 Following the fall of Lae in September 1943 , the Australians continued their advance north along the New Guinea coast towards the Huon Peninsula , with the aim of securing Finschhafen , where large scale air and naval facilities could be constructed for operations that were planned against New Britain . On 22 September 1943 , less than a week after Lae had been captured , Brigadier Victor Windeyer 's Australian 20th Brigade was detached from the 9th Division by Major General George Wootten , the divisional commander , and landed at Scarlet Beach ( north of Siki Cove ) , to the east of Katika and about 10 kilometres ( 6 @.@ 2 mi ) to the north of Finschhafen . 
