previous year during the Battle of Milne Bay. Meanwhile, the 47th Battalion garrisoned Goodenough Island and the 15th Battalion was stationed at Gilli Gili. The brigade remained in the Milne Bay area until July 1943 when it was redeployed to Buna. The brigade was later committed to the Salamaua–Lae campaign in August 1943, taking part in the final stages of the fighting around Mount Tambu, in support of the advance on Salamaua. Throughout late August and early September, the 15th Battalion launched an attack around the right flank of the US 162nd Infantry Regiment, against a Japanese position along the Lokanu and Scout Ridges. Against steep terrain and heavy resistance, the battalion eventually took the ridge, securing it by 9 September. Following up, on 9 September the 42nd Battalion attacked Charlie Hill as part of the final assault on Salamaua, which was captured several days later. Later, in early 1944, as the 7th Division advanced through the Markham and Ramu Valleys, the 15th Battalion assisted the division's operations around Lae, conducting patrols in the area while the remainder of the brigade remained at Salamaua for rest. In October, the whole brigade began mopping up operations from patrol bases around Hopoi, Musom and Markham Point. In early 1944, the brigade ceased operations and was relieved by the 23rd Brigade, and in June the brigade was withdrawn to Australia for rest and re-organisation having been deployed for over a year-and-a-half. The brigade was then concentrated around Petrie and Strathpine, in Queensland, in preparation for further action overseas. The brigade was subsequently assigned to the 3rd Division and 1944–1945 took part in the Bougainville campaign. On Bougainville, the Australians had taken over from an American garrison in late 1944 in order to free up US troops for the fighting in the Philippines. Prior to their arrival, the US garrison had maintained a largely defensive posture, but the Australians launched a limited-scale offensive on the island which evolved into three main drives in the north, south and in the centre of the island. The 29th Brigade relieved the US 182 Infantry Regiment and was subsequently assigned to the southern drive towards Buin, where the main Japanese force was based. The 15th Battalion commenced the brigade's campaign on Bougainville, being committed to the fighting in December 1944, while the 42nd and 47th Battalions joined them later the following month. During the initial stages, the 15th