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"Maroubra" was the operational code word used to designate Allied forces deployed in the "forward area" on the Kokoda Track, involved in the Kokoda Track Campaign of the Pacific War, World War II. The force was initially deployed to Kokoda for the forward defence of port Moresby. The force initially detailed this task was the 39th Battalion with the PIB and other supporting elements under command. The codename "Maroubra", was used to refer to the troops in the forward area, throughout the Kokoda Track campaign.

Formed on 21 June 1942, Maroubra Force initially consisted of part-time Militia units and was under the command of Major General Basil Morris's New Guinea Force. Reinforced by the veteran Second Australian Imperial Force, 7th Division, Maroubra Force was instrumental in blunting the Japanese advance on Port Moresby, fighting it to a standstill in September, before undertaking a counter-attack in October and November 1942, which drove the Japanese back to their beachheads around Buna–Gona, which was in turn the scene of heavy fighting between November 1942 and January 1943.

History

In mid-1942, Major General Basil Morris, commander of New Guinea Force, was ordrer by LHQ to deploy troops – up to the size of an infantry battalion – for the forward defence of Port Moresby, based around Kokoda. This task was assigned to the 39th Infantry Battalion, which had previously been deployed as a garrison force around Port Moresby. It was sent overland via the Kokoda Track to secure the Kokoda area and prepare to defend against a predicted Japanese advance. The Papuan Infantry Battalion of about 300 native troops with white officers, was already north of the Owen Stanley Range at the entrance of the Kokoda Track and came under command of the 39th Battalion along with detachments from 3rd Field Ambulance, Australian Army Service Corps and Australian Army Ordnance Corps that were also sent forward. The code name assigned for the operation was "Maroubra". It was referred to as the Maroubra operation (in NGF diary - Note that Chant calls it Operation Maroubra) and the forces detailed for this task, as Maroubra Force. Events quickly overtook the planned deployment, with the Japanese landing at Buna-Gona from 21 July 1942. With only a company of the battalion in position, patrols forward of Kokoda came in contact with the forces almost immediately, conducting an ambush on the evening of 22 July.(McNicil in Kokoda Track page, McC p124 say 23rd under Lt Chalk PIB)

"Maroubra Force" (or simply Maroubra) continued to be used as the Allied name for the troops in the "forward area" on the Kokoda Track, and was included in operational orders, situational reports and commanders' war diaries. Additionally, within the literature covering the campaign, many authors and historians have used the term "Maroubra Force" to variously describe the units engaged in the campaign at different stages. The force initially deployed was placed under direct command of Headquarters NGF. With the arrival of advance elements of the 7th Division, command responsibility for the defence of Port Moresby, including the forward defence along the Kokoda Track (the Maroubra force), devolved to Headquarters 7th Division (with effect 18 August). As the fighting progressed, the 7th Division became fully engaged.(appoints Vasey to command ) The code name "Maroubra" then continued to be used to refer to the division until the end of the campaign.(as note: reference to the forward fighting force by code word concealed the disposition of the forces)