Trooper Benjamin (Ben) Love was 34 when he fought at Sanananda. His diary recorded the ordeal.
Born in England, Ben enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in July 1940. He was posted to the 2/7th Cavalry Regiment, which went to the Middle East equipped with tanks but saw no action there, and returned home in early 1942.
Later that year the regiment sailed to Port Moresby. After a little training in 'jungle', its 350 men were told that at last they would be seeing action—but as infantry. They flew out on 15 December:
Took off at 9 a.m. over mountains and jungle the whole journey. Reached Popondetta strip 9.35 a.m.—just a clearing of jungle roughly 1000 yds long 200 yards wide [915 x 185 metres] and cannot be used after heavy rain.
Weary men returning from battle warned 'it's tough up there'.
The regiment marched to Huggins' Road-Block on the Sanananda Track. It was heavy going over slushy tracks. Nearing their positions, they entered a clearing where patrols had clashed:
… dozens of Jap bodies about, only the bones with all clothing on them—phew! what a smell …
On 19 December the regiment saw heavy fighting. Ben's troop, in reserve, waited to be called forward:
We started 2.30 p.m.—what a time we had—crawling through that kunai [grass], along paths made by other Sqds [Squadrons]—all along was abandoned gear—heat was terrific and weight of pack etc made it a real nightmare. About 50 yds up a m/g [machine-gun] or two gave us the works. Gerry, Rod and I were fairly close together and did we keep flat—gosh! there were a few of those bullets that came mightily close—word then came down line—just ahead log lay across path—roll over it quickly—covered by sniper—one man already killed getting over. Delightful little message, gave one pleasant thoughts of what lay ahead. I did not get far when another order came along—about turn, back to Huggins—don't think any of us were sorry …
Alongside Americans, they spent days in rain-filled foxholes or patrolling. Nights were tense:
It is a strain on the old nerves doing the hour 'watch' through the night. One in four we do—every time a branch shakes or a leaf falls everyone becomes tense, rifles & Owen-guns are grasped tightly as we crouch down in our holes—you cannot see, only listen—and wait. Then suddenly shots ring out—someone, somewhere in that blackness has started a little game of blind shooting practice.
On New Year's Eve, fighting patrols along enemy supply routes began:
For 3 hours we sat, silent and still, but nothing happened. The journey back to our perimeter in dark was no joke & we were mighty glad to hear a ready reply to our password signal when approaching the spot we judged was [our] perimeter outer line.
In jest, the men wished each other 'a pleasant and prosperous New Year'. Three days later, Ben lost more friends killed and wounded. More were evacuated with malaria or other illnesses.
The days dragged on. On 9 January, the crack 18th Infantry Brigade AIF took over. On the 12th, Ben visited a YMCA tea hut behind the lines. He read Guinea Gold, the forces' newspaper, its headline declaring:
JAPS IN SANANANDA AREA FACE ANNIHILATION then lots more bullsh__ that read as though it was all over bar shouting.
The fighting continued. The 2/7th got a new job burying the dead—a dreadful task handling swollen, rotting, stinking bodies, including those of friends.
Finally, on 22 January, the battle ended. Next day, the regiment's last 92 men departed—exhausted but proud. On the 25th, they flew to Port Moresby and five days later sailed for home:
As we stood looking at the receding coast line, now barely visible in growing darkness, a chap standing close by said in most emphatic tones 'Well, I suppose a fellow is lucky to be here, all I hope is that they never send me back to fight in this B___ stinking country of New Guinea. To those profound words of wisdom Trp Love murmured a fervent 'Amen'.
[Trooper Benjamin Love, diary, AWM 3DRL/7211—reproduced with permission of Mr Benjamin Love]
The 2/7th Cavalry Regiment, retitled the 2/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment, saw further action in Borneo in 1945.