16 October 1942

At the Battle of Templeton’s Crossing, fresh Australian troops now probing around Japanese positions. Both sides suffering because of the terrain and the many illnesses the jungle conceals.

Captured enemy documents reveal Japs suffered around 1000 casualties during their advance to Ioirbaiwa. The Australian advance is already showing signs of the devastating impact of illness. To date they have lost 24 officers and 706 other ranks to sickness.

General ‘Tubby’ Allen is convinced his commander General Blamey doesn't understand the problems faced by the Diggers as they try to push the enemy back along the Track. He tells Blamey “this country is much tougher than any other previous theatre”.

15 October 1942

Brigadier Ken Eather establishes 25^th Brigade HQ at the Myola dry lakes, east of Kagi village on the Track. It has become the central supply dropping point for the Australian advance.

The 3^rd Battalion is in the vanguard of the advance, battling the Japanese delaying force at Templeton’s Crossing along with the 2/25^th and 2/33^rd Battalions.

Fighting is sporadic during the day and only one Digger is killed in action, Queenslander Private David Walker from the 2/25^th.

14 October 1942

Both sides suffering heavy casualties at Templeton’s Crossing as the Australians try to edge their way around the Japanese defenders on the high ground. Japs fighting back fiercely from prepared concealed weapon pits.

Five Diggers are killed today – Privates Ted James and John Ryan, Cpls Terry Campbell and Fred Woods and Lt Bert Warne – with many more wounded.

13 October 1942

The Australians now strike the main delaying force around Templeton’s Crossing, around 1000 deeply entrenched Japanese troops.

The advancing Australian force totals around 3000, although because of the terrain they cannot bring large numbers against the Japanese defenders, who have a substantial advantage because they are well dug in, often hidden under logs, and have created coordinated supporting fields of fire.

It’s usually agreed that to be confident of success an attacking force should outnumber properly entrenched defenders by at least five to one. It’s the start of a week of desperate close-quarter fighting.

12 October 1942

At 10am C Company 2/33^rd Battalion attacks Jap position at Templeton’s Crossing. In fierce fighting over very small territory about 3m wide by about 70m deep, the Jap defenders fire from weapons pits as the Diggers attack with rifles and grenades.

Four Diggers, Privates Alex Erp, Reg Foott, Les Gunns and Gordon Ludbrook are killed in the action. But the Australians force the enemy to withdraw about 100m further up the Track.

C Company then settles down to wait for the rest of its battalion to reach them around mid afternoon. The battalion is ordered to attack within hours of arriving, with little time to recover from their march and no time for reconnaissance.