Chapter 11 - Ioribaiwa

Summary

On 10 September 1942 Brigadier Selwyn Porter replaced Potts as commander of Maroubra Force. Porter brought reinforcements, 30th Brigade headquarters and 3rd Battalion. The Australian force defeated at Efogi retreated to join Porter. There was fighting near Menari and, their rearguard under attack as they crossed the Maguli Range, the Australians fell back to a blocking position on Ioribaiwa Ridge, where they were to be further reinforced by 25th Brigade. Something more than another defensive stand was planned. While Porter’s force held the Kokoda Track, 25th Brigade was to leave the track south of Ioribaiwa and march to outflank the Japanese on both sides, as Horii had tried at Isurava. The move was in motion when Kusunose’s pursuit group arrived in front of Ioribaiwa. While Kusunose waited for his guns to come up he probed the Australian position. This was vigorous enough for the Australian composite battalion, formed from the remnants of the 2/14th and 2/16th, to think they had repelled an assault. Unaware that the Australians were reinforced and intending an offensive, Kusunose launched his own attack on the afternoon of 14 September. It was to be his last battle in Papua. So ill that he ran the battle from his bed, he was evacuated soon after.