In Papua from July 1942 to January 1943 over 120,000 people from four regions fought, or supported the fighting troops. The largest group were Australians, 56,000 of whom were at one time or another either in Papua or involved in air and sea operations there. The Americans, allied to the Australians, contributed 24,000 men. Their enemy the Japanese had 27,000 men, some not from Japan but from its empire, involved in Papuan operations. About 18,000 people from what is now Papua New Guinea, but was then the Australian Territories of Papua and New Guinea, fought, scouted and carried supplies for both sides.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 05:05:49 +0000