More about Kokoda

Time for a bit more about the Kokoda Track, the track covered seemingly impossible terrain with its nearly impenetrable rainforest with muddy ground, to agonizingly steep ascents and descents.

While the bare footed indigenous people had little trouble with the track, it was not so for the soldiers marching in boots. Many thought that it would be too difficult for the Japanese to traverse.

On the 21 July 1,800 Japanese landed between Buna and Gona, they planned to build a road to cross the Owen Stanleys to take Port Moresby.

Initially they proved better jungle fighters than the Australians and even though they were attacked by Allied aircraft they advanced rapidly up the track.

The Papuan Infantry and part of the 39^th Australian Battalion, which was still strung out along the track, were driven back to Wairopi on the 24 July.

By early August the situation was desperate as their supplies were running out, they continued to withdraw till they reached Isurava south of Kokoda. By the 10 August the Japanese had dug in preparing for an onslaught on Port Moresby, the Australians in turn dug in at Isurava.

I feel too sick to write more sorry