Invasion Rabaul: The Epic Story of Lark Force, The Forgotten Garrison, January - July 1942 Paperback – 15 March 2014

I had heard a lot of "third-hand information" about the Rabual garrison, but this laid of lot of this to bed - it was very informative, lots of priceless information, and a very good easy read. The maps were detailed too. Essential to my research into the war in South East Asia.

Reading the other reviews, it seems the old adage you can't please everone holds true. Too much detail, not enough detail, too many characters, not enough character revealment - development, were it a novel.I came looking for a book about the Rabaul when held by the Japanese and found "Fortress Rabaul". I also found this. Downloading and finishing the chapter sample, I bought it immediately along with "Fortress Rabaul".For me, Bruce Gamble gets it just right. I like his flowing prosaic style, the way he interweaves the well researched historical truth together in event relevance and timelines. Sufficent detail to comprehend the personalities, units, scale, situations, maps and topographical description to make sense of it all tactically and strategically, whilst still personalising events sufficiently to maintain a personal connection on a level balancing its humanity. Importantly, he grants the gravity the historical record deserves without turning the tale into a turgid academic tome.Moral judgement of actions, personalities and political decisions of so long ago unable to be changed now which altered the course of so many lives are left to the reader to pronounce.Bought yesterday, I'm halfway through "Invasion Rabaul" already. I'd call it "a can't put down read", but I'm reading from my sickbed recovering from surgery and find fatigue prevails, otherwise its definitely in that category.If you're at all interested in the campaigns in the Solomons and PNG, the significance of the Battles of the Coral Sea and Savo Island, you'll A. understand the importance of Rabaul, and wanting to know as much about it as possible, B. want this book. Just buy it. Thanks Bruce. Job very well done.

I knew things must of been rough but this book kept me very interested through out the book.

Part one of a three book series on what was the most important Japanese base in the South Pacific. It has been difficult to find this quality of information on the role that Rabaul and New Britain played in the war and so Bruce Gamble has filled a major gap with his contribution. These books are a great read and, as a New Guinean familiar with the terrain and the subject, I thank Mr Gamble for his major effort in solidifying this history. Finally, his writing is a great and fitting honour to the Allied servicemen, missionaries, expatriates and New Guinea nationals who contributed, at great personal cost, to the ultimate allied successes.

Bought these book as a trilogy, The first was not what I was expecting as an aviation enthusiast but I have to say that it set the scene for the other two books very well. Pointing out the main geographical features and the initial Japanese invasion it helped to put the vast build up of fortress Rabaul in to context