The Battle of Waitavolo

Bacon Hill called Mount Sugi by the Japanese was the dominant feature in the South of the Gazelle Peninsula in New Britain near the Tol Plantation. The Australian 5th Division was tasked with containing the large number of forces at the Japanese naval base at Rabul to the North. 

In order to do this the Division sought to establish a containment line across the South of the Peninsula.  This required the removal of a Japanese Regimental sized force from Bacon Hill.

The Australian 19th Battalion captured some of the surrounding features before the 14/32nd Battalion relieved them and was tasked with capturing Bacon Hill itself.

The Battle itself was fought in dense jungle and movement was by a number of at times sniper covered tracks that could only be traversed in single file.

Two Companies took part in the final assault from the South West scrambling up a steep jungle covered ridge under heavy fire. One the Battalion's Companies provided fire support from a recently captured high point to the East.

Due to the difficulties of resupply the Battalion's forth Company was tasked with acting as porters and stretcher bearers as casualties were more than eight kilometres from the Regimental Aid Station based at the fire support position.