105 - Ralph Honner, the 39th Battalion and Kokoda
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
Release Date: 11/27/2023
123 - Jungle Combat in Vietnam with Gary McKay
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics 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...
info_outline
122 - Japanese Lessons Learnt for Jungle Warfare
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics 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...
info_outline
121 - The Jungle Warfare Training Centre, Canungra
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics 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...
info_outline
120 - Preparing for Combat in the Jungle
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics 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_outline
119 - Learning to learn: Jungle Warfare
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics 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 discuss how the Australian Army learnt to learn, starting to collate the lessons learnt from combat with the Japanese in the Jungles, and the process to turn that into doctrine. 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...
info_outline
118 - Jungle Warfare Doctrine Development in the Australian Army
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
We return to the fetid jungles of New Guinea and our , looking at the 53rd Battalion and it's combat performance at Isurava. This episode is the start of a series looking 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. 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_outline
117 - Lessons learnt from Drone combat in Ukraine
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
This special episode is an interview with Sam Bendett from the Center for a New American Security and is an expert on UAS Combat between Ukraine and Russia. This interview covers the lessons learnt so far in the rapidly evolving UAS combat. We discuss how drone combat has evolved from the point of view of the Russian and Ukrainian forces, how it is impacting manouvre on the battlefield and how the combined arms effect is generated with a range of UAS platforms. From FPV (First Person View) drones through to LRF (Long Range Fires) UAS, we discuss the changing character of...
info_outline
116 - Air Power during the Kokoda and Milne Bay Campaigns.
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
How did air power influence the Kokoda Campaign? We review the employment of air power and compare it with the Milne Bay operation, where Air Power's effect was described as 'decisive' by both MAJGEN Clowes and LTGEN Rowell. The episode picks up the story with the elevation of Les Jackson to CO of No 75 Squadron after the death of his brother, John. We discuss the importance of training pilots for the responsibilities for Squadron Command and the requirement for a panel of potential candidates, before looking at the Battle of Milne Bay. This is Part 18 of our series looking at the...
info_outline
115 - No. 75 Squadron Leadership at Port Moresby
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
What was RAAF Leadership like in No. 75 Squadron at Port Moresby. We look at the career and Leadership of Squadron Leader John Jackson, a great RAAF pilot who lead from the front. We look at the tactics that he developed to fight the more agile Japanese Zeroes and what was it that caused him to ignore his own tactics on the day that he was shot down and killed. This is Part 17 of our series looking at the , focusing on the combat performance of battalions on the Kokoda Track and how the militia were prepared for combat at the tactical, operational and strategic level. This episode...
info_outline
114 - P40Es vs Zeroes - 75 Squadron and their 44 days at Port Moresby
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership.
How did the P-40E compare against the Japanese Zero? We look at how Australia was prepared for the war in the air over Port Moresby. How well were the pilots prepared and how well was the squadron bought up to operational standard? This is Part 16 of our series looking at the , focusing on the combat performance of battalions on the Kokoda Track and how the militia were prepared for combat at the tactical, operational and strategic level. This episode looks at the first combats fought over the skies of Port Moresby and how the Squadron Leader of No 75 Squadron, John...
info_outlineThis is Part 10 of our series looking at the Kokoda Campaign, 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 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.
Dr David Cameron's Biography
David Cameron received first class Honours in Prehistory, University of Sydney and a PhD in Palaeoanthropology, Australian National University. He has written over twenty books covering Australian Military History, Colonial History, and Evolutionary Science with over 70 internationally peer reviewed papers published in various journals and book chapters. He is a former Australian Research Council Post Doctoral Fellow, School of Archaeology, Australian National University; and an Australian Research Council QEII Fellow in the Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Sydney. He has conducted and led several international fieldwork projects in Europe (Hungary), Asia (Vietnam, India, and Japan), and the Middle East (Turkey, Jordan, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates) and conducted extensive museum studies and conferences (United States, Europe, and Asia). Before retiring in 2023, he was a senior analyst in the Australian Intelligence Community.
Books on the Papua Campaign by Dr Cameron:
Cameron, D.W. (in preparation – December 2024.) The Battle for Milne Bay, Big Sky Publishing
Cameron, D.W. (in preparation – August 2024) Sanananda, Bastard of a Place: The Battle for the Beachhead, 1942-43, Big Sky Publishing
Cameron, D.W. (in press – November 2023) Bloody Buna: The Battle for the Beachhead, 1942-43, Big Sky Publishing
Cameron, D.W. (2023) Gona’s Gone: The Battle for the Beachhead 1942, Big Sky Publishing
Cameron, D.W. (2022) Retaking Kokoda: The Australian Advance Across the Owen Stanleys, Big Sky Publishing
Cameron, D.W. (2022) Saving Port Moresby: Fighting at the End of the Kokoda Track, Big Sky Publishing
Cameron, D.W. (2022) The Battle for Isurava: Fighting on the Kokoda Track in the heart of the Owen Stanleys, Big Sky Publishing
Cameron, D.W. (2020) The Battles for Kokoda Plateau: Three Weeks of Hell Defending the Gateway to the Owen Stanleys, Allen & Unwin Australia