'Given a second rate job': Campaigns in Aitape-Wewak and New Britain, 1944-45

Lachlan Grant

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

    Abstract

    Like the other Australian operations in the south Pacific in 1944–45, the campaigns in Aitape-Wewak and New Britain during those years have been tarred with the label of ‘unnecessary’. Certainly, there were soldiers fighting in these campaigns who were frustrated by their circumstances. Some Australian 6th Division veterans felt that they were ‘first rate troops given a second rate job’. Conversely many historians have argued that it is inaccurate and misleading to regard these campaigns as unnecessary (see chapter 1), but leaving aside the debates surrounding ‘mopping up’ at Aitape-Wewak, this campaign was one of the longest fought by Australian troops during the war, in some of the toughest and most unpleasant conditions.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationAustralia 1944-45: Victory in the Pacific
    Editors P.J. Dean
    Place of PublicationPort Melbourne, Australia
    PublisherCambridge University Press
    Pages213-231
    Edition1st
    ISBN (Print)9781107083462
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of ''Given a second rate job': Campaigns in Aitape-Wewak and New Britain, 1944-45'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this