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 Australian Army February 2, 1945 |
Location Lat 5° 39′ 49″ S Long 154° 42′ 43″ E Tsimba is located on the west coast of northwest of Bougainville Island. To the south is Puto. Prewar and during the Pacific War, part of Kieta District in the Territory of New Guinea and considered part of the North Solomons, Northern Solomons. During 1975 became Bougainville Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). On June 25, 2002 became the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB). Today located in Kunua Rural LLG of Northern Bougainville District. Wartime History During early 1942 Japanese forces occupied Tsimba. During in May 1944 targeted by U.S. aircraft. By late 1944, the Japanese Army 81st Infantry Regiment led by Shinzo Nakamura prepared heavily fortified positions on the high ground of Tsimba Ridge to defended from an attack from any direction. American missions against Tsimba May 1, 1944–May 19, 1944 Tsimba Ridge has a curved knoll dubbed the Amphitheatre, where the mountains pushed the coastal track into a narrow bottleneck against the sea where the ridge has an elevation of 60' and spans inland 200 yards to another feature dubbed the Pimple. South of Tsimba ridge was a native garden and behind were swamps. By late 1944, the Japanese Army 81st Infantry Regiment led by Shinzo Nakamura constructed 300 yards of defensive positions with fire lanes covering every approach. This heavily fortified position had infantry, machine guns and several support guns. Battle of Tsimba Ridge On January 17, 1945 the Australian Army 11th Brigade, 31st/51st Infantry Battalion led by Joseph Kelly begins an attack against Tsimba Ridge with support from 3" and 4.2" mortars from 101st Brigade Support Company and artillery fire from 25 pounders from 4th Field Regiment but encounter strong opposition that will take three weeks to overcome. On January 23, 1945 the Australians moved up a mountain gun allowing direct fire on the ridge. In response, Japanese artillery returned fire. On January 25, 1945 the Australians began a large flanking maneuver that put a force on the northern bank of the Genga River and held out for two weeks against counterattacks. On February 2, 1945 the Australians who captured a pair of guns were photographed with the 47mm Anti-Tank gun Type 1 (1941) and 70mm Battalion Gun Type 92. Later, the guns were shipped as war prizes to Australia and later donated to Blackall, Queensland, the hometown of several soldiers involved in the gun's capture including including Private William Kevin Heaps, QX52246. Private Eric Lindsay Russell, QX56868 and Signalman Stanley Eric Holmes, QX36242. On February 6, 1945 after artillery and mortar barrages, the Australians captured most of the ridge but the Japanese continued to defend a section and counterattacked the next day. On February 9, 1945 the battle ended when the last Japanese defenders on the western edge of the ridge were driven away. The Australians suffered 40 casualties including Private R. Cross and Private Sidney H. Turner, QX42446. The Japanese suffered roughly 70 casualties. After the battle, the Australian Army occupied Tsimba Ridge and the 4th Field Regiment emplaced their guns on the high ground facing north to support the advanced northward towards Matchin Bay and beyond Soraken. References Australian Army Campaign on Bougainville WW2 Nominal Roll - Sidney H. Turner Blackall Centenary Week 1959 Contribute
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