9th November 1942
During his speech, General Blamey said the Japanese soldiers were like gorillas who would get into their holes and not surrender. While in their holes, they would shoot the Australian soldiers. Blamey added that it was like shooting rabbits: while the rabbits were in their burrows they could not be shot, but while on the run the man with the gun could shoot them.
Following his address to the whole brigade he addressed the officers separately. General Blamey was clearly agitated when he spoke with the officers immediately after addressing the troops. He said that a few officers in the brigade had failed. Blamey had previously removed Brigadier Potts from the frontline on 10 September and subsequently banished him to Darwin.
At the very best the speech was highly insensitive. At worst it was one of the low points in the history of the Australian military command.
Some Vets claim that Blamey was lucky to escape with his life, as some were so outraged, they wanted to shoot him on the spot.
