S P Ramage’s book Kokoda Secrets: Japanese WWII forces did not withdraw

AN enduring myth of the World War Two Kokoda campaign and the Battle for Australia has been blown away in a new book.

AN enduring myth of the World War Two Kokoda campaign and the Battle for Australia — that Japanese forces were withdrawing and not beaten back — has been debunked in a new book.

Kokoda Secret, by historian Susan Ramage, uncovers proof that Japanese commanders actually altered official documents to support false claims that their forces were already withdrawing from Kokoda before being smashed by the Australian 2/3 battalion at Eora Creek.

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New book ... Kokoda Secret by historian Susan Ramage, daughter of one of the heroes of Kokoda, Lieutenant Colonel Ian Hutchison.

Mrs Ramage promised her late husband Ian on his death bed that she would complete a book about her father Lieutenant Colonel Ian Hutchison and his crucial victory on the Kokoda Trail.

Hutchison was thrust into command early on the morning of October 27, 1942 and he led the 2/3 battalion and elements from 2/2 in a total rout of crack Japanese troops at the Battle of Eora Creek Ridge.

In the face of Colonel Hutchison’s fierce diggers the hardened and dug-in Japanese simply dropped their weapons and fled, rather than die fighting.

Mrs Ramage found documentary evidence that Japanese commander, General Tomitaro Horii, backdated his orders to cover-up the real reason for his withdrawal from Kokoda — his humiliating defeat.

She also found that Japanese high command had colluded with him by backdating orders to support the Horii lie.

“My husband told me that if I didn’t write my father’s story it would be forgot. I had no idea what I was going to uncover,’’ Mrs Ramage said.

She said that her findings in Kokoda Secret, the first detailed account of the battle (72 years on), meant that the entire Kokoda campaign and possibly the whole Pacific War should be re-examined to uncover possible Japanese deception.

“Where else have they doctored documents?” she asked.

Mrs Ramage said it was terrible that the myth about Japanese forces at Kokoda had been spread by historians whose books were used as school texts.

“There is no doubt that Horii [who the book says probably committed suicide] intended to hold Eora Creek Ridge and his defeat by my father was the turning point in the campaign,” she said.

“It is time the truth is known and that the Australian troops are given the recognition and credit so hard won and so long overdue.”

The bag man ... Sergeant Bill Edmonston, of the 2/3 battalion, with a Samurai sword that is thought to belong to Japanese General Tomitaro Horii. Picture: Australian War Memorial

Eminent military historian Professor David Horner supported the book’s findings about General Horii’s orders.

He said this could have ramifications for the history of the entire campaign and the role of senior officers all the way up to Generals Blamey and Macarthur.

Colonel Hutchison is widely regarded as one of the finest battalion commanders ever to serve in the Australian Army.

Kokoda Secret is published by Eora Press and is available from Abbeys bookshop www.abbeys.com.au. RRP $49.99.

Originally published as S P Ramage’s book Kokoda Secrets: Japanese WWII forces did not withdraw