Launching A Book, WALK IT OUT - A KOKODA EXPERIENCE Options

[Annie Clark]

Hello,
just letting all trekkers know on the 31st January 2009, Annie Clark is launching her new book WALK IT OUT - A Kokoda Experience in Cooroy. At the address of 107 Evans Road, Cooroy.
If anyone would like more information about this event and the book, please contact Annie 0402 166 187.
Thank you.

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[peterh13]

that sounds like a good read,,we are heading off in July and might get a copy.

[petedowling]

I read Bill James book "Field Guide to the Kokoda Track". it gives a great historical perspective about kokoda and New Guinea during ww11. As well it gives to todays trekkers practical information and great maps that are excellent to reference during the trek. recommended.
regards
Pete Dowling

[mikmac1959]

Absolute brilliant read pete,
i carried it with me and read about the history of location i had been through, were i was camped and were tomorrow would take me!!!
i will always remember camped at Brigade Hill...... aloone in my tent reading Bill's book ..........
tears streeming down my face!!'every body should carry this field guide.
cheers mike

[mikmac1959]

Hey sorry about the spelling in my last post!
anyway i for one was greatly moved by my kokoda experience and have actually
written some poems about the history.
Here is one about Brigade hill hope you don't mind me shareing it with you all.


Brigade Hill.

I had the honour to camp at Brigade Hill,
It was quite eerie, calm and surprising still.
Little indication of what had occurred long ago,
The bloody battle against an irrepressible foe.

They’d done it before some of these very men,
Now dug in on Mission Ridge, to do it again.
They had held Isurava for day upon day,
This new mission was simple, here you must stay.

Considered perfect for another ambush,
Engage the enemy, slow down their push.
Perched high on the ridge with views down the track
Steep fall each side “surely no one could come up that!”

The enemies tactics evolved from each battle faced,
Some circle out wide and some up the track race.
Full frontal attacks to engage all our men,
Find their positions then outflank them.

But it is surely impossible to use that tactic here,
Look over each side the cliffs almost sheer.
Underestimated their foe and the damage was done,
The enemy climbed in the dark with ammo and guns.

So when dawn broke on the 8th September
All hell broke loose as bad as any could remember,
The enemy were securely entrenched behind them,
Cut off and surrounded were 3 battalions of our men.

The Japanese General’s brilliant tactical approach,
Front defensive, rear fall back positions, destroy them both.
A desperate situation for our lads in dead,
They’d all be destroyed if his tactic was to succeed.

“The track’s the supply line, we can’t let them stay
and to evacuate injured mates, there is no other way.
We must get between them and Moresby it’s clear
Because we are the only resistance from here.”

With the situation desperate a plan had been hatched,
The enemy must be dislodged, take back that track.
So that afternoon as torrential rain fell
They fixed bayonets and charged into hell.

These brave men who were surrounded down the hill
New what they were in for, they new the drill,
Into a wall of fire from an enemy dug in,
Be lucky just to survive, little chance to win?

Captain Claude Nye led this heroic patrol
He merely said “Yes Sir” a hero to the sole
Of the twenty five men who went up the track,
Nye and sixteen others never came back.

But remarkably eight men made it right through,
They fought their way up to Battalion H.Q.
You’d think they’d be honoured for an effort like that,
No way on earth they were lined up to go back.

So with a new leader and fresh fighting men,
They took their place and attacked once again.
Captain ‘Lefty ‘ Langridge was in charge of the line
Sadly he and twenty others were killed this time.

Unfortunately these brave actions were to no avail,
The enemy’s weight of numbers just had to prevail.
This bloody battle could never be won
The aussies were still outnumbered 6 to 1.

So the order was given to fall back,
Regroup at Menari, use the alternative track,
But with any withdrawal the rearguard is the key,
A withering volley of fire, bog down the enemy.

Brave men volunteered for this dangerous duty
To buy time for their mates to get out to safety.
And sometimes it’s like that in the theatre of war
Ordinary men, do extraordinary things and more!

In a Kingsbury like act brave men broke from their cover
Chucking grenades, with Bren’s they protected each other
Charging down the hill with their commander CaptainLee
Took their foe by surprise and caused them to flee.

Because of actions like this, many managed to withdraw,
To reform and prepare for what next was in store,
But what of this battle on “Massacre Hill”
In just 2 days 80 of our finest were killed.

But remember this is all that could be done,
Fight tooth and nail and don’t dare be overrun,
Hold on and then withdraw to fight another day,
Slow down the enemy and prolong their stay.

So some 65 years have come and they’ve gone,
The world has changed and everything’s moved on,
I sat on that hill, tears streaming from my eyes,
Reflecting on the actions, so many lost lives.


I could never imagine the horror they went through,
All Aussie heroes who did what they had to do,
So the likes of Nye, Langridge, Lee and the rest
Should never, ever be forgotten…. Lest we forget.

[Fluppy]

Wow, Mike. Your poem gave me goosebumps. I was almost crying just reading it - and I haven't even trekked Kokoda yet. Truly have some talent there. May I have your permission to print this out to frame and put on my office wall? (I understand if I don't - poetry is very personal...)

fluppy

[mikmac1959]

thanks fluppy,
i would be honoured if you thought my poem was good enough to put on your wall.
thanks also for pointing out the typo it should indeed say indeed.
i have written a couple of other poems.... trying not to make them too emotional but
more acurate to historical occurrances , easier for people to learn about
the history than reading a book?
cheers mike

[Boss Meri]

Mike, a WOW from me also and like Fluppy I too had goosebumps reading your poem, well done.

With your approval, I would love to print it out and have our boys read it at Brigade Hill when they walk with trekkers.

If you have written other poems like this for various points on the track would love to have them as well.

[Matthew.Cole202]

hi boss meri umm sorry i now this off topic but i was wondering if you could help me i trekked kokoda last year witht the army cadets and i wanted to no my trek number thanks

[Boss Meri]

Michael, your trek was 488 - refer below:

http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/forums/index...why+army+cadets