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Finally, I am acutely aware of the debt that I owe to the men of the 7thAustralian Infantry Brigade, whose personal papers and diaries made this studypossible. It was at times difficult analysing their successes and failures, particularlywhen one has not faced similar trials. Theodore Roosevelt put it best when he saidin 1910:It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong manstumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongsto the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat andblood, who strives valiantly …1I can only hope that the officers and soldiers of the brigade who were in theBougainville arena in 1944 and 1945 view this paper from Roosevelt’s perspective.Their experiences, good and bad, are most valuable for those in the modernAustralian Army who carry on their memory.This paper is dedicated to my sister, Dr Elizabeth Karlie Keating.Cover imagesUpper front: Private J.J. Ryan, 9th Battalion, receives medical attention after beingwounded during the attack on Little George Hill, November 1944. Fear of death andmaiming and exposure to dead and wounded men were significant combat stressors.(Credit: Australian War Memorial Negative Number 077315)Lower front: Private R.C. Male, 25th Battalion, receives a cigarette after being woundedin late December 1944. Sound logistics and administration, particularly the provision ofadequate medical support, played key roles in maintaining combat effectiveness. (Credit:Australian War Memorial Negative Number 078035)Back: Extreme physical discomfort and fatigue were potential sources of combat stress.Here Private W.T. Rae rests beside his water-filled weapon pit after an all night vigilagainst possible Japanese infiltration, Bougainville, January 1945. (Credit: Australian WarMemorial Negative Number 078552)1 Theodore Roosevelt, ‘Citizen in a Republic: The Man in the Arena’, address at theSorbonne, Paris, 23 April 1910.iv — A tale of three battalions
Land Warfare Studies CentreThe Australian Army established the LWSC in July 1997 through the amalgamationof several existing staffs and research elements.The charter of the LWSC is to promote the wider understanding and appreciationof land warfare; provide an institutional focus for applied research into the useof land power by the Australian Army; and raise the level of professional andintellectual debate within the Army. The LWSC fulfils these roles through arange of internal reports and external publications; a program of conferences,seminars and debates; and contributions to a variety of professional, academicand community forums. Additional information on the centre may be found onthe Internet at .Comment on this working paper is welcome and should be forwarded in writingto:The Director, Land Warfare Studies CentreIan Campbell Road, Duntroon ACT 2600AUSTRALIATelephone: (02) 6265 9890Facsimile: (02) 6265 9888Email: DisclaimerThe views expressed are the author’s and not necessarily those of the AustralianArmy or the Department of Defence. The Commonwealth of Australia will notbe legally responsible in contract, tort or otherwise for any statement made inthis publication.A tale of three battalions — v
Page 1 and 2: A tale of three battalions:combat m
Page 3: About the AuthorMajor Gavin Keating
Page 7 and 8: ContentsAbout the Author ..........
Page 9 and 10: IntroductionTo those who have known
Page 11 and 12: limitations of military efficiency
Page 13 and 14: operations in the most expeditious
Page 15 and 16: II Australian Corps area of operati
Page 17 and 18: AIF. Only two of the battalion 2ICs
Page 19 and 20: Swank and Marchland’s study of Al
Page 21 and 22: for giving meaning to the efforts o
Page 23 and 24: Part One7th Brigade’s Campaign on
Page 25 and 26: attle experience’.81 Matthews lat
Page 27 and 28: Southern Sector—January to May 19
Page 29 and 30: 7th Brigade area of operations, sou
Page 31 and 32: a series of patrol clashes with sma
Page 33 and 34: his officers and men are saying ope
Page 35 and 36: ‘We have been in contact for seve
Page 37 and 38: BM says 61 Bn in bad state, troops
Page 39 and 40: to endeavour to open the LOC with t
Page 41 and 42: Plate 1: Brigadier J. Field, comman
Page 43 and 44: Plate 5: A jeep train, in support o
Page 45 and 46: The brigadier visited a 61st compan
Page 47 and 48: Part TwoExplanations of Morale and
Page 49 and 50: Table 3: 7th Brigade Incidence of D
Page 51 and 52: It has been argued that Dexter’s
Page 53 and 54: Many adverse reports on officers we
Page 55 and 56:
There was also irony in Field’s c
Page 57 and 58:
That is 60 men they will never see
Page 59 and 60:
just over a week after it commenced
Page 61 and 62:
In many ways the 25th Battalion’s
Page 63 and 64:
elieved that his instructions to th
Page 65 and 66:
‘A number of refusals to go on pa
Page 67 and 68:
higher proportion of forceful leade
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ConclusionPrevious studies of the c
Page 71 and 72:
and return to Torokina supports thi
Page 73 and 74:
BibliographyUnpublished RecordsAust
Page 75 and 76:
Denham, Peter, The Blue Diamonds: H
Page 77 and 78:
Land Warfare Studies CentrePublicat
Page 79 and 80:
118 Blaxland, John, Information-era
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