Invasion Rabaul: The Epic Story of Lark Force, the Forgotten Garrison, January - July 1942 (Rabaul Trilogy)

Reading the other reviews, it seems the old adage you can't please everone holds true. Too much detail, not enough detail, too many characters, not enough character revealment - development, were it a novel. I came looking for a book about the Rabaul when held by the Japanese and found "Fortress Rabaul". I also found this. Downloading and finishing the chapter sample, I bought it immediately along with "Fortress Rabaul". For me, Bruce Gamble gets it just right. I like his flowing prosaic style, the way he interweaves the well researched historical truth together in event relevance and timelines. Sufficent detail to comprehend the personalities, units, scale, situations, maps and topographical description to make sense of it all tactically and strategically, whilst still personalising events sufficiently to maintain a personal connection on a level balancing its humanity. Importantly, he grants the gravity the historical record deserves without turning the tale into a turgid academic tome. Moral judgement of actions, personalities and political decisions of so long ago unable to be changed now which altered the course of so many lives are left to the reader to pronounce. Bought yesterday, I'm halfway through "Invasion Rabaul" already. I'd call it "a can't put down read", but I'm reading from my sickbed recovering from surgery and find fatigue prevails, otherwise its definitely in that category. If you're at all interested in the campaigns in the Solomons and PNG, the significance of the Battles of the Coral Sea and Savo Island, you'll A. understand the importance of Rabaul, and wanting to know as much about it as possible, B. want this book. Just buy it. Thanks Bruce. Job very well done.

A very entertaining book about a little known event that ends with a tragic disaster that was the worst loss of life of Australian forces in World War Two. Very well told and entertaining, the author uses original sources where ever possible and tells the story of Lark Force in a balanced and thorough manner. The only information I was left hungering for was if any the Japanese officials were held responsible after the war for the massacre of Australian soldiers and civilians. Other than that I was very satisfied with this book and I am currently reading the equally enjoyable second entry in the author's three book history for the battles in and around Rabaul in World War Two.

In the early hours of January 23, 1942, a large Japanese force sat poised to attack Rabaul. Standing in their way were the 1,500 Australian soldiers of Lark Force. In what was soon to become known as Australia's darkest hour in World War II, the Japanese swarmed ashore and overran the small garrison. Many were captured, but others managed to flee into the jungle. Over the next several months, these survivors tried in vain to stay one step ahead of the Japanese. Some managed to evade capture, others were rescued, but most were eventually rounded up by the Japanese. Seen as sacrificial by the Australian government, the men of Lark Force were basically on their own from the time they reached Rabaul. The Australian government refused to reinforce the garrison, and when the Japanese landed, they refused to pull them out. These men were on their own, with no hope of assistance. The contemptible acts of the garrison commander only made things worse. Ultimately, many of the Lark Force POWs perished when a Japanese freighter they were on was torpedoed by an American submarine. Author Bruce Gamble has written a magnificent history about one of World War II's longest battles. The battle for Rabaul raged from early 1942 up until the Japanese surrender in August, 1945. Gamble's trilogy covers each aspect of this historical campaign, from the Japanese invasion to the numerous bombings by the Allies, until the Japanese were left to "whither on the vine". Lark Force's story is inspiring, and the acts of heroism against nearly impossible odds shows the character of these fighting men. I highly recommend "Invasion Rabaul" along with Gamble's other books "Fortress Rabaul" and "Target Rabaul". This trilogy does a fine job of describing one of World War II's most pivotal battles.

I am reviewing the trilogy vice any individual book, as the three books are about the Rabaul campaign. The books are reasonably informative, but due to far too much redundant prose between books and the awful maps I had to knock a star each. Book 1 is not so much about the air campaign, but the destruction of Lark Force and how the Aussie's were captured and murdered over the course of the war. Book 2 is the most interesting, as the Allies struggle mightily to scrape together enough air power to do battle with Fortress Rabaul. Book 3 is less interesting, as Rabaul is bypassed and basically the campaign is one-sided as Allied material superiority becomes overwhelming. Expect at least 10% of each book to be duplicative of one of the other books in the trilogy. I believe any trilogy should be tied together as part of the story arc, but not nearly to the degree that this author chose.

Part one of a three book series on what was the most important Japanese base in the South Pacific. It has been difficult to find this quality of information on the role that Rabaul and New Britain played in the war and so Bruce Gamble has filled a major gap with his contribution. These books are a great read and, as a New Guinean familiar with the terrain and the subject, I thank Mr Gamble for his major effort in solidifying this history. Finally, his writing is a great and fitting honour to the Allied servicemen, missionaries, expatriates and New Guinea nationals who contributed, at great personal cost, to the ultimate allied successes.

I knew things must of been rough but this book kept me very interested through out the book.

I had heard a lot of "third-hand information" about the Rabual garrison, but this laid of lot of this to bed - it was very informative, lots of priceless information, and a very good easy read. The maps were detailed too. Essential to my research into the war in South East Asia.

This book fills in gaps in knowledge of why the 2/22nd Battalion appeared abandoned to its fate, sacrificed to wartime expediency. The brave men and women of Lark Force lived out their lives with fears and traumas of what occurred to mates in 1942 always in their hearts and minds. This well written easy to read book explains the mysteries of those who disappeared on the Montevideo Maru. And those who were murdered and lost their lives to starvation and illness in the jungle. This is a story of how governments and military leaders can so easily make decisions not in the best interests of those who offer themselves to their countries. For those of us who knew, were raised by, who cherished the survivors we owe it to them all to keep the story alive and to keep asking the unanswered questions. This, in the hope of it never happening again.

Bought these book as a trilogy, The first was not what I was expecting as an aviation enthusiast but I have to say that it set the scene for the other two books very well. Pointing out the main geographical features and the initial Japanese invasion it helped to put the vast build up of fortress Rabaul in to context