Australian Bronze Commemorative Plaques

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PLAQUE NO. 99 ... IMITA RIDGE

Here on the 14 September 1942 the Australians finally held the advancing Japanese and saved Port Moresby, only 42 km to the south. Across the intervening valley on Ioribaiwa Ridge the Japanese rested and for the next few weeks neither side advanced.

The Australians were reinforced with fresh troops and supplies up the 2000 steps in the "golden stairs". By comparison, the Japanese forces, starving and exhausted after months of harsh jungle fighting were ordered to abandon Ioribaiwa and retreat back to Gona and buna on the north coast. The Australians pursued closely but not until Templeton's Crossing did the Japanese stop and offer major resistance.

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