JAPANESE DELAYING ACTION AT MT. BELLAMY - 11 October 1942

The main Japanese force continued to retreat towards Templeton’s Crossing. In an effort to slow the pursuit and to enable some rear guard defence, General Horri raised a new unit from within his forces. This unit was called the Stanley Detachment and consisted of approximately six hundred men.

The Stanley Detachment was tasked with blocking the advancing Australians. The intent was to slow and stall the advance so the main force could prepare defensive positions at Templeton’s crossing. Hori was now using the Australian tactics.

The Australians caught up with the Japanese in the location of Mt Bellamy. From the Kagi / Naduri area and through the moss forest and Myola area there are two actual tracks with numerous small deviations that end up merging and pushing north over Mt Bellamy to Templeton’s Crossing. Stanley Detachment was to ambush and hinder the Australians on both major routes through this area; therefore, blocking the advance and gaining time for the defenders to regroup at Templeton’s Crossing.

12th October, three Battalions of the 25th Brigade attacked the Stanley Detachment At first they were unable to make any progress, it was not until the Australians threatened to outflank the Stanley Detachment and cut them off from their main forces at Templeton’s Crossing that success was forthcoming.

15th of October the Australian forward troops found the Japanese resistance had withdrawn and the Stanley Detachment had fallen back to Templeton’s Crossing.