--- product_id: 199657 title: "Invasion Rabaul: The Epic Story of Lark Force, the Forgotten Garrison, January - July 1942 (Rabaul Trilogy)" price: "VT8066" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 9 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/199657-invasion-rabaul-the-epic-story-of-lark-force-the-forgotten store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # Invasion Rabaul: The Epic Story of Lark Force, the Forgotten Garrison, January - July 1942 (Rabaul Trilogy) **Price:** VT8066 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Invasion Rabaul: The Epic Story of Lark Force, the Forgotten Garrison, January - July 1942 (Rabaul Trilogy) - **How much does it cost?** VT8066 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/199657-invasion-rabaul-the-epic-story-of-lark-force-the-forgotten) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description desertcart.com: Invasion Rabaul: The Epic Story of Lark Force, the Forgotten Garrison, January - July 1942 (Rabaul Trilogy): 9780760345917: Gamble, Bruce: Books Review: Tremendous prelude to its sequel Fortress Rabaul ..a quintessential read for Australians in particular - 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. Review: This book is an excellent history of the tragic story behind Lark Force - A very entertaining book about a little known event that ends with a tragic disaster that was the worst loss of life of Australian forces in World War Two. Very well told and entertaining, the author uses original sources where ever possible and tells the story of Lark Force in a balanced and thorough manner. The only information I was left hungering for was if any the Japanese officials were held responsible after the war for the massacre of Australian soldiers and civilians. Other than that I was very satisfied with this book and I am currently reading the equally enjoyable second entry in the author's three book history for the battles in and around Rabaul in World War Two. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | 0760345910 | | Best Sellers Rank | #373,408 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #31 in Oceania History #63 in Australia & New Zealand History #1,449 in World War II History (Books) | | Book 1 of 3 | Rabaul | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (344) | | Dimensions | 6 x 0.71 x 9 inches | | Edition | Reprint | | ISBN-10 | 9780760345917 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0760345917 | | Item Weight | 1.05 pounds | | Language | English | | Print length | 312 pages | | Publication date | March 15, 2014 | | Publisher | Zenith Press | ## Images ![Invasion Rabaul: The Epic Story of Lark Force, the Forgotten Garrison, January - July 1942 (Rabaul Trilogy) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91-bM3gMYsL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tremendous prelude to its sequel Fortress Rabaul ..a quintessential read for Australians in particular *by V***S on November 16, 2016* 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. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book is an excellent history of the tragic story behind Lark Force *by G***D on January 12, 2015* A very entertaining book about a little known event that ends with a tragic disaster that was the worst loss of life of Australian forces in World War Two. Very well told and entertaining, the author uses original sources where ever possible and tells the story of Lark Force in a balanced and thorough manner. The only information I was left hungering for was if any the Japanese officials were held responsible after the war for the massacre of Australian soldiers and civilians. Other than that I was very satisfied with this book and I am currently reading the equally enjoyable second entry in the author's three book history for the battles in and around Rabaul in World War Two. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The First Installment in Gamble's Epic Rabaul Trilogy *by J***N on April 8, 2014* In the early hours of January 23, 1942, a large Japanese force sat poised to attack Rabaul. Standing in their way were the 1,500 Australian soldiers of Lark Force. In what was soon to become known as Australia's darkest hour in World War II, the Japanese swarmed ashore and overran the small garrison. Many were captured, but others managed to flee into the jungle. Over the next several months, these survivors tried in vain to stay one step ahead of the Japanese. Some managed to evade capture, others were rescued, but most were eventually rounded up by the Japanese. Seen as sacrificial by the Australian government, the men of Lark Force were basically on their own from the time they reached Rabaul. The Australian government refused to reinforce the garrison, and when the Japanese landed, they refused to pull them out. These men were on their own, with no hope of assistance. The contemptible acts of the garrison commander only made things worse. Ultimately, many of the Lark Force POWs perished when a Japanese freighter they were on was torpedoed by an American submarine. Author Bruce Gamble has written a magnificent history about one of World War II's longest battles. The battle for Rabaul raged from early 1942 up until the Japanese surrender in August, 1945. Gamble's trilogy covers each aspect of this historical campaign, from the Japanese invasion to the numerous bombings by the Allies, until the Japanese were left to "whither on the vine". Lark Force's story is inspiring, and the acts of heroism against nearly impossible odds shows the character of these fighting men. I highly recommend "Invasion Rabaul" along with Gamble's other books "Fortress Rabaul" and "Target Rabaul". This trilogy does a fine job of describing one of World War II's most pivotal battles. ## Frequently Bought Together - Invasion Rabaul: The Epic Story of Lark Force, the Forgotten Garrison, January - July 1942 (Rabaul Trilogy) - Target: Rabaul: The Allied Siege of Japan's Most Infamous Stronghold, March 1943 - August 1945 - Fortress Rabaul: The Battle for the Southwest Pacific, January 1942-April 1943 --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/199657-invasion-rabaul-the-epic-story-of-lark-force-the-forgotten](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/199657-invasion-rabaul-the-epic-story-of-lark-force-the-forgotten) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-17*