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    Alolo (Alola) Oro Province Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Location
Lat 9° 0' 0S Long 147° 43' 60E  Alolo village is located at an elevation of 4,327' / 1,318m along the Kokoda Trail in the Owen Stanley Range of New Guinea. Wartime spelling "Alolo". To the east is Eora Creek. To the north is Isurava and to the south Eora Creek village. The Abuai Track led from Alolo eastward to Abuari. Today in Oro Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Prewar
The Australian administration established a wireless radio transmitter at Alolo mounted on a concrete base.

Wartime History
By August 20, 1942 the 53rd Battalion (militia) occupied Alola with B Company on the lower side, C Company on the higher side and D Company on the forward ridge with A Company in the rear covering the track towards Eora Creek village. From Alola, the 53rd was patrolling on the eastern side of Eora Creek and northward to Isurava.

On August 22, 1942 Brigadier Potts arrived at Alolo and the next day took command of Maroubra Force. By August 26, 1942 Potts had established his headquarters at Alolo during the Battle of Isurava. That same day, the area came under fire from Japanese mountain guns before their attack on Isurava and heavy machine gun fire from Abuari. During the battle, a Regimental Aid Post (RAP) was established here for casualties.

Between August 29, 1942 to August 30, 1942 the remaining Australians withdrew from Alolo southward to Eora Creek village. By August 31, 1942 the Japanese occupied the Alolo area.

American missions against Alolo (Alola)
September 2, 1942–October 27, 1942

Today
The precise location of the wartime Alolo village is unknown, possibly it is in the same location as the present day Alolo village or 10-15 minutes walk to the north.

References
Field Guide to the Kokoda Track pages 312 (map Eora Creek village to Isurava), 313 (profile map Eora Creek village to Isurava battle site), 315-318 (Alola)
Hell's Battlefield (2012) by Phil Bradley pages 51

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Last Updated
August 19, 2021

 

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