The Principles of War Podcast
Palliers Hill
New Guinea CampaignPodcast

42 – The attack goes in on Pallier’s Hill

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Map of the Faria Valley with Kings Hill and Palliers Hill
This annotated drone photo shows the key landmarks for the assault from King’s Hill to Pallier’s Hill. It shows just how steep the ridge line is.

How did LT Pallier attack this seemingly impossible objective?  A dug in enemy, minimal OS, limited time and very, very difficult terrain? We follow the progress of the assault and detail the actions taken by LT Pallier and 9 PL as they cleared the terrain and secured the lines of communication for the 2/27th Battalion, which had moved up the Faria valley.

To learn more about Palliers Hill and other New Guinea battles, check out D-Day New Guinea and Hell’s Battlefield.  Phil is Australia’s best expert on the later New Guinea campaigns.  He has interviewed many soldiers and has an incredible understanding of many of the battles that were fought.  His books are a key part of the research for these episodes, and they cover a lot more of the campaign.

Map from On Shaggy Ridge
This map details the locations of the fire support on the 3 pimples and Bn HQ, with the colocated 25 pdr Short

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1 comment

Jill Bear October 9, 2019 at 7:07 am

It should also be noted that while the Platoon had come under fire a few days previously, this was Lt Pallier’s first time leading a platoon into attack; as much a Baptism of Fire for him, as the others who had joined the Platoon at the beginning of 1943.

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