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Gona, Buna & Sanananda MemorialPrint Page 
The bronze plaque, on a granite plinth, commemorates those who died in service or were killed in action at Gona, Buna and Sanananda during World War Two.
The Battle of Buna – Gona was part of the New Guinea campaign in the Pacific campaign of World War Two. On 16 November 1942, Australian and United States forces attacked the main Japanese beachheads in New Guinea, at Buna, Sanananda and Gona. When the Japanese forces were within sight of Port Moresby, the Japanese leadership decided holding Guadalcanal was a higher priority, and they ordered their New Guinea forces to withdraw to the coast.
On 2 January, they captured Buna, and on 22 January 1943, after prolonged intense fighting in extraordinarily difficult conditions, the Allied forces killed or captured almost the entire defending Japanese forces. Only a few hundred escaped to the north. Casualties on both sides were extremely high.
Location
| Address: | The Strand, ANZAC Memorial Park, adjacent to ANZAC Way, Townsville, 4810 |
|---|---|
| State: | QLD |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -19.254722 Long: 146.821667 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | WW2 |
| Approx. Event Start Date: | December-1942 |
| Approx. Event End Date: | January-1943 |
| Link: | http://www.qldwarmemorials.com.au/P… |
Dedication
In memory of the hundreds of Australians many from Townsville, who died at Gona, Buna and Sanananda, the Battles of the Beachheads in December 1942 and January 1943.
This magnificent but costly feat of arms eliminated nearly 100% of the enemy and captured a vital base thus freeing
Australia from the threat of invasion.
Erected by 2 / 12 Bn. Assoc., Department of Veterans` Affairs and the Townsville City Council.
