Oboe One, Tarakan, 1945

In 1945, the small island of Tarakan off Borneo's coast became the unlikely stage for one of the Second World War's most gruelling campaigns. As part of General Douglas MacArthur's plan to liberate the Netherlands Indies, Australian soldiers launched Operation Oboe One, a mission to capture Tarakan’s airstrip. What was meant to last three weeks stretched into two months of bitter jungle warfare, claiming 240 Australian lives and 1,500 Japanese defenders. The airstrip’s strategic goal faltered, but the courage and sacrifice of those who fought there remain untold.

Through vivid narratives and exhaustive research, Oboe One brings this obscure battle to life, uncovering the grit and camaraderie of the Second Australian Imperial Force. These citizen soldiers faced dense jungles, hidden mines, and relentless enemy fire, embodying professionalism and resilience in the war’s final days. Their experiences reveal not just the hardships of combat, but the unique ethos of a generation shaped by a vanished Australia—an era of robust, unpolished camaraderie and quiet determination.

This compelling account revisits Tarakan through the eyes of its participants and confronts lingering questions about the campaign's necessity. Was it a strategic misstep or a justified sacrifice within the larger Pacific war effort? Tarakan challenges readers to remember the forgotten, honour the fallen, and understand the extraordinary men whose lives were forever marked by this brutal campaign.

For those seeking to explore the human cost of war, Tarakan is an essential tribute to courage, leadership, and the enduring echoes of an extraordinary Australian legacy.