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Kokoda Track - a personal narrative

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by RedGuzzi750 (U7604797) on Saturday, 24th April 2010

  While back at home in Australia these last 4 weeks I have been regularly talking to my Mums companion, a man of 90 years who fought on the Kokoda Track with the 53rd? Batalion CMF.
  
  Its been a real priviledge to speak at length to Les, and to hear his thoughts on the bloody Kokoda Campaign.
  
  Some things that will always remain with me from our convesations;
  
  "There was only one good officer - and he died early on. The rest ran away".
  
  "We (90% on Les's estimate) were all suffering dysentry, various other infections, trench foot, etc etc.. and were in no state to fight but we did as it was us or them".
  
  "They called us "Chockos"......
  
  I asked him if he had heard of Damien Parer - "I met him - I was going back towards Moresby from Isurava and this bloke in a spotless uniform appears like he was from Mars or something! I said "G'Day mate I'm Les Day and he said "G'day I'm Damien Parer and then he asked what it was like "up there". I said it was not good, we shook hands and he went on.."
  
  During the fighting retreat Les dragged his mate (a man 1 foot taller than him!) over the Owen Stanleys as his mate has one shattered leg and one "wounded" leg. Les for each step this man took, lifted him by the belt. Step by step. In pouring rain, mud, and freezing conditions.
  
  It took 12 porters to carry one man on a stretcher, and these guys were not volunteers in the Highland but paid labour. The coastal folk would not go into the highlands no matter what inducements given.
  
  Les watched the documentary on Kokoda a few days ago shown on the ABC and gave it a passing mark. He said "they had to leave stuff out to tell a good story - fair enough". He did comment though that unlike the television programme, you could not see your enemy until they were almost upon you. He also said it went soft on "the officer class"...
  
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by islanddawn (U7379884) on Sunday, 25th April 2010

  Hi SS,
  
  Interesting reading, my father also fought at Kokoda but in the 39th Battalion and the little he will say fits with this account.
  
  Little to nothing in the way of leadership, resentment over the "choko" label and in fact he has never marched in an ANZAC day parade in protest over the derision in which the "chokos" were treated on their return. Aside from the psychological and physical effects from the campaign he has been left with an abiding dislike for the Japanese, deep resentment toward the US & Australian high command and a lasting respect for the Papua New Guineans.
  
  My father is also non-plussed by the myth now building around the Kododa campaign and says it has little to do with reality, and those who feel some sense of achievement from holidaying in New Guinea and walking the Kokoda Trail are described as "bloody idiots"!

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  Posted by RedGuzzi750 (U7604797) on Sunday, 25th April 2010

  Thanks for your comments mate - I think Les didn't really speak much before about his experiences but when he started speaking to me at Mums house I though I should be recording it, and told him he should record his recollections (your father should too). He did keep a very detailed diary, which unfortunately was stolen from him while he was in hospital after being seriously wounded ("shot four times in a couple of minutes"). Its a pity it wasn't around as it could have formed a framework for his memories so to speak.
  
  Mum reckoned the CMF guys were at first denied membership of the RSL, which if true is beyond belief.
  
  Another thing Les said was the reason the 3.9 guns did not fire on the Japanese air raids (at least one time) on Moresby was the concrete was still going off on the permanent mounts! Thats the stuff you din't get in official histories...

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  Posted by islanddawn (U7379884) on Sunday, 25th April 2010

  "Mum reckoned the CMF guys were at first denied membership of the RSL, which if true is beyond belief"
  
  Oh yes, this is quite true SS. Not so unbelievable if you take it in the context of the denial of pensions, housing, and the right to march on ANZAC Day for the returned Aboriginal veterans and the later treatment of the Vietnam Vets. Dad is now 90yrs old and to this day refuses to become a member of the RSL because of it.

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