Papers of Corporal Harry V. Boyne - Part 4

SECURITY
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RECORD OF PERSONAL EQUIPMENT ISSUED TO ARMY NO WX. 13693|
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Australian

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Son of Mine
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Australian

War Memorial

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War Diary from 25-11-42
Wednesday
25/11/43  Bn moved from Pt
Moresby area by plane
16 men plus equipment picks
shovel explosives etc. per
'plane, landed cleared scrub
in DUNA area stayed overnight
at POPINDETTA
Thursday

26^th Marched approx 10 miles
(marching order) on good road to
SUPUTA.
27^th Friday Marched approx [[20?]]
miles (Battle order) on bad roads
very muddy Camped overnight
on [[Kuni?]] patch on road to
GONA.
28^th Saturday Moved at 1300 Hrs
[[?]] [[?]] stages through Kuni

patch towards front line.
1900 Hrs attacked. Strongly
defended M.G. posts approx
17 mile to right of Gona withdrawing
through deep

swamp that night great
difficulty in getting wounded

out but finally successful
in evacuating all wounded.
Sunday 29^th Moved tonight
again coming out on beach
shilst position were bombed
by air and artillery. Advanced

along beach and attacked,
every in well fortified
positions and receiving
good support from theit
sniper which enabled them
to hold out all day Sunday.
Tuesday 30^th Attacking same
positions all day. H.Q. [[?]]
good [[?]] in this [[?]]
enemy finally overcome at
1918 Hrs. Bn moved into
 

village occupying same
that night. few remaining

enemy attended to
Tuesday 1^st to Saturday 5^th

Prceeded along coast

examining villages for

any enemy great number 

of patrols sent out in
this period moved back

to rear at 1800 Hrs 5^th
Sunday 6^th Still in rear
area not much doing
good view of dive-bombing
by Wirraways also dog fights
Monday 7^th Contact made

with enemy west of Gona
fairly strong force met
Patrol of 50 under [[?]]
sent forward to contact them
further patrol sent forward

at 1900 Hrs contact made
with good results much

aerial activity 4 Zeros.
destroyed formation of 18

Jao bombers intercepted
by Cobras 3 being shot
down fairly quiet night
Tuseday 8^th Fairly quiet,
leaflet dropped by Wirraways

hours later concentrated
3" mortar fire, our [[?]]

doing good work assisted by [[?]]

and mortar fire
Wednesday 9^th 0130 Hrs reported

enemy breaking through our

lines - stand to - a lot of firing

in scattered areas approx
100 enemy casualties reported
from these operations.

REmaining occupants given

opportunity of surrendering
but xxxx refused
[*official report
[[21?]] [[?]] [[?]] [[?]]*]

 

and stubbornly resisted

during day small parties

evacuated their positions
armed with grenade only
these were dealt with so

were several other small

parties which were scattered
on either side of Gona Village
during afternoon small

number of prisoners brought
back. Treatment of wounded

walking wounded and

stretcher cases brought
back and given humane
treatment - equal to our

own troops. hot meal

cigarettes blankets and
best of medical attention

Prisioners could not speak

English? but were amazed
at treatment given them
evidently expected the opposite
in poor physical condition
bodies and clothes filthy

had been fighting and

living amongst own dead.
Thursday 10 ^th - Monday 14^th
Small and scattered parties
offering resistance but
Gona officially occupied
(not sure of official date
fall of Gona) Gona a real

battlefield top of cocoanut

trees either shot away or
burnt off - Jap dead everywhere
- official dead buried 638 probably much
higher than this as some

bodies were mere skeletons

evidently been dead some