I have not been doing any painting since I finished the Australian Tank Attack Platoon = just needed a break. This is the second book I have read in the last few days and with the cold and rain it has been great to just snuggle in a chair with a “good book”.

Named after Captain Robert ‘Shaggy Bob’ Clampett of the 2/27th Battalion, Shaggy Ridge is the location of one of the less renowned battles of the Australian military campaigns in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Shaggy Ridge is a commanding feature within the Finisterre mountains.  In 1943 it was the site of a main Japanese defensive position blocking access by Australian forces through the Ramu Valley as they conducted leap-frogging clearance operations along the Papuan northern coastline. The capture of Shaggy Ridge by the 18th Brigade cleared the way for an Australian advance across the Finisterres to the coast to link-up with allied forces advancing from the east.  As such it was instrumental in the capture of Madang and the Huon Peninsula. The strategic use of specialist forces, paratroops and the rapid deployment of Independent Companies (commandos) were paramount in the success of the overall campaign and had considerable influence on the way that the Australian Army ORBAT was shaped over subsequent years. (From the Army Research Centre)

 This picture clearly shows how narrow the ridge lines were.

Following the Allied offensive against Lae and the seizure of the airfield at Nadzab in the Markham Valley in early September 1943, the Japanese moved to reinforce their defences at Kaiapit further up the Valley. in an endeavour to cut the Japanese supply line from Madang, Major General George Vasey, Commander of Australia’s 7th Division was eager to be able to fly his troops into battle rather than move across country.

The line of advance from Lae, up the Markham river valley, into the Ramu river valley to Shaggy Ridge.

The Fifth Air Force (US) wanted the strip at Kaiapit, so the 2/6 Independent Company were flown into Sangan – a short distance from the objective. With excellent aerial rand ground reconnaissance and sound planning, the Company successfully captured Kaiapit on 19/20th September before the Japanese reinforcements arrived. This operation preceded the Australian assault on the Finisterre Mountains which contained Shaggy Ridge.

Advancing up the Markham and Ramu Valleys, the Japanese were ambushed at Kesawai on 28th September, and an attack nearby on 4th October saw the Japanese withdraw into the foothills of the Finisterre Range. Thus began a long and extremely demanding series of skirmishes and battles:

​This is another extremely well written narrative by Bradley. Although history, it is as if Bradley has transported you there to experience the impossible terrain, the exhaustion of load carrying and fighting, punctuated by the continuous loss of men through death, injury and malaria. A very accurate and unbiased account, showing the battle from the eyes of both sides of one of Australia’s most important battles.

If you are interested in Australian military history it is another “must have”.