A turning point in the Pacific War, Operation Postern shattered the Japanese belief that they could maintain control over the New Guinea mainland. Their continual retreat paved the way for subsequent successful Allied campaigns in the South-West Pacific theatre. Victory came at a high cost, however, with over 2000 casualties within a fortnight for the Allies, while Japanese losses exceeded that number nearly fourfold. The exact toll on the Papua New Guinean village people remains unknown but undoubtedly high.
Dr Howie-Willis challenges previous military histories that have marginalized the Papua New Guineans, highlighting their essential role as the ‘third party’ to the conflict. By focusing on the village communities, he illuminates the horrific impact of the war on their lives and lands, offering a comprehensive and inclusive narrative.
Operation Postern provides readers with an opportunity to revisit and reinterpret this crucial battle that shaped the course of history. Ian’s extensive knowledge and meticulous attention to detail make this book a valuable contribution to the understanding of the Pacific War.
Other Books
Ian has written many articles for historical journals and 23 books of history. The following are some of the books in which he was either sole author or shared authorship.
Lae: Village and City (Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1974) — Ian’s first book, the published version of his Master of Arts thesis; almost 50 years old now but still being bought, sold and read.
A thousand graduates: Conflict in university development in Papua New Guinea, 1961–1976 (Australian National University [Pacific Research Monograph Number 3], Canberra, 1980) — Ian’s second book, the published version of his Ph.D. thesis; well over 40 years old now but, like his first book, still being bought, sold and read.
A Century for Australia: St John Ambulance in Australia 1883–1983 (Order of St John, Canberra, 1983) — Ian’s third book, an old one now but still a good one, a commissioned history tracing the evolution of St John Ambulance Australia over the organisation’s first 100 years.
Surgeon and General: A Life of Major-General Rupert Downes 1885–1945 (Australian Military History Publications, Loftus [NSW], 2008) — Ian’s first venture into military history and biography, which established his reputation as a competent author in these genres.
A Medical Emergency: Major-General ‘Ginger’ Burston and the Army Medical Service in World War II (Big Sky Publishing, Newport [NSW], 2012) — as well as a biography of ‘Ginger’ Burston, in effect the book is a short history of the task of the Australian Army Medical Service during the war.
An Unending War: The Australian Army’s struggle against malaria, 1885–2015 (Big Sky Publishing, Newport [NSW], 2016) — as the title suggests, the book is a history of the Australian Army’s effort to control malaria, which has always been a major threat to the Army in all its overseas deployments.
VD: the Australian Army’s experience of sexually transmitted diseases in the twentieth century (Big Sky Publishing, Newport [NSW], 2020) — again, the title indicates the subject. The book shows how the Australian Army dealt with its ‘venereal disease problem’ during and between its 20th century deployments.
Shared Authorship
The Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, society and culture (Aboriginal Studies Press, Canberra, 1994; Chief Editor, David Horton). Ian was Senior Editor and principal researcher and writer for this multi-award-winning two-volume encyclopaedia. He also wrote half its entries and half its total word length.
A Beacon of Hope: The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group — 140 years of eye care in the Holy Land, 1882–2022 (St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group & St John Ambulance Australia Ltd., London & Canberra, 2022). Ian co-authored this major commissioned history with two esteemed St John Ambulance colleagues, Dr Matthew Glozier and Professor John Pearn, who, like Ian, are both professional practising historians.
Ian Howie-Willis 