Bravery Above Blunder describes the 9th Australian Division's role in the Allied counter-offensive against Japan in northern New Guinea in 1943-44. In three actions at Finschhafen, Sattelberg and Sio, the 9th Division fought with distinction. Little has been written about this campaign, and the 9th Division has not been given the recognition it deserves for its role.

Lieutenant-General John Coates, a former Chief of the General Staff, Australian Army, has interviewed veterans and studied Australian, American and Japanese records to describe and analyse the campaign. The narrative moves between the highest levels of strategy and decision-making and the tactical level of the private soldier in his weapon pit or on patrol in the jungle. The drama and momentum of actions are vividly conveyed, with a real sense of actuality and much telling human detail. The bravery of the troops is counterpoised with blunder by senior commanders. General Douglas MacArthur and his staff, remote from the theatre of war, underestimated Japanese strength in the area and failed to provide reinforcements when their error became obvious. The Japanese commander, Hatazo Adachi, had anticipated an Allied amphibious strike at Finschhafen and concentrated troops to repel it, but failed to capitalise on his advantage.

The 9th Division had already covered itself in glory in the North African desert at Tobruk and El Alamein. In New Guinea, although dogged by inadequate doctrine, training and equipment, it rapidly mastered jungle warfare and fought magnificently. Yet the troops have received scant recognition for their commitment and sacrifice; MacArthur in contrast has received enormous praise. The book seeks to give due credit to one of Australia's most famous divisiona in one of its least known but most demanding campaigns.

Review

Reviewer: Peter Pierce

The title is ponderous and promises a familiar indictment of the stupidity of military leadership redeemed by the heroics of ordinary soldiers.

In fact, General John Coates' masterly study of the campaign of the Australian 9th Division against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943-44 is more subtle and complex.

General Douglas MacArthur does not fare well. Coates regards his early peremptory orders as "both ill-informed and maladroit".

But Australian soldiers - from Herring, Morshead and Wootten at the top to men such as "Diver" Derrick, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in the assault on Sattelberg - enjoy his judicious praise.

And there is another side to the combat. One of the most impressive aspects of the book is its account of Japanese strategies and commanders, and the operational difficulties under which the enemy fought.

Coates traces the fighting history of the 9th Division from North Africa, where it conducted the "offensive defence" of Tobruk and distinguished itself at El Alamein, to its transfer into the radically different jungle terrain of New Guinea.

Bravery Above Blunder moves with assurance from matters of grand, Pacific-wide strategy to close-range, terrifying individual contact in battle.

Coates writes evocatively of the land on which men fought, of their heroics and of the bungles from which they had to extricate themselves. Among the latter, the botched amphibious landings at Scarlet Beach, near Finschhafen, are unpleasantly reminiscent of Gallipoli.

The maps that intersperse Coates' narrative are lucid and illuminating.

As it recovers an almost forgotten but impressive passage of arms, for all Australians, Bravery Above Blunder is destined to become an exemplary text for the next generation of our officer cadets.