Between Finschhafen and Sattelberg Part 1

The Australian Push.

Scarlett Beach - The important reinforcement and supply point of the Australian operations.

With the fall of Finshhafen, the 20th Brigade of the 9th Division was keen to push on to their next major objective in the Huon Peninsula campaign; Sattelberg. It appeared that the Japanese who had retreated were all heading in that direction, so all haste was needed in order to prevent them from settling in. Unfortunately, the areas which the Brigade had already seized were only thinly held and far from secure. Support was coming in the form of one battalion from the 24th Brigade, but until they arrived no proper offensive action could be undertaken. Meanwhile the Japanese were hatching plans to retake all that they had lost. The question of supply would decide the fate of the whole campaign.

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The area of operations . Easy Street, through Kiasawa and Kumawa, is in the south with Jivevaneng and The Knoll in the centre. Scarlet Beach is in the north and the Song River is further north (off the map).

Scarlet Beach viewed from a Japanese defensive position.

A Bofors gun covers the landings of the 20th Brigade on Scarlet Beach.

Two diggers manning a Bren gun post along Easy Street.

General Wootten and Brigadier Evans.

Left to right - Colonel Garrett from Divisional Headquarters, General Wootten, Brigadier Evans, General Morshead.