Christmas Morning 1942

Some of the hardest and most costly battles of World War II took place in Papua New Guinea in 1942 and 1943. Australian soldiers were pitted against strong Japanese forces, fighting in inhospitable and treacherous terrain, oftern with limited supplies of ammunition and food. The Battle of the Beachheads, fought between November 1942 and January 1943, was such an extchange.

In mid 1942, the Japanese had occupied
important strategic positions at Buna, Gona and Sanananda; positions that allowed them to support their advanced over the Kokoda Track towards Port Moresby.