105 – Ralph Honner, Leadership and the 39th Battalion and the Kokoda Campaign
What was it that made the 39th Battalion such a great battalion? We look at the role of Ralph Honner and Leadership in the combat...
Category : Kokoda
What are the real lessons from Kokoda, particularly the Battle of Isurava? This major series of podcasts looks at the areas of strategic readiness, doctrine and logistics and most importantly – how these impact the soldiers in the Battalions when mistakes are made at the operational and strategic level.
The lightning advance of the Japanese, although no surprise, surprised the Australian Government and a scramble was made to be ready to defend New Guinea.
This podcast series looks at the service of the 53rd Battalion, from raising, training and sustaining through to their performance on at the Battle of Isurava. We compare them with their more famous couterparts in the 39th Battalion as well as the battle hardened 2/14th and 2/16th Battalions, before looking at operational and strategic level issues.
Have a listen to the podcast series to learn about the strategic surprise, mobilisation mistakes and courage in combat from troops who were poorly prepared for it.
Here is a list of maps to help understand the role that terrain played in all aspects of the battles on the Kokoda Trail.
104 – The 39th Battalion on the Kokoda Track
This episode discusses the preparation and performance of the 39th Battalion on the Kokoda Track. This is an interview with Dr David Cameron, the author...
103 – Principles of Training for War
This podcast looks at why the Battalions on the Kokoda track were so poorly prepared for combat by looking at the development of the training...
102 – Training a Battalion for War
This episode looks at how a Battalion is trainined for war. It examines at the arrival of the 53rd and 39th Battalions into Port Moresby,...
101 – Mobilisation Mistakes with the Mice of Moresby
Peter Brune in his “Those Ragged Heroes’ states that, “In the long proud history of Australia at arms there can be no more tragic and...
100 – The Battle of Isurava
This is the fifth episode in our Kokoda Track series looking at the performance of the 53rd Battalion. This episode looks at the final day...
99 – The Death of a CO
This is the fourth episode in our Kokoda Track series looking at the performance of the 53rd Battalion. The 53rd, a militia Battalion, had some...
96 – The 53rd Battalion at Isurava during the Kokoda Campaign
When bravery isn’t enough – the 53rd Battalion and the Battle of Isurava This is the third episode in our Kokoda Track series looking at...
95 – A militia Battalion on the Kokoda Trail
This is the second episode in our Kokoda Track series looking at the performance of the 53rd Battalion. The 53rd, a militia Battalion, had some...