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 AWM April 9, 1944 |
Location The Battle of Eora Creek was fought between the Australian Army and Japanese Army at Eora Creek (Iora Creek) in the Eora Valley along the Kokoda Trail in the Owen Stanley Range of New Guinea. Today located in Kokoda Rural LLG, Sohe District of Oro Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Wartime History During the Kokoda Campaign, two battles were fought at this location. The first was the Battle of Eora Creek September 1-2, 1942 with the Australian Army defending the area against the advancing Japanese Army. The second was the Battle of Eora Creek October 22-29, 1942 when the advancing Australian Army 16th Brigade fought defending Japanese. Battle of Eora Creek (September 1-2, 1942) By September 1, 1942 the Japanese reached the Eora Creek village area and opened fire as the Australians were still withdrawing. The Australians defended the area withdrawing at dawn on September 2, 1942 across the Eora Creek and continued to defend from the south side until midnight. During their defense, the Australians killed an estimated 170 Japanese and suffered nine dead. On September 3, 1942 the Japanese occupied the Eora Creek area and used it as a staging base for their advance southward along the Kokoda Trail. During early September 1942 targeted by Allied aircraft. American missions against Eora Creek (Iora Creek) September 6, 1942 Following the Japanese withdrawal northward, this area was developed with defenses against the advancing Australians. To defend the Eora Creek area, the Japanese established strong defensive positions at Etoa on a ridge overlooking the area supported by machine guns and rifle pits. Nearby they emplaced heavy weapons including a single mountain gun and two mortars with access to a supply of fresh water. Meanwhile, in early October 1942 the Australian Army 16th Brigade under the command of Brigadier John Lloyd including the 2/3rd Battalion advanced along the Kokoda Trail followed by the 2/2nd Battalion and the 2/1st Battalion. By October 19, 1942 they relieved the 25th Brigade at Templeton's Crossing then began advancing towards Eora Creek village. Battle of Eora Creek (October 22-29, 1942) On October 22, 1942 at 10:30am the first elements of the 2/3rd reached Eora Creek village and were fired on by Japanese positions from higher elevation to the north at Etoa. Other Australians to the south of Eora were observed by Japanese spotters and targeted with mortar fire. During the night they crossed northward until detected until detected and fired on and suffered 35 killed. During the night of October 23-24, 1942 was a stalemate with the 2/1st and 2/2nd to the south still waiting to advance. For the next two days, the Australians attempted to outflank the Japanese but made little progress and heavy rainfall causing Eora Creek to flood. By October 27, 1942 the Japanese tightened their perimeter. Meanwhile, most of the Australians had crossed Eora Creek but were facing difficult resupply and evacuation of wounded due to combat and the rain that washed away one of the log bridges. On October 28, 1942 the 2/1st began advancing uphill making frontal attacks with limited visibility and sustained heavy casualties. Meanwhile, the 2/3rd Battalion had been attempting to flank the Japanese discovered high ground the enemy had neglected to defend and then attacked downhill on the Japanese positions causing the surviving defenders to flee. On October 29, 1942 the Australians began advancing northward in pursuit of the retreating Japanese. The Battle of Eora Creek resulted in the Australians loosing 79 dead plus 145 wounded. In total, 99 Australians were killed plus 192 were wounded between October 20-29, 1942. This was the largest casualties of any battle in the Kokoda campaign. The Japanese suffered unknown casualties, likely as many as the Australians. Afterwards, the Australian dead were initially buried at Eora Creek War Cemetery. Today A memorial is located at Eora Creek. References Australian Army 2/6th Field Company Engineers Track Report - September 1942 "Eora Creek approximately a dozen natives huts in open clearing situation on ridge of a spur approx 300 ft above a swift stream." AWM - Eora Creek AWM "Kokoda front line [unedited]" F01212 includes footage at Eora Creek village August 28, 1942 Field Guide to the Kokoda Track by Bill James (2006) pages 285 (map), 294 (map), 295 (profile map) 298-306 (Eora Creek), 301 (Australian casualties Eora Creek withdrawal - September 2-3, 1942), 303 (map Battle of Eora Creek October 27-28, 1942), 307-308 (Australian casualties Eora Creek casualty list - October-November 1942), 309-310 (Parer photo then & now), 312 (map Eora Creek village to Isurava), 313 (profile map: Eora Creek village to Isurava battle site) Contribute
Information Last Updated
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 Map Oct 27-28, 1942 |
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