Desperate Escape PTO (id:#64828)

(New Guinea 1: Gona Mission 1942 ID: #5)   [next]   [previous]

Gona Village, New Guinea 1942-12-08 (7 others)

Overview:

During the first week of December, the men of the Australian 21st Brigade laid in continuous fire and several daily attacks on the Japanese positions in and around Gona. The enemy lines were finally broken on the morning of December 8 by a bayonet attack which followed an artillery barrage. This last attack reduced the Japanese to about 100 survivors, all that remained of the original garrison of 1000 men. With the fate of him and his men sealed, Lieutenant Colonel Yoshinobu Tomita ordered a night break out attempt.

Defender: Australian (21st Brigade)  

Errata (source)