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Australian Leslie ‘Bull’ Allen rescuing a wounded American soldier on Mount Tambu, New Guinea.

30 July 1943 This famous photograph by war correspondent Gordon Short captures Australian Leslie ‘Bull’ Allen rescuing a wounded American soldier on Mount Tambu, New Guinea.  


During an American assault against the Japanese on Mount Tambu, more than 50 US soldiers were injured. 

Two medics were killed trying to retrieve them. The Australians were not supposed to be involved in the fighting, but having witnessed so many casualties, Allen, a stretcher-bearer, was determined to do what he could.
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The summer of 1943 saw several offensives on the eastern coast of New Guinea, near and around the Huon Gulf, headed by both Australian and American forces. 

They were fighting to wrestle control of key airfields and ports from Japanese hands as American forces were landing on nearby New Britain. 

The eastern-most battles of this particular phase of the New Guinea campaign occured north of Wau. Mount Tambu oversaw this eastern theater and as such was of strategic importance for both sides. 

It must be noted that New Guinean mountains are elongated and consist of razorback ridges. Southern portions of the mountain had been secured by Australian elements on July 16th who then faced a series of ferocious Japanese counter-attacks. 

The next two weeks consisted of attempts by Australian forces to cross the steep ravines  of Tambu in order to secure the rest of the mountain. These assaults were met with fericious Japanese resistance and proved unfruitful. 

On 28 July, the several companies—consisting of about 400 men—from the 1st Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, which had landed at Nassau Bay earlier in the month, arrived and relieved some of the Australian forces in the forward positions around Mount Tambu.

Australian mortar crews and stretcher bearers remained in the line supporting the US troops, while one company from the Australian 2/5th Infantry Battalion continued to maintain a base around the mountain. 

On 30 July, an uphill company-level attack was made by the American troops, which failed. This attack is documented in the above photograph.

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