Page 85 - History of War - Issue 29-16

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AUSTRALIA’S
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THIN GREEN LINE
T HIN G RE I E N L IN E
WORDS LEIGH NEVILLE
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In 1942 Australia stood on the brink of invasion by the Japanese.
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Its last line of defence: citizen soldiers willing to lay their lives on
Its last line of defence: citizen soldiers willing to lay their lives on
the line in the hellish conditions of the Kokoda Trail
the line in the hellish conditions of the Kokoda Trail
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only added to that fear. One Kokoda veteran
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n Australian history, Kokoda ranks only only added to that fear. One Kokoda veteran temperature falls and the air becomes thinner.
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later explained; “We were ghting for Australia,
behind Gallipoli in terms of cultural later explained; “We were ghting for Australia, The Trail then peaks at what became known
behind Gallipoli in terms of cultural
on Australian soil for the rst time (Papua was
importance and its impact on the Anzac
importance and its impact on the Anzac on Australian soil for the rst time (Papua was as Templeton’s Crossing, some 2,500 metres
I (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) an Australian protectorate at the time). It was above sea level, before beginning to nally
I (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps)
an Australian protectorate at the time). It was
myth. The name is invoked in much the same
important that we won because if we didn’t win
myth. The name is invoked in much the same important that we won because if we didn’t win descend across Eora Creek and through the
who knows what would have happened.”
manner as the battle at Anzac Cove as a kind
manner as the battle at Anzac Cove as a kind who knows what would have happened.” tiny villages of Eora, Alola, Isurava, and Kokoda.
of short-hand for a uniquely Australian version At the beginning of the Kokoda Campaign,
of short-hand for a uniquely Australian version
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of the fabled ‘Blitz spirit’, a signi er of Aussie
of the fabled ‘Blitz spirit’, a signi er of Aussie A mountainous task there were only two under-strength Australian
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mateship against extreme adversary.
mateship against extreme adversary. The battles that formed the Kokoda Campaign brigades stationed in Moresby; both comprised
k
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ran from mid-July to mid-November 1942; four
Despite this, the name of the campaign ran from mid-July to mid-November 1942; four of inexperienced and poorly equipped teenage
Despite this, the name of the campaign
months of close combat with a fanatical enemy
remains a bone of contention. Historians still
remains a bone of contention. Historians still months of close combat with a fanatical enemy militia of the Australian Military Force (AMF). 39
argue Kokoda Trail versus Kokoda Track; the in some of the most inhospitable terrain in the Battalion and the Papuan Infantry Battalion of
in some of the most inhospitable terrain in the
argue Kokoda Trail versus Kokoda Track; the
former has gained the upper hand in modern
former has gained the upper hand in modern world. The Trail was a series of native tracks the AMF had been eventually dispatched across
world. The Trail was a series of native tracks
usage, while the latter was more commonly
that crossed the Owen Stanley Mountain
usage, while the latter was more commonly that crossed the Owen Stanley Mountain the Owen Stanleys to counter the possibility of
used by the Diggers themselves and in
Range in what is now Papua New Guinea, from
used by the Diggers themselves and in Range in what is now Papua New Guinea, from a Japanese landing on the north-east coast.
Owen’s Corner near the capital of Port Moresby
battalion records. According to the Australian Owen’s Corner near the capital of Port Moresby The Japanese beat them to it and landed their
battalion records. According to the Australian
through the hot, wet jungle to the villages of
War Memorial, keepers of Australian military through the hot, wet jungle to the villages of rst troops around dusk on 21 July 1942 – they
War Memorial, keepers of Australian military
history, both are equally correct. Uberi and Ioribaiwa, where the path begins to would be the rst of an eventual landing force
history, both are equally correct.
Uberi and Ioribaiwa, where the path begins to
rise dramatically. This rst section of the Trail
In the popular imagination, the campaign
In the popular imagination, the campaign rise dramatically. This rst section of the Trail of more than 14,000.
stopped a Japanese invasion of mainland
ends in what soon became known to many
stopped a Japanese invasion of mainland ends in what soon became known to many The Japanese planned a two-pronged attack
Australia, but historians have since discovered
Australia, but historians have since discovered young soldiers as the ‘Golden Stairs’ – 4,000 to capture Port Moresby – one across the Owen
young soldiers as the ‘Golden Stairs’ – 4,000
treacherously slippery steps that are cut into
that the Japanese had decided against any
that the Japanese had decided against any treacherously slippery steps that are cut into Stanleys to encircle the capital from the north,
the mountainside.
such attempt. They concluded that they could
such attempt. They concluded that they could the mountainside. and the other as a direct amphibious assault
From the ‘Golden Stairs’ the gruelling ascent
never realistically occupy a landmass of such From the ‘Golden Stairs’ the gruelling ascent against Moresby. The latter was aborted
never realistically occupy a landmass of such
immense size. In 1942, however, the threat continues to the village of Efogi, some 1,500 following the Battle for the Coral Sea, which
immense size. In 1942, however, the threat
continues to the village of Efogi, some 1,500
of invasion was very real for the average
of invasion was very real for the average meters above sea level, and on to Myola, which broke up much of the invasion eet. Instead,
meters above sea level, and on to Myola, which
Australian. Japanese submarine attacks in would become an Australian forward base, at the Japanese relied upon advancing along the
Australian. Japanese submarine attacks in
would become an Australian forward base, at
Sydney Harbour and air raids against Darwin
Sydney Harbour and air raids against Darwin 2,000 metres in altitude. With each step, the Kokoda Trail to Moresby.
2,000 metres in altitude. With each step, the
“IN THE POPULAR the Kokoda Trail has
Although beautiful,
IMAGINATION, THE CAMPAIGN inhospitable terrain
some of the most
STOPPED A JAPANESE INVASION on Earth
OF MAINLAND AUSTRALIA,
BUT HISTORIANS HAVE
SINCE DISCOVERED THAT
THE JAPANESE HAD DECIDED
AGAINST ANY SUCH ATTEMPT”
084-091_HOW029_Kokoda_Trail.indd 85 04/05/2016 18:40