German New Guinea - First Australian action of the Great War

[Fred98]

11th September is the 100th anniversary of the first Australian action of the Great War.

A German wireless station in New Guinea was captured by a combined army - navy force. A summary of the story is below.


The Battle of Bita Paka 11 September 1914, was fought on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, then known as German New Guinea.

The main target of the operation was a strategically important wireless station, one of several used by the German East Asiatic Squadron. The powerful German naval fleet threatened British interests in South East Asia.

German New Guinea was only lightly defended. The total strength was only 61 German officers and non-commissioned officers, and about 240 Melanesians.

The Bita Paka radio station itself was occupied by eight Germans and 60 Melanesians, under the command of Hauptmann Hans Wuchert.

Wuchert's force was assigned to defend against any hostile landing at a point near the coast, and was authorised to withdraw halfway between Toma and Bita Paka to Tobera if necessary, but only after demolishing the radio station.

A company of 10 Germans and 140 Melanesians was also stationed at Herbertshöhe, commanded by Leutnant Mayer, while a squad of Melanesians at Toma under Leutnant Robert von Blumenthal was charged with digging in and improving defences.

Section outposts were established at various locations and monitored the coast from St. George's Channel to Rabaul. Despite the limits of manpower, such arrangements proved effective and the reconnaissance of the Australian Squadron on 12 August had been quickly detected, with German forces subsequently directed towards the coast to repel any invasion.

After an unopposed landing, the Germans and Melanesians mounted a stout resistance and forced the Australians to fight their way to the objective.

After a day of fighting Australian forces captured the wireless station at Bita Paka.

During the fighting, seven Australians were killed and five wounded, while casualties among the defenders included one German and about 30 Melanesians killed, and one German and 10 Melanesians wounded; 19 Germans and 56 Melanesians were captured.

An Australian submarine disappeared with all hands.

The Germans, believing it impossible for white men to march from Herbertshohe to Tomo in a day, relaxed the pace of their retreat by consuming much of their remaining alcohol ration. Contrary to common belief, an Australian force of 200, including many veterans from the landing party at Bita Paka, made the march through the thick jungle in a single afternoon with their 12 pounder gun.

Following a brief siege there the German garrison capitulated.