War in Australia – Death, hate, violence, innocence – Clash of cultures

(This Postcard is one of my 'Postcard Snippets' range. Intentionally abbreviated, little more than introductions to a complex subject. Often, they first appeared as spontaneous Posts on Facebook or LinkedIn, sometimes on the anniversary of a historical event discussed therein. I provide links and suggestions to the interested reader so they may follow the bouncing ball and discover more about the endlessly fascinating stories History and Time Travel expose.)  

On the 7th of December 1941, Australia was at war with Japan. Both Countries commenced their catastrophic clash of cultures in the Pacific. Australia declared war on Japan, in consequence of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. That surprise attack awoke the sleeping giant that was the United States. It was however, along with the British Commonwealth, woefully unprepared for war. Japan had the upper hand as a result of preparation, recent combat experience, and shear bloody ruthlessness.

Then things changed as a result of two primary victories. Firstly, men such as though below, halted, reversed, and then drove the Japanese forces out of New Guinea. Secondly, in parallel with the first action, A combined US and Aussie fleet, defeated the Japanese Imperial Navy in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

One of my passions is Time travel, you may recognize it more readily as the study of history. Military history remains at the forefront of historical studies, above all because it contains so many lessons about the nature of humans.

Japan brings war Downunder.

23rd January 1942, Japan landed on New Guinea, approaching Australia via the Kokoda Track. After a year of brutal, ruthless, slaughter, where few POWs on either side were taken; on the 9th of December 1942 Japan began its withdrawal from New Guinea. But such withdrawal came with a problem. Japanese Imperial forces had no military order for retreat, they had never needed too or even drilled a retreat action. The commanding General had a pragmatic solution:

“Advance to the rear“.

General Tomitarō Horii

However, it was not that simple. Aussie men, men of my grandfathers and father’s generation, men just like those below, they weren’t having any of this simply walking away routine. Consequently, they chased the Japanese all the way out of New Guinea, well actually most Japanese boys stayed permanently, rotting in the ground.

Yes, typical of Aussie troops, what are scruffy lot! They might have been unkept, but when Australia was at war, well these blokes stepped up.

1941 multicultural Australia at war.

This photograph is historically interesting, because of the two issues it illustrates:

• An Australian will recognize the multicultural mix we already were by 1941. First Nations, fair skinned Scots, olive skinned Italians and Welsh, light-built Angles and heavy-built Saxons – All Australian; and
• For a Country caught with its pants down by the outbreak of war, well in barely more than half an Infantry Section, there are by 1942 standards, a predominant number of automatic weapons. 303 Bren Gun, jungle clearing sweeper, usually fired from the hip in advance, and supplying fire support in withdrawal. The .45 Thompson Machine Gun of 1920’s gangster fame, a heavy unreliable weapon, but critical fire power at close quarters in New Guinea’s heavy rainforest. Devastatingly effective when poked through the firing port of a once concealed Japanese bunker.

Scruffy Aussies at War.

“I saw an Australian step out of the jungle, naked other than a pair of torn shorts, firing a Thompson with one hand, he threw grenades with the other. I knew we could not defeat men such as these.”

A Japanese Warrant Officer

Australia at War – Lest we Forget, but please don’t celebrate.

On ANZAC day, Australians and New Zealanders stop and remember the sacrifice of men such as these. War is the worst form of human behaviour. As a result, war must always be the last resort. Of course, sometime wars of self-defense are the inevitable response to aggression. The Rules of War must be maintained, otherwise we many never find our way back to peace. It’s difficult to consider peace with an enemy, who invaded without provocation, and then rapped, pillaged, tortured and cannibalized their way across your Country. The alternative to war by rules is simply terrorism and inhuman brutality.

17,000 Aussie men like these, died in the War against Japan, 8,000 of these as starved, brutalized, tortured, and over worked prisoners of war.

10,000 Japanese boys marched down the Kokoda Track, New Guinea toward Australia – Less than 600 would ever see Japan again.

Fortunately, Australia and Japan are now close friends, as Australia is with Vietnam, after similar brutal combat. No holds barred enemies, don’t have to remain so, things can change, but both sides must make the choice.

Lest we forget out shared humanity in our present troubled times.