94 - The 53rd Battalion on the Kokoda Trail
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
Release Date: 01/09/2023
128 - Rebuilding an Army: Morale, Leadership, Training and Mission Command in the 14th Army with Slim
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
How did Slim rebuild the 14th Army after it's 1,000 mile withdrawal from Burma? We look at how lessons were learnt and doctrine was developed to forge an Army capable of taking on the Japanese. We discuss the important question - what makes an Army officer a good trainer of soldiers. This interview is the second part of a 3 part series with Dr Robert Lyman, the expert on the Burma Campaign and Field Marshall Sir William Slim. 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...
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127 - The General who wouldn't quit: Slim and the longest retreat
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
The withdrawal from Burma was almost 1,000 miles in 100 days and yet Slim, as commander of Burma Corps, maintained his optimism throughout the operation. We look at Slim's early career and background to study his optimism and resilience in the face of an overwhelmingly poor tactical situation. This interview is the first part of a 3 part series with Dr Robert Lyman, the expert on the Burma Campaign and Field Marshall Sir William Slim. 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...
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126 - Care of the wounded on the Kokoda Track
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This episode looks at the care of the wounded on the Kokoda Track. What level of care did sick and wounded soldiers receive? Why was the medical planning still being conducted whilst the Battle of Isurava was in progress? What was the issue with medical logistics and how were casualties to be casevaced from the battlefield? We listen to the story of CAPT Stan Bissett as he describes how his brother Butch was wounded just north of Isurava and later died of his wounds. Medical care was provided under the most difficult conditions, in the jungle, in steep terrain and during the...
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The Military Decision Making and Planning Process
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This episode is a cross-post from . This is a recording of MAJGEN Mick Krause, AM - the author the new ADF-I-5 doctrine - Decision Making and Planning Processes. He presented a PME session at Holdsworthy Barracks to discuss the new doctrine. ADF-I-5 Decision Making and Planning Processes replaces the Joint JMAP (Joint Military Appreciation Process) doctrine along with the Army LWD 5-1-4 The Military Appreciation Process. It covers in role of the Commander in the planning process and the importance of timeliness in the decision making and production of orders process. Check...
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125 - Medical considerations on the Kokoda Track
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
What medical treatment was avaiable for the soldiers fighting on the Kokoda Track. How were ill and injured soldiers cared for and what were the difficulties in providing surgical and medical care in the austere conditions of the Jungles of Kokoda? This episode continues our 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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124 - Leadership lessons from the Jungles of Vietnam with Gary McKay
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This episode is the second of a two part interview with retired LTCOL Gary McKay, who was a Platoon Commander in Vietnam, in D Coy, 4 RAR. He fought in Op Ivanhoe at the battle of Nui Le, where he was wounded. For his awarded the Military Cross for his performance during the battle. He was later the Commanding Officer of 8/9 RAR between 1988 and 1990. This episode continues our The training, doctrine and tactics used in Vietnam are a legacy of the expensive lessons learnt in the jungles of New Guinea. Gary discusses the Battle of Nui Le, a part of Op Ivanhoe. Gary...
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123 - Jungle Combat in Vietnam with Gary McKay
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This episode is the first of a two part interview with retired LTCOL Gary McKay, who was a Platoon Commander in Vietnam, in D Coy, 4 RAR. He fought in Op Ivanhoe at the battle of Nui Le, where he was wounded. For his awarded the Military Cross for his performance during the battle. He was later the Commanding Officer of 8/9 RAR between 1988 and 1990. This episode continues our It specifically looks at how Australian soldiers were prepared for combat in the jungle and also looks at what makes jungle combat one of the most difficult types of terrain to fight in. As you are...
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122 - Japanese Lessons Learnt for Jungle Warfare
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This episode continues our This episode is Part 5 of our interview with Dr with Dr Adrian Threlfall, an expert in how the Australian Army learned to learn about combat in the jungles of Malaya, Singapore, Papua, New Guinea, and many other islands to the north of Australia. This episode looks at the introduction of the Jungle Scales Division into the Australian Army, the development of the Owen Gun and finally how the Japanese adapted to Australian tactically improvements in Jungle Warfare. Check out the for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as...
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121 - The Jungle Warfare Training Centre, Canungra
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This episode continues our This episode is Part 4 of our interview with Dr with Dr Adrian Threlfall, an expert in how the Australian Army learned to learn about combat in the jungles of Malaya, Singapore, Papua, New Guinea, and many other islands to the north of Australia. This episode discusses the development of the Jungle Warfare Training Centre, Canungra, the role that it played in preparing soldiers for combat in the Jungle and the legacy it created for the Australian Army as experts in jungle warfare. Check out the for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this...
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120 - Preparing for Combat in the Jungle
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This episode continues our This episode looks at Jungle Warfare Doctrine Development, with Dr Adrian Threlfall, an expert in how the Australian Army learned to learn about combat in the jungles of Malaya, Singapore, Papua, New Guinea, and many other islands to the north of Australia. We look at how the soldiers prepared for combat in the Jungle against the Imperial Japanese Army. What were the barriers to the lessons learnt process? We look at the British Army and allies in Burma, the Marines on Guadalcanal and the Australian Army in New Guinea. Check out the for the...
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.