 Following the capture of Madang, the Japanese eventually withdrew to Wewak where further fighting took place in 1944 and 1945.During September 1943, Australian forces from Major General George Vasey's 7th Division, advancing from Nadzab, had captured Lae, as part of a pincer undertaken in conjunction with Major General George Wootten's 9th Division, which had advanced along the coast from the east of Lae.Heavy rain had held up the Australian advance and much of the garrison had managed to withdraw inland, prior to the capture of the town.