Heroes
This story was sent to Charlie Lynn by Les Cook, a veteran of the Kokoda campaign. Back in 1992 Les called Charlie to see if he could join a group of media reporters he was leading across the Kokoda Track. When Charlie asked him why he wanted to walk it he advised that he had fought in the campaign. When Charlie questioned him about his age (he was 70) and his fitness he advised me that he kept himself in good condition. When Charlie suggested we might consider a local PNG porter to carry his gear he responded ‘I’m only 70 mate – not 90!’ He joined Charlie’s group, carried his pack all the way, and was an inspiration to the whole group. He is now 80 and has advised Charlie that he wants to walk it one more time – in the meantime he has decided it is time to record some of his experiences. This is a piece he wrote on Corporal John Metson:
Nations have passed away and left no traces
And history gives the naked cause of it
One single simple reason in all cases
They fell because their peoples were not fit
By Les Cook
Corporal, 2/14th Infantry Battalion
When Rudyard Kipling wrote those lines I believe that he was referring to the strength of moral character of a people, not to their physical fitness, however important physical fitness undoubtedly is. The character of a people is developed and tempered in the fire of adversity. History shows only too clearly that this strength of character can diminish or indeed change altogether in times of peace and plenty such as we now enjoy, when it may no longer seem necessary to aspire to the high ideals on which it was built.
Most of us perceive that there is an Australian character. We believe that it embodies the good in a people and are quietly proud of it. If we are to retain our character, however, we must not neglect to uphold the memory and extol the virtues of those whose exemplary deeds and indomitable courage are its very foundation.
Such a man was Corporal John Arthur Metson of the 2/14th Australian Infantry Battalion. Enlisting in the second A.I.F. in May 1940, he was an original member of the Battalion and had served in North Africa and Syria before coming home from the Middle East early in 1942. The Battalion was sent to New Guinea in August 1942 to stem the Japanese overland advance on Port Moresby.
The Japanese broke through the Australian defence line near the village of Isurava in the Owen Stanley Range south of Kokoda and after four days of fighting, John Metson with his ankle smashed by a bullet, was one of many cut off in the jungle with the intention of rejoining the Battalion. By chance the group fell in with a much larger party, under the command of Captain S.H. Buckler, which also had been cut off and had the same objective. This party already included several wounded, some of whom, like John Metson, were unable to walk.
Stretchers were made to carry the wounded. These were constructed from bush poles and vines and wee heavy cumbersome things, each requiring eight men, already loaded down with their own equipment and weapons, to carry it. To spare his comrades the burden of carrying him, John Metson said that he would crawl, asking only that his hands and knees be bandaged to protect them.
On the northern face of the Range the main track from Port Moresby ran down the western side of the Eora Creek valley through the villages of Alola, Isurava, and Deniki to Kokoda. The party set off from Isurava in the darkness hoping to rejoin the Battalion, but the Japanese had already cut off that route and were firmly entrenched across the main track at Alola. Forced to turn away from the main track, the Australian party crossed Eora Creek to eth eastern side of the valley where they tried for almost two weeks to find an alternative route to rejoin the Battalion or to get help, but without success. The party then turned back along the eastern side of the valley until they reached the village of Sangai in the lower foothills on the northern face of the Range.
By now, the men had been on the move for three weeks since the night they left Isurava. All this time, enduring the agony of his smashed ankle and with his entire body aching from prolonged crawling, John Metson dragged himself along on his hands and knees among the other wounded at the centre of the column, his cheerful fortitude an inspiration to them all. Desperately short of food and getting weaker each day it had become apparent that carrying the stretchers was slowing down the party’s movements to the point that, if they continued as they were, nobody would survive.
The huts at Sangai offered protection for the wounded from the constant rain; moreover, some food could be obtained from the village garden there. It was decided to leave the stretcher cases, and with them John Metson, at Sangai, while Captain Buckler and main party pushed on with all possible speed to get help. A stretcher-bearer, Corporal Tom Fletcher, volunteered to stay at Sangai to care for the wounded.
The journey of the main party by a previously unknown track over the Owen Stanley Range is an odyssey in itself. From Sangai it took two weeks for them to reach the southern face of the Range. In addition to his responsibility for the men with him (including some walking wounded), Captain Buckler was ever mindful of the need to get help as soon as possible to the men at Sangai.
The village was behind enemy lines and by now was inaccessible to the Australians except from the air. Immediately on his arrival at Port Moresby Captain Ben Buckler arranged for an American bomber to drop medical supplies and food to the men at Sangai, and, although exhausted himself, insisted on accompanying the crew on the flight to ensure identification of the village.
As the aircraft flew low over Sangai Captain Buckler expected to see some signal from the men who had been left there, but nothing moved on the ground below. The village appeared to be deserted. A month later, when the tide of battle had turned in our favour, a ground patrol commanded by Lieutenant A.W. Steedman went to the village where they found the bodies of Tom Fletcher, John Metson, and the other wounded men. Unarmed and unable to defend themselves they had been murdered.
Captain Buckler had been deeply moved by John Metson’s courage and unselfishness which had had such an inspirational effect on the entire party, and was determined to see that his conduct was officially recognised. As soon as he was able, and before the sad outcome was known, Captain Buckler had submitted his recommendation that resulted in an award of the British Empire Medal (Military Division) to John Metson. While those with him at the time certainly would have seen the award fully deserved, it is probable that the man himself would have been surprised.
When you stand in silent remembrance on ANZAC day, or when you stand before a cenotaph or at the gates of a war cemetery and read the words, “Their name liveth for evermore”, think of John Metson; of his fortitude, his determination not to be a burden to others, and his cheerful acceptance of the awful situation into which he had been thrust.
It is almost 55 years since the Second World Ware ended. The ranks of those of us who took part in it are thinning, and we will soon be gone. During our lifetime we have told the stories and we have written of the deeds of the giants among men who walked ahead of us and showed the way in the dark days of war; we have tired to keep faith with them and with our people.
You have a duty to future generations to preserve the legend of John Metson, and people like him. People who, in times of extreme adversity did not lose heart, but pressed on gallantly and cheerfully towards the goal against all odds, placing the welfare of others above their own, and giving us a national tradition of which all should feel proud. If this nation continues to uphold their nobleness of spirit, and if each individual endeavours to live up to their example, our people shall be fit.