The Kokoda Trail Campaign

By Daemon Basu

Map of Papua New Guinea1

When many Australians think about World War Two, they think of the European theatre or
the Holocaust or the atomic bombs dropped on Japan, but the war was closer to home than
many would expect. The Pacific theatre stretched as far down south as Papua New Guinea,
which at the time was “an External Territory of the Australian Commonwealth.”2

The invasion of Papua New Guinea began with the capture of Rabaul. Rabaul was a city
with a deep natural harbour and many airfields, making it a valuable asset for its occupiers, a
fact recognised by both sides well before the outbreak of war.3 Following days of aerial
bombing, the city was captured in late January 1942, with little resistance from the

1
“Geography of Papua New Guinea.” Wikipedia, October 7, 2024.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Papua_New_Guinea.
2
“History.” Papua New Guinea, June 19, 2024. https://papuanewguinea.travel/history-tours/.
3
“Fall of Rabaul.” Australian War Memorial, January 18, 2022.
https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/fallofrabaul.
outmanned and outgunned Australian garrison, and, by the middle of February that same
year, the whole island of New Britain had fallen.4

Map showing the locations of Gona and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea5

The Japanese soon turned their attention to their ultimate target in Papua New Guinea, Port
Moresby. After attempting a naval invasion in May 1942, they decided to attack over land.
The first landing was made at Gona at around 5:30 pm on the 21st of July 1942 and the small
number of Australian troops there withdrew without engaging the Japanese.

There was some resistance offered by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and United States
Army Air Force (USAAF) B-17 and B-26 bombers; some smaller attempts were made to
delay the advancing force by these fleeing soldiers. However these were not enough to
effectively stop the Japanese from setting out along what is now known as the Kokoda Trail.

4
EmperorTigerstar. “World War II in the Pacific: Every Day.” YouTube, January 1, 2015.
https://youtu.be/6_1rzp2YVxQ?si=ytkdQQ9SvJ-me3-H.
[0:24]
5
Haskett, Norm. “Aussies’ Sweep of Kokoda Trail Sets Stage for Buna-Gona Knockdown.” World War
II Day by Day, September 7, 2023.
https://ww2days.com/kokoda-trail-sweep-is-lead-up-to-capturing-buna-gona.html.
 Map showing important locations on the Kokoda Trail6

The Japanese landings were observed by the Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB), who were
split up with one platoon being ordered to wait at Awala and another at Goriari and the rest
to defend Kokoda until Australian reinforcements arrive. After some a brief firefight, the
troops at Awala withdrew to Wariopi,7 where they were met by the other PIB platoon and the
Australian 39th Infantry Battalion.8 The defensive force held up the Japanese until they were
overrun and pushed back to Kokoda.

On the 28th of July, 1942, the Australians set up on a plateau overlooking the road from
Gona; “around 100 Australian and Papuan troops defend the village [of Kokoda]. The lead
element of the Japanese force is more than twice that size.”9 The Maroubra force withdrew
to Deniki and took some time to regroup. On the 8th of August, they sent three separate
companies out on different routes to try to recapture Kokoda. On A Company, under the
command of Captain Noel Symington was able to make it there and retook the village after

6
“Invasion of Buna–Gona.” Wikipedia, December 24, 2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Buna%E2%80%93Gona.
7
“Invasion of Buna–Gona.” Wikipedia, December 24, 2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Buna%E2%80%93Gona.
There were plans for an ambush between Awala and Wariopi but the platoon had retreated before it
could be enacted.
8
“Maroubra Force.” Wikipedia, December 10, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroubra_Force.
This force was codenamed “the Maroubra force”.
9
The Cove. “Australia’s Kokoda Campaign.” YouTube, 24AD.
https://youtu.be/wiliqwKlyng?si=jA_atmsNzRY4Io6b.
[1:45-1:54]
finding it virtually unoccupied.10Once in Kokoda, Symington sent a message back to Deniki
to resupply the occupying force by air.

Both C Company and D Company encountered resistance on their way to Kokoda and
withdrew to Deniki, with C Company being followed closely by the Japanese force they were
fighting. The Symington’s message arrived late on the 9th of August and a reconnaissance
plane was sent the following morning. Unfortunately before the Australians could prepare a
supply drop, one Japanese company, sent back from the force following C Company, was
attacking Kokoda and late on the 9th, A Company withdrew all the way to Isurava, taking an
indirect path to avoid an engagement. The force at Deniki dropped supplies into the
Japanese camp on the 12th.

The Machine Gun Company of the Maroubra force, which was at Isurava, was called forward
to swap places with B Company at Deniki. The Japanese force continued their advance and
began an attack on Deniki and continued for a day and a night before, out of fear of being
flanked, Maroubra retreated to Isurava.

Map of the Battle of Isurava (Kokoda Trail in red, other roads in yellow)11
10
“Second Battle for Kokoda- 08 August 1942.” Australian Kokoda Tours. Accessed October 16, 2024.
https://www.australiankokodatours.com.au/second-battle-for-kokoda-08-august-1942.
They had taken a more western trail to the main Kokoda Trail.
11
“Battle of Isurava.” Map. Google Earth. Google, 2024.
The Australians had set up with the 39th Battalion at Isuvara itself and the 53rd Battalion at
the Abuari to cover a possible flanking attack. Recently arrived in Port Moresby was the 21st
Infantry Brigade, who sent two Battalions, the 2/14th and the 2/16th, up the trail to reinforce
the Isuvara garrison. The Japanese assault began on the 26th of August; Japanese artillery
fired upon 39th Battalion positions as the 2/14th Battalion relieved the exhausted soldiers of
their frontline position.12 The 2/16th moved in to help the 53rd on the same day.

This timeline of the Kokoda Trail only covers one month of the four month long campaign.
Even still, it is full of examples of harsh conditions that affected the Australian soldiers. From
even before the landing at Buna-Gona there were adverse conditions for Maroubra.

The fall of Rabaul was a prelude to the Kokoda Trail in more than just the strategic sense. It
served as a grisly warning for what was to come. Shortly following the capture of Rabaul,
when the Japanese were setting about conquering all of New Britain, 160 Australians, who
had surrendered and were legally prisoners of war (POWs), were massacred at the Tol
Plantation. The invasion of Buna-Gona saw further executions, with nine people killed,
including two missionaries and several noncombatants.

Another great killer of the Kokoda Campaign was disease. It is estimated that for every
casualty in battle, between two and three men were hospitalised for sickness.13 One of the
major diseases suffered by the troops was dysentery. An outbreak started around
mid-August and, by the Battle of Isurava, about 30-80 people were being evacuated sick
each day with the disease. In November, the dysentery epidemic had began to subside, just
in time for malaria to begin to take hold. Malaria ended up forcing the evacuation of 4857
soldiers by December 27th.14

Map showing the altitudes of notable places from Kokoda to Owen’s Corner15

Annotations by Daemon Basu.

12
“Battle of Isurava.” Kokoda Historical (en-AU). Accessed October 15, 2024.
https://kokodahistorical.com.au/history/battle-of-isurava.
The men of the 39th moved to cover the rear of the 2/14th.
13
McCarthy, D. (1959) ‘Chapter 10 - Oivi-Gorari’, in Australia in the War of 1939-1945 - South–West
Pacific Area – First Year: Kokoda to Wau. 1st edn, pp. 335–335.
14
“Malaria and dysentery.” DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) (2020), DVA, Anzac Portal.
Accessed October 16, 2024.
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/kokoda-track-1942-1943/events/jungle-warfare/mal
aria-and-dysentery.
15
“The Kokoda Track Experience.” Lifestyle Adventure Training. Accessed October 18, 2024.
https://lifestyleadventuretraining.com.au/kokoda.
All of this is not to mention the natural obstacles faced by the Maroubra force. The Kokoda
Trail crosses the Owen Stanley mountain range; the trail has a peak of 2,490m above sea
level at Mount Bellamy. The Trail has many series of ascents and descents and, from start to
end, was over 122 kilometres in a straight line. Given the length of this campaign coming out
to be 119 days (21 July - 16 November 1942) and the fact that this time span encompasses
the Australian counteroffensive going the other way, this means that on average, the
Australian soldiers would walk well over 2 kilometres every single day, through mud and
disease, over mountains, across rivers, all whilst fighting for their lives and their country
against the most ferocious and persistent of enemies.

To put all of the Kokoda Trail campaign, and the harshness of the conditions on it, into
writing is all but impossible. There is no true way that person in 2024 could experience a
fraction of the effects of the Trail on the soldiers; not even doing a trek across the modern
day landscape could elicit the same fear, nor the same exhaustion, that the Kokoda Trail
inflicted upon the Maroubra force. Ultimately, the relative safety of Australia during the
course of the war is thanks in large part to the valour and resistance put up by the men of
the 21st, 25th, 16th, 6th, 30th Battalions, known collectively as the Maroubra Force.
 End Notes

1. “Geography of Papua New Guinea.” Wikipedia, October 7, 2024.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Papua_New_Guinea.
2. “History.” Papua New Guinea, June 19, 2024.
https://papuanewguinea.travel/history-tours/.
3. “Fall of Rabaul.” Australian War Memorial, January 18, 2022.
https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/fallofrabaul.
4. EmperorTigerstar. “World War II in the Pacific: Every Day.” YouTube, January 1,
2015. https://youtu.be/6_1rzp2YVxQ?si=ytkdQQ9SvJ-me3-H. 0:24
5. Haskett, Norm. “Aussies’ Sweep of Kokoda Trail Sets Stage for Buna-Gona
Knockdown.” World War II Day by Day, September 7, 2023.
https://ww2days.com/kokoda-trail-sweep-is-lead-up-to-capturing-buna-gona.html.
6. “Invasion of Buna–Gona.” Wikipedia, December 24, 2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Buna%E2%80%93Gona.
7. “Invasion of Buna–Gona.” Wikipedia, December 24, 2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Buna%E2%80%93Gona. There were plans
for an ambush between Awala and Wariopi but the platoon had retreated before it
could be enacted.
8. “Maroubra Force.” Wikipedia, December 10, 2023.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroubra_Force. This force was codenamed “the
Maroubra force”.
9. The Cove. “Australia’s Kokoda Campaign.” YouTube, 24AD.
https://youtu.be/wiliqwKlyng?si=jA_atmsNzRY4Io6b. 1:45-1:54
10. “Second Battle for Kokoda- 08 August 1942.” Australian Kokoda Tours. Accessed
October 16, 2024.
https://www.australiankokodatours.com.au/second-battle-for-kokoda-08-august-1942.
They had taken a more western trail to the main Kokoda Trail.
11. “Battle of Isurava.” Map. Google Earth. Google, 2024. Annotations by Daemon Basu
12. “Battle of Isurava.” Kokoda Historical (en-AU). Accessed October 15, 2024.
https://kokodahistorical.com.au/history/battle-of-isurava. The men of the 39th moved
to cover the rear of the 2/14th.
13. McCarthy, Dudley. “Chapter 10 - Oivi-Gorari.” Essay. In Australia in the War of
1939-1945 - South–West Pacific Area – First Year: Kokoda to Wau V, 1st ed.,
V:335–335, 1959.
14. “Malaria and dysentery.” DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) (2020), DVA, Anzac
Portal. Accessed October 16, 2024.
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/kokoda-track-1942-1943/events/ju
ngle-warfare/malaria-and-dysentery.
15. “The Kokoda Track Experience.” Lifestyle Adventure Training. Accessed October 18,
2024. https://lifestyleadventuretraining.com.au/kokoda.
 Bibliography
● “Battle of Isurava.” Kokoda Historical (en-AU). Accessed October 15, 2024.
https://kokodahistorical.com.au/history/battle-of-isurava.
● “Battle of Isurava.” Map. Google Earth. Google, 2024. Annotations by Daemon Basu
● The Cove. “Australia’s Kokoda Campaign.” YouTube, 24AD.
https://youtu.be/wiliqwKlyng?si=jA_atmsNzRY4Io6b.
● EmperorTigerstar. “World War II in the Pacific: Every Day.” YouTube, January 1,
2015. https://youtu.be/6_1rzp2YVxQ?si=ytkdQQ9SvJ-me3-H.
● “Fall of Rabaul.” Australian War Memorial, January 18, 2022.
https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/fallofrabaul.
● “Geography of Papua New Guinea.” Wikipedia, October 7, 2024.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Papua_New_Guinea.
● Haskett, Norm. “Aussies’ Sweep of Kokoda Trail Sets Stage for Buna-Gona
Knockdown.” World War II Day by Day, September 7, 2023.
https://ww2days.com/kokoda-trail-sweep-is-lead-up-to-capturing-buna-gona.html.
● “History.” Papua New Guinea, June 19, 2024.
https://papuanewguinea.travel/history-tours/.
● “Invasion of Buna–Gona.” Wikipedia, December 24, 2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Buna%E2%80%93Gona.
● “Kokoda Track Campaign.” Wikipedia, October 11, 2024.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokoda_Track_campaign.
● “The Kokoda Track Experience.” Lifestyle Adventure Training. Accessed October 18,
2024. https://lifestyleadventuretraining.com.au/kokoda.
● “Maroubra Force.” Wikipedia, December 10, 2023.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroubra_Force.
● McCarthy, Dudley. “Chapter 10 - Oivi-Gorari.” Essay. In Australia in the War of
1939-1945 - South–West Pacific Area – First Year: Kokoda to Wau V, 1st ed., V,
1959.
● “Second Battle for Kokoda- 08 August 1942.” Australian Kokoda Tours. Accessed
October 16, 2024.
https://www.australiankokodatours.com.au/second-battle-for-kokoda-08-august-1942.