94 - The 53rd Battalion on the Kokoda Trail
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
Release Date: 01/09/2023
105 - Ralph Honner, the 39th Battalion and Kokoda
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
This is Part 10 of our series looking at the , looking at the combat performance of the 39th Battalion. The 39th Battalion was one of Australia's best Battalions. Formed in Victoria, it's story is similar to that of the 53rd Battalion- but with some key differences. We look at those differences with Dr David Cameron, an expert on the Battles of the Kokoda campaign. Have a listed Dr David Cameron, an expert on the Kookoda Campaign as he discusses the history and performance of the 39th Battalion. Check out the for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in...
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104 - The 39th Battalion on the Kokoda Track
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
This is Part 9 of our series looking at the , looking at the combat performance of the 39th Battalion. This episode discusses the formation of the 39th Battalion, it's preparation for combat and how it performed on the Kokoda Trail. The 39th Battalion is one of the Australian Army's most famous Battalion, a militia battalion that bore the brunt of the Japanese attacks down the Kokoda track. What enabled it to fight so well? Have a listed Dr David Cameron, an expert on the Kookoda Campaign as he discusses the history and performance of the 39th Battalion. Check out the...
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103 - Principles of Training for War
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
This is Part 8 of our series looking at the , Battle of Isurava, the 53rd Battalion, how they fought and how they were prepared to fight. This episode looks at the Principles of Training and how they were(n't) applied by New Guinea Force. We compare it with the preparation of the 6th Division in preparation for it's first battle at Bardia. Bardia illustrates what right looks like for preparing troops for combat. Check out the for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.
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102 - Training a Battalion for War
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
This is Part 7 of our series looking at the Battle of Isurava, the 53rd Battalion, how they fought and how they were prepared to fight. This episode looks at the arrival of both the 39th and 53rd Battalions to Port Moresby, the conditions that they encountered and how that impacted their preparation for combat. What was a day in the life of the soldiers like? How well were the soldiers trained? What were their weapon handling skills like? How well prepared were they for combat in the Jungle? Check out the for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as...
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100 - The fall of Isurava
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
This is the fifth episode in our Kokoda Track series looking at the performance of the 53rd Battalion. The 53rd, a militia Battalion, had some incredibly brave men. Virtually untrained, poorly equipped, with inexperienced leaders, they fought a battle-hardened enemy in some of the worst terrain in the world. This episode looks at the fall of Isurava. Japanese troops in increasing numbers, with increasing persistence and increasing ferocity forced Australian troops to withdraw. Australian efforts to retake Kokoda will need to wait for another day. Check out the show notes for the podcast for...
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101 - Mobilisation Mistakes with the Mice of Moresby
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
This is the sixth episode in our series looking at the performance of the 53rd Battalion. The 53rd, a militia Battalion, had some incredibly brave men. Virtually untrained, poorly equipped and with inexperienced leaders, they fought a battle-hardened enemy in some of the worst terrain in the world. This episode looks at the mistakes in mobilisation that we made that sowed the seeds for the performance of the Battalion on the Kokoda Track at the Battle of Isurava. What are the similiarities between the formation of the 53rd Battalion and the mobilisation of Russian Reserves...
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99 - The Death of a CO
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
This is the fourth episode in our series looking at the performance of the 53rd Battalion. The 53rd, a militia Battalion, had some incredibly brave men. Virtually untrained, poorly equipped, with inexperienced leaders, they fought a battle hardened enemy in some of the worst terrain in the world. This episode looks at the events on the 27th of August, 1942. We discuss how the CO, LT COL Kenneth Ward was killed and the impact it had on the 53rd Battalion and Maroubra Force as they fought desperately to defend Isurava. Check out the for the podcast for all of the...
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98 - Creating the doctrinal and cultural changes for effective Mission Command with Jim Storr
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
This is part 2 of our interview with Dr Jim Storr, the author of Something Rotten: Land Command in the 21st Century. We discuss the correct size for a Headquarters. We discuss the selection and training of officers within the Wehrmacht. How do we affect cultural and doctrinal change within Armies to support the effective use of Mission Command? Jim Storr was an infantry officer in the British Army for 25 years. He served in the British Army of the Rhine for five years in the 1980s. A graduate of the Army Staff College, Camberley, he also worked in the Ministry of Defence, the...
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97 - Time and the importance of timeliness in orders with Jim Storr
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
This episode is with Dr Jim Storr, the author of Something Rotten. Preparing a set of orders is a core function of a Headquarters. Why have today's procedures changed from the what was done in WW2, what have we learnt and are modern HQs fit for purpose? We discuss the form and functioning of Headquarters, looking at people, processes, products and purpose, comparing WW2 doctrine with what is happening today. Jim Storr was an infantry officer in the British Army for 25 years. He served in the British Army of the Rhine for five years in the 1980s. A graduate of the Army...
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96 - The 53rd Battalion at Isurava during the Kokoda Campaign
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
This is the third episode in our series looking at the performance of the 53rd Battalion. The 53rd, a militia Battalion, had some incredibly brave men. Virtually untrained, poorly equipped, with inexperienced leaders, they fought a battle hardened enemy in some of the worst terrain in the world. This episode continues to story of the 53rd Battalion as they start patrolling the jungle around Isurava. Check out the for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.
info_outlineThis episodes starts a new series looking at the Kokoda Track at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This series will look for lessons from the experience of the 53rd Battalion. The 53rd is a sister Battalion to the 49th and the excellent 39th Battalions. There is a marked difference between the 39th and 53rd. Despite incredible bravery, the 53rd struggled to achieve some of that tasks assigned to it (through no fault of their own.) Indeed, many of the men went on to fight bravely in the 55th/53rd and 39th Battalion after the 53rd was disbanded.
We look for lessons in training, leadership, strategic surprise and mobilisation from the 53rd on the Kokoda Trail.
Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.