image-1 = images/ADF-1944-1945/1.jpg
title-1 = The Guinea campaign
description-1 = A map of Eastern New Guinea, New Britain, and Bougainville. (Source: US Army Center for Military History)
In early 1942, Japanese troops fronted a successful offensive against Australian-administered Territory of New Guinea, as well as the Territory of Papua and parts of the Dutch East Indies. While Australian and US efforts to reclaim the Territories were continuous through the war, it was not until October 1944 that this became a strategic priority.
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image-2 = images/ADF-1944-1945/2.jpg
title-2 = Boomerangs at Bougainville
description-2 = Australian-designed CAC Boomerang aircraft at Bougainville in early 1944. (Source: AWM, OG2064)
status-2 = 1
image-3 = images/ADF-1944-1945/3.jpg
title-3 = Wide Bay
description-3 = AIF infantry at PNG's Wide Bay, located on the island of New Britain. (Source: AWM 078376)
status-3 = 1
image-4 = images/ADF-1944-1945/4.jpg
title-4 = Dutch New Guinea
description-4 = Noemfoor Island, Dutch New Guinea. Bombs for distribution over Japanese occupied territory in the south-west Pacific being brought up on the low trailers to load onto the bomb racks of aircraft of No. 80 (Kittyhawk) Squadron RAAF at a forward operational base on Kamiri Airstrip. (Source: National Library Australia)
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image-5 = images/ADF-1944-1945/5.jpg
title-5 = The allies
description-5 = Unidentified US forces, pictured in New Guinea. (Source: State Library Victoria)
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image-6 = images/ADF-1944-1945/6.jpg
title-6 = Australian Army Commissariat
description-6 = Lt. A. M. Riley, Sig. A. F. Hunter and Pte. M. G. Kirkhan pictured with tropical fruit; Australian Army Commissariat. (Source: State Library Victoria)
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image-7 = images/ADF-1944-1945/7.jpg
title-7 = The uniform
description-7 = AIF camouflage suits pictured in Kunai, New Guinea, 1944. (Source: National Archives Australia, C1908)
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image-8 = images/ADF-1944-1945/8.jpg
title-8 = Dutch New Guinea (2)
description-8 = Australian Armed Forces in Dutch New Guinea, 1944, World War II. Includes Australians E. G. Taylor from Victoria, Tpr. G. Bass from SA. (Source: State Library Victoria)
status-8 = 1
image-9 = images/ADF-1944-1945/9.jpg
title-9 = Kaiapit
description-9 = Australian troops move into Kaiapit, modern-day Morobe Province. (Source: State Library Victoria)
status-9 = 1
image-10 = images/ADF-1944-1945/10.jpg
title-10 = Kaiapit (ii)
description-10 = Unidentified soldier receives a haircut at Kaiapit.
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image-11 = images/ADF-1944-1945/11.jpg
title-11 = Beaufighter
description-11 = Staff at an advanced RAAF base in New Guinea overhaul a Beaufighter. (Source: AWM, 014504)
status-11 = 1
image-12 = images/ADF-1944-1945/12.jpg
title-12 = The Borneo Campaign
description-12 = A map showing the layout and progress of the Borneo campaign. (Source: US Center for Military History)
status-12 = 1
image-13 = images/ADF-1944-1945/13.jpg
title-13 = Labuan Island
description-13 = Australian soldiers and local civilians on Labuan Island, Borneo. (Source: AWM, 018664)
status-13 = 1
image-14 = images/ADF-1944-1945/14.jpg
title-14 = The Japanese surrender
description-14 = Men of the 2/6th Australian Field Regiment in a Jeep, smiling for the camera after hearing the news of the Japanese surrender. Balikpapan, Borneo. (Source: SLV)
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image-15 = images/ADF-1944-1945/15.jpg
title-15 = Labuan, Borneo
description-15 = Four soldiers inspecting bomb damage, in Labuan, Borneo. (Source: SLV)
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image-16 = images/ADF-1944-1945/16.jpg
title-16 = The press
description-16 = Australian war correspondents, May 1945. (Source: AWM, 018515)
status-16 = 1
image-17 = images/ADF-1944-1945/17.jpg
title-17 = Departure
description-17 = Australian armed forces embarking for North Borneo during World War II. (Source: SLV)
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image-18 = images/ADF-1944-1945/18.jpg
title-18 = Pre-checks
description-18 = Australian troops inspect a line of amphibious ducks used for invasion of North Borneo. (Source: SLV)
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image-19 = images/ADF-1944-1945/19.jpg
title-19 = Befriending the locals
description-19 = Shows two Australian soldiers with Indonesian babies at Orr's Junction, Balikpapan, Borneo. (Source: SLV).
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title-20 =
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Photo Essay: The ADF, 1944-1945
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The closing throes of the Second World War saw Australian forces involved in campaigns in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Borneo. With the remaining Japanese forces dwindling in number, Australian troops were largely tasked with ‘mopping up’ isolated footholds across swathes of the above-cited areas.
The closing throes of the Second World War saw Australian forces involved in campaigns in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Borneo. With the remaining Japanese forces dwindling in number, Australian troops were largely tasked with ‘mopping up’ isolated footholds across swathes of the above-cited areas.
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Twelve Australian Army brigades replaced US troops stationed in various parts of PNG in late 1944. While US forces in the area had largely been tasked with static defence operations, Australian troops were instructed to mount active offensive operations against Japanese contingents. This would ultimately kick off a chain of similar interventions, keeping the AIF committed to war through to the Japanese surrender in September 1945.
Late-stage intervention in by the AIF in 1944-45 remains a point of political controversy to this day. Certain critics have suggested that the government continued with these actions in order to bolster Australia’s bargaining position in post-war negotiations; they argue that, by the time of the Borneo Campaign, Japanese influence in south-east Asia and the Pacific was negligible in terms of Australian interests.
True to form, however, it must be said that the Japanese troops fought through to the bitter end, and victory came all but easily to the AIF contingents. Australia even played a supporting role in operations against the Japanese home islands, assisting the British Pacific Fleet (BPF) during the Battle of Okinawa.
The following photographs document Australia’s involvement in these campaigns, and round out Defence Connect’s series on the Second World War.
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