The Lost Battlefield at Eora Creek along the Kokdoa Track

The Lost Battlefield of Eora Creek

For many years now, our trekking Teams have visited the Japanese defensive positions at Eora Creek, including a Japanese mountain gun position. This area is often referred to as the Japanese Forest Fort. Recently, the local landowners announced the existance of more defensive positions a very short distance further up the ridge, from the mountain gun position.

This extension of the Japanese Forest Fort, now called “the Lost battlefield” has been examined by The PNG Museum and Art Gallery, the Kokoda Track Authority, historians and other interested persons and plans are currently being put in place to ensure that this significant site is properly protected. Until any possible human remains have been removed and the site surveyed and documented, no trekking companies will visit this section of the Japanese Forest Fort. Early reports state that the battlefield is possibly, ’as it was’ in 1942. If so, this could well develop into an exciting opportunity to ‘restore’ a complete untouched battlefield.

New historic finds are now a regular occurance along the Track and the possibility of more discoveries keep our interest. Even new minor discoveries are exciting as they offer more direct links to the the campaign and the soldiers who fought and died along every inch of this torturous jungle path. Only recently one of our trekkers while bending down to fix a boot lace picked at a protruding ‘rock’ only to uncover an Aussie hand grenade. Rain water is continually uncovering munitions along the Track.

Back Track trek leader, Garry Thompson, pictured above at the lower section of the Lost battlefield with Model 92 & 94 mountain gun ammunition and Japanese helmets in the background. This section can currently be visited and explored.

Read the complete Kokoda Track itinerary here. Below is an excert of Day 4 of the standard Kokoda Track itinerary, detailing the day’s visit to the Lost Battlefield at Eora Creek:

Templeton’s Crossing and the lost battlefield. Our walk today begins with a short, taxing descent followed by a long gradual ascent to Eora Creek battle site. We leave our packs on the main trail and ascend a short side trail to the Japanese Forest Fort. Recently another extensive section of this Forest Fort, located only a short distance further up the ridge has been revealed by the local landowners. This new section is now referred to as “The Lost Battlefield”.
The Japanese Forest Fort which incorporates The Lost Battlefield, covers part of a high ridge with a commanding position overlooking Eora Creek. For many years now all our trekking teams have been visiting this important site. Your trek leader will explain the forts defensive significance and how the battle to capture the fort unfurled. You will explore the Japanese mountain gun and heavy machine gun positions. Still clearly visible are large quantities of munitions and artifacts. Many Australian soldiers lost their lives here, before the Japanese fled.

Until this new section of the Japanese Forest Fort has been properly surveyed, documented and any human remains identified and respectfully removed for proper burial, no trekking companies will visit this new section. The trail is always challenging today and the beauty of the jungle provides a wonderful distraction. We camp beside the creek at the battle site at Templeton’s Crossing

Kokoda Anniversary Trek – Fuzzy Wuzzy Day

Celebrate Fuzzy Wuzzy Day and the recapture of Kokoda and the historic raising of the Australian Flag by General Vasey. We have modified our itineray to maximise our time in KOKODA to be part of this celebration.

The Kokoda Anniversary Treks commemorate the day Kokoda was reoccupied by the AIF and the Australian flag was rasied once again over Kokoda. It is also time to remember and celebrate the wonderful mateship shared with the local people who worked with our soldiers on the Track as porters and soldiers- the famed Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. Teams 14A & 14B will be in Kokoda Village on Nov 3 for the official Fuzzy Wuzzy day celebrations which include a reenactment of the flag raising, traditional dancing and so much more. Villagers will be coming from along the Track and from other provinces of PNG just for the festivities.
In 2010, Back Track was the only trekking Company at Kokoda to join in the celebrations. It was a lot of fun, so we are heading back in 2011.
Teams 14A and 14B will be travelling from different ends of the Track to meet in Kokoda on Nov 2, the eve of Fuzzy Wuzzy Day. After the celebration on Nov 3, Team 14A will depart Kokoda to commence their Kokoda Track trek, while Team 14B will fly back to Port Moresby having completed their trek. Our Fuzzy Wuzzy day treks are always fun as they are the last treks of the Kokoda season and our crew and leaders always celebrate the occasion in memorable fashion. Join us in 2011, you wont be disappointed.

Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels have their day :: A group who cared for injured Australian soldiers in Papua New Guinea during World War II have been honoured with a national day of celebration in their home country.

Battle of Brigade Hill on the Kokoda Track

NOTE:- Jan 09 This information is to be updated. This extract from wikipedia does not detail actual battles fought during the defence of Brigade Hill and Mission Rridge. The bloody and heroic action by the Australian defenders warrants more detail and better explanation. Please return soon.

Maroubra Force withdrew to the next defensible strong point on the Track, a feature known as Mission Ridge. Following the containment of the Japanese at Milne Bay, Allen finally released the 2/27th Infantry Battalion from the divisional reserve at Port Moresby. After advancing along the Track from Port Moresby, the 2/27th Infantry Battalion finally joined Maroubra Force at Mission Ridge, and Brigadier Potts was finally able to commit his entire brigade to the battle.

Taking up positions on a hilltop straddling the Track, which later became known as “Brigade Hill”, Maroubra Force awaited the Japanese advance. The usual Japanese frontal attacks began soon after, upon the Australian leading elements. However, the Japanese launched a strong flank attack, aimed at cutting off the lead elements from the rest of Maroubra Force. The flank attack cut Maroubra Force in two, separating the brigade headquarters staff from the three battalions. With Brigade HQ about to be overrun, Brigadier Potts and the rear elements of Maroubra Force were forced to retreat back along the Track to the village of Menari.

Having run out of rations and with almost no ammunition left, when it became clear that they were in danger of being cut-off and destroyed, the remaining soldiers of all three Australian battalions immediately left the Track and were ordered to “go bush”, effectively an order of every man for himself, and find their own way to the village of Menari.

The 2/14th and 2/16th Infantry Battalions managed to re-unite with Brigadier Potts and 21st Brigade headquarters at Menari, but the 2/27th Battalion was unable to reach Menari before the rest of the brigade was again forced to retreat by the advancing Japanese. The 2/27th, along with wounded from the other battalions, were forced to follow paths parallel to the main Track, eventually rejoined the main Australian force at Jawarere, then making their way back to Ioribaiwa, and thence to Imita Ridge.
Elements of the 2/14th and 2/16th Infantry Battalions accompanying Potts later managed to regroup as a composite battalion for the defence of Imita Ridge, but the 2/27th only managed to regroup much later, after the Japanese retreat began. The result of this action was the shattering of Maroubra Force.

The defeat of the 21st Brigade at Brigade Hill finally ended Maroubra Force’s defence of the Kokoda Track as a cohesive fighting unit, and was a decisive victory for the Japanese. The defeat was one of many factors leading later to the infamous “running rabbits” incident at base camp at Koitaki.

On 8 September, Rowell informed Blamey that he had decided to relieve Potts. Rowell ordered Potts to immediately report to Port Moresby “for consultations”, replacing him as Maroubra Force commander with Brigadier Selwyn Porter on 10 September.

The series of defeats had a depressing effect back in Australia. On 30 August, MacArthur radioed Washington that unless action was taken, New Guinea Force would be overwhelmed. General George Vasey wrote that “GHQ is like a bloody barometer in a cyclone — up and down every two minutes”. MacArthur informed General George Marshall that “the Australians have proven themselves unable to match the enemy in jungle fighting. Aggressive leadership is lacking.” He wanted Blamey to go up to New Guinea and “energise” the situation.

Prime Minister John Curtin ordered Blamey up to Port Moresby to take personal command of New Guinea Force, which he did on 23 September. Rowell remained in command of I Corps, but saw this as a supersession. Blamey soon concluded that he could not work with Rowell, and relieved him of his command on 28 September, replacing him with Lieutenant General Edmund Herring.

The above information is taken from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokoda_Track_Campaign#Battle_of_Brigade_Hill

Battle of Isurava on the Kokoda Track

General Horii, Commander of the Japanese forces, moved the first of his disembarking troops forward, a body of some 2,500 soldiers, against the 39th Infantry Battalion and elements of the 49th and 53rd Infantry Battalions, some 400-strong. The Japanese force made contact with the outer positions of Maroubra Force and began frontal attacks against the dug-in defenders with the aid of a mountain gun and mortars manhandled up the Track.

Japanese reconnaissance had revealed a parallel track bypassing Isurava on the other side of the valley, defended by the Australian 53rd Battalion. A Japanese force was sent to open this route, and met with success, as the 53rd gave ground, retreating to the Track junction behind Isurava. Many senior officers of the 53rd were killed including its commander Lt-Colonel K.H. Ward, leading to further demoralization in the battalion. Had the Japanese taken advantage of a high track on the Isurava side of the valley they may have been able to drop down behind the Australian defenders atIsurava and cut them off. This would have meant certain defeat for our forces dug in at Isurava.
During the height of the battle late in the afternoon of the 26th August, , the first troops of the 2/14 Infantry battalion arrived to reinforce the 39th Infantry Battalion. Potts took command of Maroubra Force, and using the screen provided by the 39th Infantry Battalion, deployed the 2/14th Infantry Battalion at Isurava and sent the 2/16th Infantry Battalion to take over defence of the alternate track from the retreating 53rd Infantry Battalion. By the time the 2/14th Infantry Battalion had deployed, the Japanese were still able to field a force some 5,000 strong, and therefore outnumbered the Australians by at least five-to-one.
Japanese tactics were little-changed from the campaign through Malaya — pin the enemy in place with frontal attacks while feeling for the flanks, with a view to cutting off enemy forces from the rear. However, Horii was on a strict timetable; any delays feeling for flanks meant the gradual debilitation of his force from disease and starvation. As a result, Maroubra Force endured four days of violent frontal attacks. During the fighting, the 39th Infantry Battalion was forced to stay on instead of being relieved, as the Japanese threatened several times to break through the 2/14th’s perimeter.

On 29 August, Private Bruce Kingsbury of the 2/14th made a unique individual contribution to the campaign and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross as a result. His citation read, in part:
Private Kingsbury, who was one of the few survivors of a platoon which had been overrun … immediately volunteered to join a different platoon which had been ordered to counterattack. He rushed forward, firing the Bren gun from his hip through terrific machine-gun fire, and succeeded in clearing a path through the enemy. Continuing to sweep enemy positions with his fire, and inflicting an extremely high number of casualties upon them, Private Kingsbury was then seen to fall to the ground, shot dead by the bullet from a sniper hiding in the wood.
Eyewitnesses said that Kingsbury’s actions had a profound effect on the Japanese, halting their momentum.

However, Australian casualties mounted and ammunition ran low. The Japanese threatened to make a breakthrough on the alternate track and Horii had now deployed several companies on the flanks and near the rear of the 2/14th and 39th Infantry Battalions, threatening an encirclement.

Outnumbered, Maroubra Force withdrew towards Nauro and Menari. Potts relieved the exhausted 39th Infantry Battalion and the shattered 49th and 53rd; they were ordered to make their way back to Port Moresby.

Tropical diseases in general, and malaria in particular, took a devastating toll in this campaign, outnumbering combat casualties by ten to one. While the Australian Army had encountered malaria in the Middle East, few doctors with the Militia had seen the disease before. The need for a strict anti-malaria program was not fully understood, and many men wore shorts and short-sleeved shirts after dark. Others failed to take their quinine, which was still the major drug in use, not having yet been supplanted by quinacrine (Atebrin). Many officers saw this as a medical rather than a disciplinary issue, and did not compel their men to take their medicine. Moreover, anti-malarial supplies of all kinds were in short supply.

The above information is taken from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokoda_Track_Campaign#Battle_of_Isurava

Sequence of Events

3 January 1942

Port Moresby is garrisoned by raw Militia troops of the 30th Infantry Brigade. Troops from Major General Tomitaro Horii’s Nankai Shitai (South Seas Detached Force) embarked on Operation North Australia and landed on Rabaul on 23 January 1942.

8 March 1942

The Nankai Shitai landed at Lae and Salamaua.

7 July 1942

B Company, 39th Battalion (Bn) leaves Ilolo to cross the Owen Stanley Range to provide a protective force for American Engineers building an airstrip at Dobodura. The Japanese advance Force, 15th Independent Engineer Regiment, leaves Rabaul on 20 July 1942 and lands at Basabua approximately 1 mile east of Gona Mission.

22 July 1942

The Japanese encounter their first resistance, about 1km east of Awala. 11 Platoon, 39th Bn faces a Japanese force far superior in numbers. Out numbered and out gunned, the 39th begins a tenacious fighting withdrawal to Kokoda. The Japanese attacked Kokoda on 28July 1942. The 39th Bn, Commanding Officer, LTCOL Owen, is mortally wounded and the 39th Bn is driven out of Kokoda and falls back to Deniki.

Lest we Forget

The Kokoda Trail is as significant to the history of Australia as Gallipoli. Kokoda is now iconic, a symbol of the remarkable values our soldiers displayed of mateship, courage, endurance and sacrifice. These are basic values that all Australians can aspire to as part of the true defining character of an “Aussie” . The privileged life we all enjoy today in Australia is due in no small way to the heroism of the men and women who fought and died in foreign battlefields including New Guinea and along the Kokoda Track.