RSL GETS BEHIND A SENTIMENTAL EXPEDITION MARKING KOKODA’S 80th Anniversary

The 1st of September marks the start of a remarkable and historical expedition undertaken by the 16th Battalion, Royal Western Australian Regiment (RWAR) of Perth and the 39th Operational Support Battalion (OSB) of Randwick in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign.  With the full support of the RSL, a group from each Battalion will undertake the nine-day trek across the mountainous jungle trail as they retrace the steps of their original Battalions.

The 16th RWAR will depart from the South side (starting at Owers’ Corner) and the 39th OSB will depart from Kokoda in the North. The two groups will converge at Brigade Hill partway through the trek to commemorate the battle, 80 years to the day, that both Battalions fought in.

The 39th OSB has a particularly sentimental duty to fulfil while on the track following a request from the family of Kokoda veteran Alan ‘Kanga’ Moore.  Trusted in their care, they will carry his ashes and fulfil his wishes to be scattered at meaningful sites along the track. This includes Isurava and over the grave of a friend who died in his arms according to Commanding Officer 39th OSB Lieutenant Colonel David Ready. 

LTCOL David Ready said it was a privilege to be able to perform the last wishes of ‘Kanga’, a remarkable Australian and the sole surviving officer of the 39th Battalion.

The expedition group is supported by twelve Papua New Guinea porters, and acknowledges the critical role porters – who were fondly known as ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’ during WWII -  played in the Allies victory in 1942. RSL Australia, RSL WA and RSL NSW in collaboration with the Australian Army are proud to be supporting this commemorative expedition through the sponsorship of porters on this trip. The ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’ were revered for their strength, ingenuity, and compassion both carrying supplies to troops and for evacuating the wounded through impossible terrain.

At the end of the trek a commemorative service will be held in Bomana attended by the 39 OSB, as well as the RSL National President Greg Melick along with other dignitaries. The following day a second service will be hosted at Gona with 16 RWAR.

For further updates on this remarkable expedition, please follow our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RSLNational

Historical Gallery - Papua New Guinea 1942

AWM 013469 2/16th Battalion 1942

Men of the 2/16th Battalion now in action on the New Guinea front. These men, who have previously seen service in the Western Desert and Syria

Map of the Kokoda Track

Owers Corner to Kokoda, Papua New Guinea

AWM - 013288 39th Battalion return to camp after a day fighting

Some members of D Company, 39th Battalion, returning to their base camp after a battle at Isurava. Right to left: Warrant Officer 2 R. Marsh, Private (Pte) G. Palmer, Pte J. Manol, Pte J. Tonkins, Pte Arnold William Forrester and Gallipoli veteran Staff Sergeant J. Long. Their shoes sink deep in the mud on the hilly jungle track.

AWM - 013262 Wounded Australians being carried out by native bearers

OWEN STANLEY RANGES, NEW GUINEA. WOUNDED AUSTRALIANS BEING CARRIED ON STRETCHERS OUT OF FORWARD BATTLE AREAS THROUGH A MOUNTAIN STREAM BY NATIVE BEARERS (FUZZY WUZZY ANGELS).

AWM 026321

PAPUA, NEW GUINEA. 1942-08. THREE MEMBERS OF THE 39TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION WHO WERE IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPS IN THE KOKODA AREA, AND WHO HAVE BEEN SENT BACK WITH BULLET WOUNDS. PHOTOGRAPHED IN A JUNGLE VILLAGE WHERE THEY RESTED. THEY HAD HAD TO WALK FOR NEARLY SIX DAYS THROUGH DENSE JUNGLE TO REACH THE HOSPITAL.

AWM 027029 - 39th Battalion

PAPUA, NEW GUINEA. 1942-10. A MAKE-SHIFT COOKHOUSE OF THE 39TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION IN THEIR REST AREA IN THE JUNGLE BEHIND THE FORWARD AREA OF THE OWEN STANLEY RANGES. THIS BATTALION HAD BEEN THE FIRST TO FACE THE ENEMY AND HAD HELD UP THE JAPANESE ADVANCE FOR SOME TIME.

AWM 027030 - 39th Battalion

PAPUA, NEW GUINEA. 1942-10. TACTICAL LECTURE FOR MEN OF THE 39TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION IN THE JUNGLE DURING A RESPITE FROM THE FORWARD AREA

AWM P01817.020

Papua-New Guinea, c. 1943. Native stretcher-bearers carry a wounded soldier on a stretcher down a muddy jungle track, as they evacuate him from the front. An Australian medical officer (MO) is at left, while at right a medic with a Red Cross on his arm attends to the wounded ma

AWM 013004

PAPUA. NATIVE BEARERS CARRY HEAVY LOADS OF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR THE AUSTRALIAN TROOPS. ONE "BOY" USUALLY CARRIES ABOUT 50 LBS WEIGHT, AND TWO "BOYS" CAN MANAGE ABOUT 70LBS.