Following the 21st Brigade's relief, the fighting in New Guinea began to turn in favour of the Allies, as the Japanese, having exhausted their supplies, began to fall back towards their beachheads on the north coast. By November 1942, although the 2/14th had been reformed at Koitaki, near Port Moresby, it was still not up to full strength, with a total of only 341 men of all ranks. Nevertheless, the situation in New Guinea meant that the 21st Brigade was needed to help capture the Japanese beachhead around Gona on the north-eastern coast. The 2/14th Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Challen who had replaced Key in late September, after the latter had been captured and executed by the Japanese following the fighting around Isurava, was placed in the vanguard of the brigade's move, being air transported to Popondetta on 25 November.
