Thread: Kokoda Track book

Hi Ean,

Is that the Fitzsimons book?

It's an extraordinary story about some extraordinary people.

Originally Posted by one_iota

Hi Ean,

Is that the Fitzsimons book?

It's an extraordinary story about some extraordinary people.

Yes it was, and even if its half true, its still an amazing story..I read alot of books but I dont think i've read one in along time that has stirred so many and so much emotion in me.

I never realised how close the Japanese forces got..I know about the bombing of Darwin and the mini subs in Sydney, but never realised they got to see the lights of Port Morseby before they were turned back.

As you say an extraordinary true story about extraordinary people..

Cheers Ean

Originally Posted by Ean Austral

... but never realised they got to see the lights of Port Morseby before they were turned back.

I read the book also, I thought they were ordered back. Was awhile ago so maybe my memory is bad.

His book on Tobruk is a good read as well.

Originally Posted by Ferret

I read the book also, I thought they were ordered back. Was awhile ago so maybe my memory is bad.

His book on Tobruk is a good read as well.

Its not that bad, they were ordered, but they were also in range of the heavy guns now they were that close for the first time, but YES they did get ordered back.


Will have to get the Tobruk book now..

Cheers Ean

Ok, so I am not going senile. Before reading that book I never realised they got so close and I never realised that their 'defeat' was in part related to orders to turn back when so close to their goal.

Another great book which covers more of the Papua campaign is Peter Brune's 'A Bastard of A Place'. Covers the battles at Milne Bay by Australian forces.The first total and decisive defeat of the Japanese army in the Pacific by any of the allied forces.

I read TROBRUK and then KOKODA by Fitzsimons before going to walk KOKODA. It brings it all so vividly tolife when you go through!..

TROBRUK is great to read first as it follows people from this go through to KOKODA (eg Butch and Stan BISSETT). Both books are very reality based with some story weaved to keep it linked. (both have had thumbs up from veterans that were there and from the AWM.)

A BASTARD OF A PLACE is excellent especially about the top of PNG, and was mind numbing about what was faced in BUNA & GONA etc..
(If I recall correctly by Peter BROOM or similar, who I think actually works for the AWM)

Also worth a read is a book called BONE MAN OF KOKODA thats by Charles HAPPELL, it is about Kokochi NISHIMURA a private in the 144th regiment of the Imperial Japanese Army. He fought down and back along KOKODA track and came back years later to spend years searching for recovering and repatriating bones of fallen japanese soldiers back to Japan. All this he self funded and did... it is a true story & a good one! at one stage (battle of Brigade hill) he was shot 3 x through the shoulder and after further fighting hid for days in an old hollowed tree stump..
a good read..


Lastly WW1, I only recently finished "THE WESTERN FRONT DIARIES" that is another great book, consisting of diaries and letters extracts of those fighting on the western front or their famiies left behind. compiled by Jonathon KING.

If going to walk KOKODA theres another book to read and take....if anyone intends making this trek contact me and Ill set you right.

Digger











ps the ridge the
japs were stoPped on was IORIBAIWA where they came in reach of a 25pdr howitzer that had been carried from Owers Corner across the Goldie River and set up to pound the ioribaiwa ridge. The JAP TRENCH EMPLACEMENTS ABOUT THE CANNON SITE ARE STILL THERE AND VERY VISABLE... THEY WERE VERY CLOSE BUT HAD STRETCHED THEIR SUPPLY LINE PAST BREAKING AND THE AUSSIES HAD REGROUPED AND WERE INTO THEM AGAIN. AS THERE IS NO WORD FOR RETREAT IN THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE THEY WERE ORDERED TO TURN AROUND AND ADVANCE TO THE REAR!

I agree with your opinions on Peter Fitzsimons books, they are good. However, there are two books which I regard must be read to get the true picture of the campaign--- and that picture is even more horrifying than we of our generation can imagine. The first----- KOKODA by Paul Ham. Review from the Age "While other authors have described the harsh and often disturbing aspects of the fighting at Kokoda, , none have done it as well as Ham.In many respects it is the most complete history of Kokoda yet........ It is an exceptional book" The second------The Path Of Infinate Sorrow , the Japanese on the Kokoda Track, by Craig Collie and Hajime Marutani, which tells for the first time the story from the Japanese point of view. Both these books are an emotional read, more than once I had to put them down , and yes, I shed the ocassional tear. My father fought with the 2/14 th Battalion in the New Guinea campaign, never spoke one word about it, now I know why.I marched with Dad one Anzac Day and afterwards met Stan Bisset and other members of the Battalion, Stan was a quiet unassuming man, a gentleman, as they all were. Their story should be told in the same reverence as Gallipoli, even more so because they were fighting for Australia's existance. Sorry about the long story, please red the books.
Bob10