In 2004, the then Chief of Army’s Strategic Advisory Group, The Australian Army’s senior generals, established a scheme to promote the study and understanding of military history within the Army. The focus was the Army’s future generation of leaders and, from this, the Campaign Series was created. The series is intended to complement the Army’s other history publications, which are major analytical works of high quality, academically rigorous and referenced.

The Campaign Series focuses on leadership, command, strategy, tactics and personal experience of war. Each title within the series includes extensive visual sources of information – maps, including specifically prepared maps in colour and 3D, commissioned artwork, photographs and graphics.

Covering major campaigns and battles, as well as those less known, the Australian Army History Unit’s Campaign Series provides a significant contribution to the history of the Australian Army and an excellent introduction to its campaigns and battles.

Written by Tim Gellel, Head, Australian Army history Unit, as an Introduction to the series.

I disagree in part with what Gellel has written as I find the publications I have in my possession as far more than introductions.

I wish to take a look at two of these today. As excellent reference material I have not read them through cover to cover and have concentrated only on my specific areas of interest.

Firstly a look at number 14 in the series “To Kokoda”.

I am fairly well read on both the retreat and advance along the Kokoda track so I was surprised to see a lot that interested me. Firstly the production is of very high quality, excellent photographs and maps, with complete OOB’s. Some photographs of these as an example:

An excellent production if you are after a reference type book, with both large and smaller engagements included.

The second book is No 32 in the series “The Oboe Landings, 1945. I found this one very interesting and read a large part of it because I was totally unfamiliar with the tactics and organisation of the naval landing component of an amphibious assault.

Again this volume is extensively illustrated with maps, photographs, and Orders of Battle.

An LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) from the US Coast Guard’s USS LST-168 taking Australian troops of the 7th Division ashore during the landings at Balikpapan, southeast coat of Borneo, on 1 July 1945.

I found this one interesting as it outlines the zones of fire support, transport area and the boat lane for the amphibious landing. The detail on this side of the assault was excellent and comprehensive.

If you are interested in the Australian landings to liberate Borneo and the tactics and organisation involved it is worthwhile. The various phases of the battle are all covered including the smaller engagements.

Unfortunately there is only a cursory discussion on the politics behind the action including the controversy over the waste of Australians lives only weeks before the Japanese surrender.

I have been gradually working through reading my recent collection of books on the Australian Pacific Campaign. The bedside reading is now down to five books, but more are likely to be added!