Japanese troops reached Lae and Salamaua in New Guinea by 8 March 1942. Following a Japanese landing in the Philippines on 10 December 1941, Bataan surrendered on 9 April 1942 and Corregidor a month later. Fortunately the US Navy, supported by ships of the RAN, turned back a Japanese convoy headed for Port Moresby at the Battle of the Coral Sea on 5-8 May. After a further naval defeat at Midway on 4-6 June, the Japanese attempted an overland attack against Port Moresby.

In December 1941 Australia's seven militia divisions were mobilised and, early in January 1942, Australia agreed to redeploy the 1st Australian Corps (6th and 7th Divisions ) from the Middle East to the Far East. At about the same time the Port Moresby garrison was strengthened by two militia battalions and other units. The destination of 1st Australian Corps was changed to Australia following the fall of Singapore.

In March-April 1942 the United States formed the South West Pacific Command and, with Australia’s agreement, General Douglas MacArthur was appointed supreme commander, with General Sir Thomas Blamey as his Commander Allied Land Forces.

The Japanese continued their campaign to seize New Guinea and on 21-22 July 1942 landed two infantry regiments with supporting troops at Gona and quickly moved inland to the northern start of the Kokoda Track. They planned to advance across this tortuous path and take Port Moresby from the north. The small Australian forces in the Buna/Gona area, and later the 39th Battalion coming up the Track to reinforce Kokoda fought a desperate rearguard action but were pushed all the way across the mountains to Isurava. On 23 August, the 21st Brigade of the 7th Division was sent into action on the Track. Fierce fighting continued but after a desperate struggle the Australians withdrew closer to Port Moresby.

Meanwhile Milne Bay had been reinforced by Army and RAAF units under the command of Major General Cyril Clowes, which pre-empted a Japanese landing force attempt to capture the Bay as additional base from which to advance on Port Moresby. The Australian Army and Air force worked together to defeat the Japanese amphibious force. Two weeks after landing the Japanese withdrew their survivors. This was the first time in the Pacific War that a Japanese amphibious force had been defeated.113

By 2 November the reinforced Australians had retaken Kokoda and on 11 November Japanese fighting units were forced to abandon Oivi. By 13 November the Australians had reached the Kumusi River. The battle for the Kokoda Track was over, although Japanese units continued to resist strongly in the extremely difficult terrain adjoining the coast around Buna, Gona and Sanananda until mid-January 1943.

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