25 November 1942

The Australians resume their ground attacks against the Japanese positions at Gona, with the 3^rd Battalion assaulting from the south-west with new-found support from machine guns, mortars and 25-pounder artillery.

The Diggers break through in a number of places and advance around 50 metres but are again stymied by impenetrable bunkered strongpoints, expertly protected by interlacing fields of fire.

Heavy enemy fire forces the Diggers to break off the attack late in the afternoon with light casualties. Eight Australians die on the day but only one killed in action, the others die from earlier wounds or from illness.

24 November 1942

Heavy casualties force Australians to break off contact at Gona and withdraw as requests for air support to suppress the Japanese defences are answered at last.

Diggers get a respite as Allied fighters strafe and drop light bombs on Jap positions throughout the morning, followed by heavy bombers in mid afternoon.

The flood of earlier Aust casualties is stemmed and only one Digger, Pte Kevin Flaherty of 2/33^rd is lost, dying of wounds received earlier.

23 November 1942

The Battle for Gona is quickly degenerating into swamp siege warfare as an early morning attack by the 2/25^th and 2/31^st Battalions makes little ground at great cost.

The Japanese are deeply entrenched with carefully sited machine-gun and rifle fire support and they mow down the waves of Australian attackers as they try to cross the open ground.

The Australians lose 32 killed in action for the second day running and at least 100 seriously wounded, bringing the total killed at Gona to 73 and taking it past 700 for the Kokoda campaign to date.

Added to the battle casualties are the rapidly growing losses from sickness and disease. The Australians know they cannot sustain this level of losses for long.

22 November 1942

Battle for Gona explodes into action as Diggers launch attacks from the west and along the beach. The defenders fight back fiercely with a heavy barrage of automatic fire.

The leading Australian attack reaches the Jap defensive pits but the attack fades after the Diggers find themselves enfiladed from both sides. Sgt Ken Davy and Cpl Allen Pullyn are awarded the Military Medal for their leadership and bravery during the attack.

The Diggers lose 32 killed in the action and more than 50 seriously wounded.

21 November 1942

Australians preparing for a major attack tomorrow on Jap positions at Gona. The Diggers have now been resupplied by air and have been stockpiling ammunition and supplies in readiness for the attack, although a considerable proportion of the airdrops are unrecoverable and some are even dropped into the Jap positions.

The Diggers and their on-ground commanders are concerned at the lack of time for properly reconnoitering the enemy positions but High Command is determined to push the advance without delay. The attack will go in tomorrow.