To gain control of the South West Pacific area, it was crucial for the Japanese to capture Port Moresby. A two-pronged assault began. Japanese troops were landed in the Buna, Gona area in June. Their task was to attack Port Moresby via the Kokoda Track over the Owen Stanley Ranges. In late August, 350 troops from this force were sent via barges to land at Taupota on the north coast of Milne Bay, while the main force was sent at the same time from Rabaul, to land in Milne Bay itself. Coastwatchers spotted the forces coming from Buna and Pilots of 75/76 Squadrons were sent to intercept.

They were found resting on Goodenough Island where they were strafed and marooned, therefore unable to join the battle. The troops from Rabaul successfully landed at Ahioma at 11:30pm on the 25th August. The intended landing place was Gili Gili, at the head of the bay. The Japanese forces were guided to the wrong landing spot by a local native who they later beheaded. After being briefly held up by the 61st Battalion Militia the Japanese moved rapidly toward their goal, the airstrip. Right through the first two days of the battle, the RAAF Kittyhawks from 75/76 Squadrons and Hudson Bombers of No 3 Squadron continued to harass the Japanese.

The Japanese landed three light tanks, however in the muddy conditions, these quickly became bogged. The main Japanese force reached Number 3 strip on the 31st August. Major General Cyril Clowes had decided to use the open spaces of the airstrip as the main line of defence. The 25th Battalion was placed on the southern end of the strip with the 61st on the inland side of them. Vickers heavy machine guns, mortars and anti-aircraft guns also guarded the Australian side of the strip. The 2/12 AIF were ordered up, ready to begin the counter attack. At 3:00am on the 31st August, flares rose into the air, and the attackers began to rise from the shadows to cross the strip.

Wave after wave of Japanese attempted to cross the strip but were cut down by the hail of rifle, machine gun and mortar fire. After trying in vain to outflank to Australians, The Japanese began their withdrawal with the 2/12 Battalion following hard. During the 1st to the 6th September, the Australians continued to push the Japanese back to their original landing spot. This was made all the more hazardous by the Japanese soldiers “lying doggo”. Pretending to be dead then rising and shooting the Australians in the back as they passed.

It was during this action of pushing the Japanese back that, on the 4 September, Corporal John French, of the 2/9th Battalion was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic efforts at Goroni. After finding his section pinned down, French ordered his men to take cover while he went forward and with hand grenades silenced the first machine gun. Then charged another armed with a Thompson sub machine gun. Although badly wounded he continued this effort and was found dead in front of the third, silenced machine gun pit. On the night of the 6-7th September, Japanese war ships evacuated the survivors on the landing force. The defeat at Milne Bay shattered the Japanese plans for capturing Port Moresby.

At the time of the defeat, Japanese forces were still advancing over the Kokoda Track. However, perhaps the most significant effect of the Milne Bay battle was on the Australian and Allied forces’ moral. Up to that point, the Japanese forces had not been defeated on land. Milne Bay proved that the Japanese were not invincible. One of the many monuments standing in Milne Bay honours the men of the 7th and 18th Brigades who had “given their lives in defending Turnbull Field”