Battle of Milne Bay Memorial

This waterfront memorial in the town centre commemorates the Battle of Milne Bay, fought between 25 August and 7 September 1942. A Japanese naval landing force came ashore on the north side of the bay to capture the Allied airstrips; Australian militia and AIF troops, supported by RAAF Kittyhawk squadrons and US engineers, drove them back after two weeks of fighting in mud and rain. It was the first time Japanese land forces were defeated in the Pacific war, a turning point remembered in Australia and Papua New Guinea alike. Plaques tell the story of the battle and of the Papuan carriers and scouts who supported the Allied troops. It is a quick, free stop on the walk between the wharf and the market, and many van tours start or end here.