Markham, Ramu and Finisterre campaigns

Markham Valley, Ramu Valley and Finisterre Range campaigns
Part of the New Guinea Campaign of the Pacific Theater (World War II)
Members of 'C' Company, Australian 2/9th Infantry Battalion, digging in at a newly occupied part of Shaggy Ridge on 23 January 1944
Date 19 September 1943 – 24 April 1944 Location Finisterre Range, Territory of New Guinea Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Australia  United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
George Vasey	Masutaro Nakai
Units involved
7th Division 11th Division	18th Army Nakai Detachment
Strength
~ 17,000	~ 12,000
Casualties and losses
204 killed 464 wounded	800 killed 400 wounded

The Markham Valley, Ramu Valley and Finisterre Range campaigns were a series of battles within the broader New Guinea campaign of World War II. The campaigns began with an Allied offensive in the Ramu Valley, from 19 September 1943, and concluded when Allied troops entered Madang on 24 April 1944. During the campaign, Australian forces – supported by Australian and US aircraft – advanced through the Markham Valley and Ramu Valleys during which there were minor clashes with Japanese forces, which withdrew towards their main defensive line in the Finisterre Range.

A central geographical and strategic feature of these campaigns was the imposing Shaggy Ridge, running north–south in the Finisterres; this was the scene of a climactic battle during which the Australians assaulted the Japanese positions in December 1943 and January 1944. Following the fighting around Shaggy Ridge, the Japanese withdrew towards the northern coast of New Guinea, where they were pursued by Australian and US forces advancing through the Finisterres and along the coast from Saidor. Following the capture of Madang, the Japanese eventually withdrew to Wewak where further fighting took place in 1944 and 1945.