11/10/2026
What became known as the second Battle of Templeton’s Crossing was fought between 11 and 28 October 1942. The first battle had been fought with the Australians conducting a fighting withdrawal. Circumstances had changed and now the Australian were in pursuit of the Japanese.
Templeton’s Crossing shown in this photograph was a critical ford over the Eora Creek, Papua New Guinea. The initial encounters took place between 11 to 15 October as the Australian 2/25th Brigade assaulted outposts covering the Japanese withdrawal.
The fighting at Templeton’s Crossing saw further well-prepared Japanese delaying positions incorporating machine gun positions and a creek which had been swollen by heavy rains. The Australians employed flanking attacks, but the combination of poor visibility, mud and determined defence stalled the advance. On 20 October the 2/2 Battalion staged a decisive flanking attack using small groups to break through the Japanese positions, forcing then to retreat to Eora.
Around Eora Village the Australians fought a series of actions against determined reinforced Japanese defences between 22 October to 28 October. The Japanese positions were supported by mortars and a mountain gun and multiple outflanking assaults failed. On 28th October the Australians broke through the Japanese defences and caught them as they attempted to withdraw, inflicted heavy casualties.
The success of these operations was a turning point in the Kokoda campaign with the strategic heights of the Owen Stanley Range now in Australian hands.
