Initially known as Efogi Ridge, Brigade Hill was the site of one of the most horrific battles the Australians were forced to fight while withdrawing over the Owen Stanley Range. It could be said that if Gallipoli was the berth of the Nation; then Brigade Hill was our voice breaking as we progressed through our teenage years!
On the basis that Maroubra Force had been reinforced by a fresh battalion (the 2/27th) General Rowell in Port Moresby ordered Brigadier Potts to stop retreating and make a stand. Potts chose an excellent defensive position on a dominating hill feature south of Efogi (Efogi Ridge). From this position the Australians had a good view of the Japanese approach and due to the extremely steep slopes in most directions it was an excellent defensive locality. It was believed the Japanese would have no option but to frontally assault the fresh Battalion that was primed and ready for battle on Mission Ridge.
The Japanese command followed their normal practice and ordered their troops to encircle the flanks in a stealthy night move. At dawn on the 8th September, the Japanese 2nd/144th Battalion arose from the jungle to the west of Brigade Hill and found and cut the Kokoda track in the Australian rear echelon area.
The Japanese occupied a gap that was between the infantry battalions that were too the north and Brigadier Potts’ Headquarters to the south. The Japanese were now able to see the Australian positions around Brigade Hill. An artillery observer with 2/144th signaled the Japanese guns to switch their bombardment from Mission Ridge to Brigade Hill.
At first light on the 8th of September Lance Corporal John Gill was shot by a sniper at the Brigade Headquarters latrine. Brigadier Potts was nearby at the time and the urgency of the situation became obvious. The Japanese infiltrators had outflanked and cut-off the three infantry battalions line of withdrawal. There was now no opportunity to withdrawal wounded or received food and ammunition.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Brigadier Potts ordered two attacks (one from each direction) in order to reclaim the track. The attacks were led one after the other by two Captains (Claude Nye and then by Brenton Langridge). The attacks were deliberate and by extended line with bayonets fixed.
The Japanese had established themselves well; they were well dug-in and using well directed enfilade fire from rifle and machine gun they caused horrific casualties. Many who had survived the cauldron at Isurava, like Charlie McCallum, fell trying to reclaim the track on the saddle at Brigade Hill; others, like Captains ‘Lefty’ Langridge and Claude Nye died in futile attempts to break through to Brigade Headquarters against impossible odds. As darkness arrived the pressure eased just enough to withdraw Brigade Headquarters back to the village of Menari.
“I particularly think of blokes like ‘Lefty’ Langridge and Claude Nye, one with a company of the 2/16 the and the other with a company of the 2/14 th who were ordered to go around the right flank where the Japanese were, to try to force a way through them to Brigade Hill. They knew they couldn’t do it. They knew they were going to die. Langridge handed over his pay book and his dog tags to one of his mates. He was a brave soldier. So was Claude Nye. They were both killed.” (Lt Colonel Ralph Honner)
On the basis that Maroubra Force had been reinforced by a fresh battalion (the 2/27th) General Rowell in Port Moresby ordered Brigadier Potts to stop retreating and make a stand. Potts chose an excellent defensive position on a dominating hill feature south of Efogi (Efogi Ridge). From this position the Australians had a good view of the Japanese approach and due to the extremely steep slopes in most directions it was an excellent defensive locality. It was believed the Japanese would have no option but to frontally assault the fresh Battalion that was primed and ready for battle on Mission Ridge.
The Japanese command followed their normal practice and ordered their troops to encircle the flanks in a stealthy night move. At dawn on the 8th September, the Japanese 2nd/144th Battalion arose from the jungle to the west of Brigade Hill and found and cut the Kokoda track in the Australian rear echelon area.
The Japanese occupied a gap that was between the infantry battalions that were too the north and Brigadier Potts’ Headquarters to the south. The Japanese were now able to see the Australian positions around Brigade Hill. An artillery observer with 2/144th signaled the Japanese guns to switch their bombardment from Mission Ridge to Brigade Hill.
At first light on the 8th of September Lance Corporal John Gill was shot by a sniper at the Brigade Headquarters latrine. Brigadier Potts was nearby at the time and the urgency of the situation became obvious. The Japanese infiltrators had outflanked and cut-off the three infantry battalions line of withdrawal. There was now no opportunity to withdrawal wounded or received food and ammunition.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Brigadier Potts ordered two attacks (one from each direction) in order to reclaim the track. The attacks were led one after the other by two Captains (Claude Nye and then by Brenton Langridge). The attacks were deliberate and by extended line with bayonets fixed.
The Japanese had established themselves well; they were well dug-in and using well directed enfilade fire from rifle and machine gun they caused horrific casualties. Many who had survived the cauldron at Isurava, like Charlie McCallum, fell trying to reclaim the track on the saddle at Brigade Hill; others, like Captains ‘Lefty’ Langridge and Claude Nye died in futile attempts to break through to Brigade Headquarters against impossible odds. As darkness arrived the pressure eased just enough to withdraw Brigade Headquarters back to the village of Menari.
“I particularly think of blokes like ‘Lefty’ Langridge and Claude Nye, one with a company of the 2/16 the and the other with a company of the 2/14 th who were ordered to go around the right flank where the Japanese were, to try to force a way through them to Brigade Hill. They knew they couldn’t do it. They knew they were going to die. Langridge handed over his pay book and his dog tags to one of his mates. He was a brave soldier. So was Claude Nye. They were both killed.” (Lt Colonel Ralph Honner)
