The Hard Slog
Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944–45

The first major study since 1963 to examine the historic Australian military campaign of 1944–1945 at Bougainville in the South Pacific.

Karl James (Author)

9781107017320, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 April 2012

334 pages, 47 b/w illus. 23 maps
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.62 kg

"...excellent new book..." -Richard Tada, ArmchairGeneral.com

The island of Bougainville in the South Pacific was the site of one of the largest and most gruelling campaigns fought by Australian forces during the Second World War. During the offensive against the Japanese from November 1944 to August 1945, more than 500 Australians were killed and two Victoria Crosses awarded. A veteran later described Bougainville as 'one long bloody hard slog'. Despite this, little is known about the campaign, which was dismissed as an unnecessary and costly operation. In the first major study of the Bougainville campaign since 1963, Karl James argues that it was in fact a justifiable use of Australia's military resources. Drawing on original archival research, including wartime reports and soldiers' letters and diaries, James illustrates the experience of Australian soldiers who fought. Generously illustrated with over forty photographs, this important book tells how this often overlooked battle played an important part in Australia's Second World War victory.

1. The unnecessary war
2. Torokina and the Outer Islands
3. The Central Sector
4. The Northern Sector
5. The Southern Sector
6. Slater's Knoll
7. To Buin
8. Peace.

Subject Areas: Second World War [HBWQ], Military history [HBW], Australasian & Pacific history [HBJM]