Of the 2,800 Japanese who landed around Milne Bay, only 1,318 re-embarked. It was estimated that up to 750 lay dead and the majority of the remainder were killed trying to escape overland to the Japanese base at Buna. Allied deaths included 167 Australians and 14 Americans. Milne Bay is remembered as the first defeat of the Japanese on land during the Pacific War. (Source: Australian War Memorial). #memoriesofkokoda #australiaatwar #PNG #theirspiritliveson #kokodatrackmemorialwalkway #OTD #OnThisDay #kokodatrack #onthisdayinhistory #australia #remember #WWII #australianhistory #kokodatrackmemorial #papuanewguinea #ww2 #warinthepacific #lestweforget (fb)

John Alexander French VC (15 January 1914 – 4 September 1942) � John Alexander French grew up north of Toowoomba. He was known as Jack, enjoyed cricket, tennis and football, and was also a hard-working student. After school he joined his father’s hairdressing and tobacconist business. � In October 1939 John enlisted and was posted to the 2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion which was the first QLD battalion of the AIF to be raised in WWII. His unit departed Sydney in May 1940, arriving in England a month later and moving on to the Middle East in December 1940. John saw action in Libya, taking part in the operations at Giarabub, the siege of Tobruk and the garrisoning of Syria. In August 1942 the 2/9th was posted to New Guinea. That month 2000 Japanese had landed in the Milne Bay area. � On 4 September 1942, John was part of heavy fighting at Milne Bay. French had ordered that his section take cover during enemy fire, as he advanced and silenced two enemy posts with grenades. He then attacked the third post and continued to advance despite having been hit. Corporal French had died in front of the third gun pit. This courageous soldier was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for selflessly saving the men under his command from suffering heavy casualties and so enabling a successful attack on the enemy. � John’s brothers Eric and Gordon had enlisted in the AIF and RAAF. Gordon was killed in action in a bombing raid over Nuremberg in 1943. John had been engaged to Dulcie McCahon but the couple decided to hold off marrying until the end of the war. � John French is remembered by: • Corporal John French VC Memorial Bridge, Chermside • John French Library, Toowoomba • Plaque and seat in Brisbane's Anzac Square • Corporal Jack French VC Memorial Prize in 1943 • Hume Highway's Remembrance Driveway remembers the service of John French. At Yarra, 20km south of Goulburn • A memorial and plaque were erected at Milne Bay, as a tribute to French and the 18th Australian Infantry Brigade � #victoriacross #memoriesofkokoda #theirspiritliveson #kokodatrackmemorialwalkway #OTD #OnThisDay #kokodatrack #onthisdayinhistory #australianhistory #kokodatrackmemorial #lestweforget (fb)