The "Darkest Hour" refers to the January 23, 1942 Japanese invasion of Rabaul. Fifteen hundred men and six nurses of the Australian Army's "Lark Force" had been deployed to New Britain to fortify and defend Rabaul.

Gamble follows members of the forces including soldiers, junior officers, an American citizen and an Army nurse. Overrun, they fall back to the jungle and the Tol Plantation massacre of 160 prisoners. Also, the tragedy of the prisoners aboard the Montevideo Maru torpedoed July 1, 1942 by SS Sturgeon (SS-187) unaware there were Allied prisoners aboard.

This book was reprinted by Zenith Press in 2014 with a different title: Invasion Rabaul: The Epic Story of Lark Force, the Forgotten Garrison, January - July 1942.

Interview with author Bruce Gamble

Last Updated
September 21, 2023