23 January 1943

The Papuan campaign has seen 1972 Australians die: 1449 killed in action; 127 missing, presumed killed; a further 286 have died of wounds; and 110 died from accidents and illness on active service.

The campaign has been catastrophic for the Japanese invaders. Perhaps only 10 percent of the 14,000 troops from the Nankai Shitai (or South Seas Force) who landed in July 1942 ever returned home.