THE BATTLE FOR SHAGGY RIDGE
19-31 JANUARY 1944
An online presentation by Phillip Bradley
Philip Bradley’s latest book tells the extraordinary story of the Australian campaign against the Japanese in New Guinea’s Finisterre mountains in 1943-44.
One of Australia’s leading battlefield historians, he has written an enlightening re-examination of an important campaign following the experiences of the men from both sides. Using letters, diaries and memoirs from the veterans of the Ramu Valley campaign, including from the Japanese side, Phillip takes the reader onto the battlefield.
From the killing ground of Kaiapit to the treacherous heights of the Finisterre Range, for four months in 1943-44 the Australian army fought to drive the Japanese from their mountain strongholds. The most formidable position was the fortress-like Shaggy Ridge, its steep sides rising sharply to a knife-edge crest where battle was joined on a one-man front. Based on the accounts of over a hundred Australians, Americans and Japanese who served on, around and over the ridge, The Battle for Shaggy Ridge tells the story of this extraordinary struggle for control of the Ramu Valley in New Guinea.
Lecture Time
The presentation is scheduled live for 11:00AM AEST on Saturday, 2nd October 2021. It will be accessible online via Google Meet. Details for how to join are located at the end of this page. For further information call 0419 698 783 or email: president@militaryhistorynsw.com.au.
About the Presenter
PHILLIP BRADLEY is the author of the ground-breaking Hell’s Battlefield and D-Day New Guinea, and a leading Australian military historian. His extensive research on the battlefield, in the archives and with the veterans of the campaign has given him an intimate knowledge of the battle for Shaggy Ridge. In this talk he will discuss the battle drawing on his research for the book.
Phillip Bradley’s The Battle For Shaggy Ridge is available for purchase at this link:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-battle-for-shaggy-ridge-phillip-radley/book/9781760878672.html
The Elements of Military Hygiene: Australian Pacific Forces, 1945
An online presentation by Barry Leithhead
Military hygiene is an essential component of any war effort. In the severe tropical climate of the Second World War’s Pacific theatre, disease disabled and killed more Australian troops than the enemy did.
Dr Cecil Evelyn Aufrere Cook (1897-1985) CBE, MD, DTMH, DPH, RACGP, ACMA joined the Commonwealth’s Military Reserve as an honorary captain in 1932. He was Medical Officer for the Darwin Garrison until 1938, when he was appointed Garrison Commander. In 1939 he joined the School of Military Hygiene as a lecturer and until 1941 was a Medical Officer in 4 Armoured Regiment. Cook enlisted for war service in 1941 and was demobilised in February 1946, with the rank of Lt-Col AD-H (HQ).
Military Hygiene applies at three levels – personal, camp and region. Dr Cook addressed all three levels and made special studies of regional hygiene profiles before occupation (Morotai Island), before battle (OBOE 1 Tarakan and OBOE 2 Borneo) and after victory (Japan). This talk examines Cook’s studies of Japan to prepare the Commonwealth Occupation Force for their engagement in that country.
With assistance of some images the talk will describe the scope and content of his hygiene training regime and reports on hygiene risks in Japan, as well as background information. A brief written paper for participants provides details of Cook’s military and civilian roles and awards in his career of over 50 years. A more detailed written paper will be available after the talk.
Lecture Time
The presentation is scheduled live for 11:00AM AEST on Saturday, 16th October 2021. It will be accessible online via Google Meet. Details for how to join are located at the end of this page. For further information call 0419 698 783 or email: president@militaryhistorynsw.com.au.
About the Presenter
BARRY LEITHHEAD is a retired management consultant specialising in corporate governance, an author, presenter and historian. He is the author of A Vision for Australia’s Health: Dr Cecil Cook At Work (Australian Scholarly Publishing, 2019). His partner Robin McIntyre is Cecil Cook’s daughter.
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