Brigage Hill
By the time the withdrawal reached Brigade Hill, the three AIF battalions were able to fight together for the first time. The 2/14 th, 2/16 and the 2/27 th battalions took up defensive positions on the high ground at Brigade Hill and Mission Ridge. But the Japanese brought up even more troops and made a final concerted assault, aiming to wipe out the defenders with a knock-out blow.
In their first action against the Japanese, the newly-arrived 2/27 th held the forward position with the other two units on ridges behind them. In a furious attack, the Japanese threw themselves at the Australians and drove a wedge between the two positions. Many who had survived the cauldron at Isurava, like Charlie McCallum, fell trying to hold Brigade Hill. Others, like Captains ‘Lefty’ Langridge and Claude Nye died in magnificent but futile attempts to break through to brigade headquarters against impossible odds.
“I particularly think of blokes like ‘Lefty’ Langridge and Cluade Nye, one with a company of the 2/16 th and the other with a company of the 2/14 th who were ordered to go around the right flank where the Japanese were, to try to force a way through them to Brigade Hill. They knew they couldn’t do it. They knew they were going to die. Langridge handed over his pay book and his dog tags to one of his mates. He was a brave soldier. So was Claude Nye. They were both killed.” (Lt Colonel Ralph Honner)
Once again the Australian were forced to withdraw but, as always, they did so denying their pursuers free access to the Track towards Port Moresby and taking a heavy toll as the Japanese progressed.
