| Place | Oceania: Pacific Islands, Solomon Islands, Bougainville, Central Bougainville, Numa Numa Trail, Artillery Hill |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART41047 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 300 cm x 500 cm x 425 cm |
| Object type | Diorama |
| Physical description | Figures: pewter (tin, antimony and zinc); Backgrounds: synthetic polymer paint on plywood; Modelling: painted plaster, scrim and tin over wood and wire armature with wood and copper wire d |
| Maker |
Walker, Ralph |
| Place made | Australia: New South Wales, Sydney |
| Date made | 1948 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Artillery Hill, Bougainville
Description
This diorama depicts Artillery Hill, a high feature obstructing the Australian advance towards Pearl Ridge, and an important objective in the Bougainville campaign, which was stormed by 'C' ompany, 9th Battalion, a component of the 3rd Division, on 18 December 1944. The enemy was present in considerable strength and one of the great difficulties of the attack was that the only approach was along a narrow spur on either side of which the rdige fell away for two thousand feet. Thus the only way to reach the start of the position was by single file along the 6-foot spur. A hail of grenades rained down on the attackers as they clambered to the summit but, after intense, bitter fighting, the position was won. The background was repainted by Vernon Jones in 1971.