Location
The Willaumez Peninsula is located on the northern coast of New Britain. To the east Stettin Bay, Garua Harbor, Garua Island and Wangore Bay and Kimbe Bay. To the west is Noawa Bay and Riebeck Bay. The peninsula has several volcanic features including Lake Dakatua, Mount Boa, Big Mount Gulu, Little Mount Gulu. At the base of the peninsula is the Kulu River that branches into the north branch and south branch. Villages and plantations include Volupai (Red Beach), Bitokara, Talasea. To the west is Eleanora Bay.

Prewar
The Australian Administration established their headquarters at Talasea. A track connected to the main land to Numundo and San Remo (Kimbe).

Wartime History
Occupied by the Japanese. During 1944, defended by the Japanese 1st Battalion, 54th Infantry commanded by Captain Kiyomatsu Terunuma prepared the defenses at Talasea, after the Marines landed at Cape Gloucester. Japanese straggled through the Talasea area retreating across New Britain towards Rabaul.

On March 6, 1944 United States Marine Corps (USMC) made an amphibious landing at Volupai (Red Beach) and took the area by March 10, facing almost negligible enemy opposition. During the operation, the Marines suffered more casualties tree falls than to enemy action. Afterwards, Talasea became an administrative base for the Americans for a short period.

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Last Updated
October 23, 2019