On 7th August 1942, US Marines landed on Guadalcanal, one of the largest of the Solomon Islands, and commenced the Battle of Guadalcanal, code-named Operation Watchtower. This first major offensive against the Japanese continued until 9th February 1943 and resulted in a victory for Allied forces despite a prolonged period of bitter fighting on treacherous jungle terrain.


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In the above photograph, US Marines can be seen resting in a field at Guadalcanal.

If you'd like to find out more about the brutal fighting between the US Marines and entrenched Japanese infantry, why not pre-order a copy of Combat 8 US Marine versus Japanese Infantryman – Guadalcanal 1942–43, released next month? Focusing on the Battle of the Tenaru, the Henderson Field Attack, and the Matanikau Counteroffensive, this book not only delves into the differing tactics and equipment used by the two combatants but also shows how fighting in inhospitable tropical jungles impacted on soldiers on the ground.

The original image can be found here.