Friday 19th October.

53 Days to go

Another busy day in the office, huge frustration again as the internet access is supposed to be ADSL but has a speed like dial up. As a lot of my research has to be done on the net my progress is slow.

Had some really bad news via email this morning, 2 good friends have found themselves in positions that I prey I never have to experience personally. My thoughts are with then all day and I am sure to be thinking of them over the coming weeks.

I had some other news too, Ana has returned from leave and sent me an email. She is disappointed because we appear to have stopped eating. I reassured her that it was not the case, I feared we were eating so much I stopped reporting on it.

Let me recap the land battles of the Solomon Campaign. 7th August 1942, landings at Tulagi, (Tulagi is on the Florida Islands which are visible across Iron Bottom Sound from Honiara) and Guadalcanal by US forces. Primary objective is to gain airfield under construction. Objective secured by morning of 9th August. Tulagi and another 3 Islands are also cleared of Japanese troops by this time. The first Japanese counter attack on 21st August at Tenaru/ Ilu River or Crocodile River depending on which report you read. This is repelled by the dug in forces. About 800 of the force of 900 are killed. US losses are about 35 men.

12th – 14th September 1942 the Battle of Bloody Ridge saw some of the heaviest fighting of the War. Outnumbered 2 to 1 the US victory ensures the safety of the Airfield from Ground attack from the South.

On the 16th September reinforcements were landed including some from the earlier landings at Tulagi. This enables a solid perimeter to be made and for the expansion of the beach head. The US forces attack Japanese positions along the Matanikau River (the river is where the centre of town begins today) between the 23rd and the 27th September is not successful. On the 7th October the second attack begins. By the 9th the Japanese have retreated to the West side of the river. This gives the US about 5 miles to the West, 3 miles to the East 2 miles to the South and ½ mile to the North (then Ocean) perimeter around the Airfield.On the 23rd October a strong Japanese force of Infantry, Tanks and Artillery launch a counter attack across the Matanikau. They are repelled by the US forces. On the 24th and 25th 2 strong night attacks were made on Henderson Field. These were both successfully dealt with. The US forces were now comfortable with the idea that they could successfully hold their position on Guadalcanal.