kokoda

The Kokoda Trail or Track was a path that linked Ower's Corner, approximately 40 km north-east of Port Moresby, and the small village of Wairopi, on the northern side of the Owen Stanley mountain range. From Wairopi, a crossing point on the Kumusi River, the Track was connected to the settlements of Buna, Gona and Sanananda on the north coast.

The name Kokoda, was taken from the village of Kokoda that stood on the southern side of the main range and was the site of the only airfield between Port Moresby and the north coast.

The Japanese had originally planned to capture Port Moresby by a seaborne landing. However this was disrupted by the battle of the Coral Sea, so as a result the Japanese saw the Kokoda Track as a way to capture Port Moresby overland. Troops of the South Seas Detachment began landing at Gona on the 21st July 1942, intending initially just to test the possibility of using the Kokoda Track as a route to invade. Soon the plan was put into action and a full-scale offensive began.

The first fighting occurred between elements of the Papuan Infantry Battalion and the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion at Awala on the 23rd July. Unfortunately the defending forces were unable to hold back the Japanese. They were poorly equipped, did not have effective jungle warfare tactics, and were engaged in fighting at the end of a very long and difficult supply line. A number of desperate delaying actions were fought as the Australians withdrew along the Track. They finally stopped on the 17th September at Imita Ridge, the last natural obstacle along the Track.

Although being pushed back was not a desirable outcome, the Australians found themselves in a superior position. Their artillery at Ower's Corner was now in range and their supplies could be trucked most of the way forward. This was in contrast to the Japanese who now had to have their supplies carried all the way from the north coast. As a result of severe losses suffered by the Japanese on the island Guadalcanal, located in the southern Solomon Islands, following the American landing there, the South Seas Detachment was ordered to withdraw to the north coast of Papua and establish a defensive position.

Australian troops of the 25th Brigade then began to edge forward from Imita Ridge on the 23rd September. In the course of their retreat the Japanese fought delaying actions. The conditions that the Australians were forced to purse the Japanese through were hot and humid weather, rain, Tropical Disease, stinking mud and treacherous jungle to name a few. By the 9th December Gona was taken and on the 2nd January 1943 Buna was captured. Sanananda, held by 600 Japanese, was not taken until the 12th January. The Papuan campaign ended with the surrender of Japanese survivors on the 22nd January 1943.

Out of a force of about 20,000 the Japanese had lost 13,000, most of whom had fought to the death rather than surrender. The campaign cost Australia over 6000 casualties.

Exercises:

On a new page in your books put the Heading “Kokoda”. Under the heading write a 1/2 page summary based upon the information above. After you have completed the summary, write the following sub-headings and the questions in your books and answer them in full sentences using the links to the websites listed below.

The Battle for New Guinea

1. Click on Animation, then in the new window click on 'Battle for New Guinea', then 'Battle of the Coral Sea' and read through it.
2. Click on 'Kokoda Track'. What city did Japan sieze and here is it located?
3. Why were the Japanese not able to attack Port Moresby by sea?
4. What was the mountain range that the had to cross?
5. How many troops land on July 21 and what was their intention?

Kokoda Campaign

1. Click on 'Cross-section view of the Kokoda Track'. Describe the conditions the Australians had to endure.
2. Draw a copy of the map into your books.

Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels

1. Who were the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels?
2. How did they help the Australian forces?