Photos WW2 British & Commonwealth Forces
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New Zealand tankmen, possibly 4 NZ Armoured Brigade personnel, in Casino, Italy, on the day it fell to the 8th Army, Photograph taken on 18 May 1944
New Zealand Shermans among the ruins of Casino, Italy. 18 May 1944.
New Zealand Shermans among the ruins of Casino, Italy. 18 May 1944.
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Local children hitch a ride on a Sherman tank of 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) in Belpasso near Catania, Sicily, August 1943. In the background can be seen the church of Saint Anthony of Padua.
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804 squadron Hellcat MkII's aboard Ruler class escort carrier HMS Ameer (D01), (ex USS Baffins (CVE-35)) with their engines running, await their turn to taxi to the ship’s catapult for take-off. Pacific Ocean
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Children watch activity around a Matilda Mk II tank of 44th Royal Tank Regiment in School Hill, Findon, West Sussex, during exercises against 'enemy' parachute troops, 4 March 1941.
(Photo source - © IWM H 7680)
(Photo source - © IWM H 7680)
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The three Chapman brothers of South Australia, who all joined the 2/27th Infantry Battalion, pause for a break just after the fall of Gona. Left to right: SX12357 Private Maxwell Maurice Chapman; SX12689 Private Desmond Chapman; and SX10196 Private Raymond Chapman. All 3 survived WW2
On the 9th of December 1942, Australians successfully recaptured the town of Gona from the Japanese during the Kokoda Campaign. Commencing on the 19th of November, Gona was the first of the three beachheads used by the Japanese during their landing in Papua at the start of the campaign.
Gona was defended by 900 men and was the smallest of the Japanese defensive positions in the area. The defences centred around the Gona Mission which was surrounded by well built bunkers, trenches and firing pits. It was to be attacked by the Australian 25th Brigade, which at the time contained just under 1,000 men.
The first Australian attack was launched on the 19th of November by the 2/33rd and 2/16th Battalions but was repulsed by the Japanese. Further attacks on the 22nd and 23rd proved costly and unsuccessful with 129 Australians killed and wounded, by the end of the 23rd the 25th Brigade had less than 800 men. A final attempt was made on the 24th using artillery support but although the Battalion managed to break into the Japanese position, they were forced to withdraw after.
Despite the inability of the Australians to break the Japanese position, they were, however, successful in preventing further Japanese reinforcements. The final decisive attack was made by the Australians on the 8th of December. At this point, the Japanese commander Major Yamamoto and 100 men attempted to escape to Giruwa but were detected and suffered heavy losses. Organised resistance was effectively over, but hand to hand fighting continued in Gona until 1630 on the afternoon of the 9th of December.
In total, the Japanese lost at least 638 men during the defence of Gona, whilst the Australians lost 750 men dead, missing or wounded. This battle would mark the beginning of the end for the Japanese.
On the 9th of December 1942, Australians successfully recaptured the town of Gona from the Japanese during the Kokoda Campaign. Commencing on the 19th of November, Gona was the first of the three beachheads used by the Japanese during their landing in Papua at the start of the campaign.
Gona was defended by 900 men and was the smallest of the Japanese defensive positions in the area. The defences centred around the Gona Mission which was surrounded by well built bunkers, trenches and firing pits. It was to be attacked by the Australian 25th Brigade, which at the time contained just under 1,000 men.
The first Australian attack was launched on the 19th of November by the 2/33rd and 2/16th Battalions but was repulsed by the Japanese. Further attacks on the 22nd and 23rd proved costly and unsuccessful with 129 Australians killed and wounded, by the end of the 23rd the 25th Brigade had less than 800 men. A final attempt was made on the 24th using artillery support but although the Battalion managed to break into the Japanese position, they were forced to withdraw after.
Despite the inability of the Australians to break the Japanese position, they were, however, successful in preventing further Japanese reinforcements. The final decisive attack was made by the Australians on the 8th of December. At this point, the Japanese commander Major Yamamoto and 100 men attempted to escape to Giruwa but were detected and suffered heavy losses. Organised resistance was effectively over, but hand to hand fighting continued in Gona until 1630 on the afternoon of the 9th of December.
In total, the Japanese lost at least 638 men during the defence of Gona, whilst the Australians lost 750 men dead, missing or wounded. This battle would mark the beginning of the end for the Japanese.
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