 53rd gave ground and retreated back to the track junction behind Isurava. Although the Japanese failed to exploit the situation, the way to Alola was open to them and as a result Potts was forced to bring up the 2/16th Battalion to plug the gap.
On 28th of August, the fighting continued along the front and flanks of the Australian position at Isurava. The Japanese commander could see that the Australians had brought up reinforcements; he decided to commit the two battalions he had been holding back in reserve (another 1200 men).
The following day, the Japanese attacked with the equivalent of six battalions, the Japanese were able to lay down considerable volumes of mortar and machine gun fire in support of their assaults. Unable to respond with similar firepower, the Australian perimeter under severe pressure began to shrink.
It was during this stage of the fighting that Private Bruce Kingsbury of the 2/14th made a unique individual contribution to the campaign and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross as a result.
His citation read, in part:
Private Kingsbury, who was one of the few survivors of a platoon which had been overrun ... immediately volunteered to join a different platoon which had been ordered to counterattack. He rushed forward, firing the Bren gun from his hip through terrific machine-gun fire, and succeeded in clearing a path through the enemy. Continuing to sweep enemy positions with his fire, and inflicting an extremely high number of casualties upon them, Private Kingsbury was then seen to fall to the ground, shot dead by the bullet from a sniper hiding in the wood.
Eyewitnesses said that Kingsbury's actions had a profound effect on the Japanese, halting their momentum. However, as Australian casualties mounted and ammunition ran low, with the Japanese coming close to making a breakthrough on the alternate track and the Australian positions treatened with encirclement. Maroubra Force withdrew towards Port Moresby along the Kokoda Track with the Japanese hard on their heals.
Brigadier Potts relieved the exhausted 39th and 53rd Battalions; they were ordered to make their way back to Port Moresby. The 53rd, whose performance during the fighting had come to be seen in less than favorable light, was reduced to being used for reinforcements and work parties; however, the 39th subsequently returned to the battle when the forward troops were under pressure.
