The Kokoda Campaign
The 39th Battalion Advance across the Kokoda Trail: July 1942
After the First World War the defence of the Australian mainland lay with the part time soldiers of the Citizens Military Force, also known as the Militia. The Militia was organized to maintain the structure of the First AIF and kept the same numerical designations. The Militia units were distributed in the same areas in which the original AIF units were raised.
The 39th Infantry Battalion was raised in Melbourne in 1921 and called the “Hawthorn–Kew Regiment”. Raised during the Great Depression, when little was spent on defence, the battalion initially had few volunteers. In 1937 it merged with the 37th Infantry Battalion, forming the 37/39th Infantry Battalion and, a few years later, with the 24th Infantry Battalion, forming the 24/39th Infantry Battalion. From October to November 1941 the 39th was raised as a single unit, comprised mostly of young men of 18 or 19 years who had been called up for national service.
Following Japan’s sudden entry into the Second World War, a new 39th was raised as part of the 30th Brigade to garrison Port Moresby. The 39th joined the 49th Infantry Battalion, already in Moresby, and the 53rd Infantry Battalion, which had been quickly formed in Sydney. The 39th arrived in Moresby at the start of January 1942, with little military training.
The 39th was initially used for garrison duties and working parties. In June it was ordered to proceed up the Kokoda Trail to block any possible Japanese overland advance. The 39th B Company and troops from the Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) reached Kokoda on 15 July. Japanese forces landed at Gona, on the north coast of Papua, a week later and quickly moved inland.
The movement of a battalion plus ancillary units into the Owen Stanleys posed an instant supply problem for whouc our army was quite unprepared. With no road or air access a native carrier line had to be hastily orgainsed. This was done largely by two New Guinea 'old hands', one of whom was the dedicated, compassionate and courageous Captain 'Doc' Vernon, MC, Medical Officer at teh native hospital at Sapphire Creek near Moresby. He had been doctoring, planting and trading in New Guinea for years after the first war. When the women, children and older men were being evacuated to Australia he refused to leave, convinced that his skills and knowledge of the country could be put to good use.
The other old hand, the driving force, was Captain Bert Kienzle, CBE, MBE (Military, MID, gold miner and planter in the Yodda Valley not far from Kokoda. Mobilised like all other able-bodied whites in New Guinea, Kienzle was incorporated into the Australian New Guinea Army Unit. In late June 1942, he was chosen to take charge of native labourers on the line of communication being established between Illolo (the end of the road out from Port Moresby) and Kokoda.
On 3 July 1942 Kienzle assembled at Ilolo some 600 natives of whom he wrote:
'[They were] very sullen and unhappy. Conditions in the labour camp were bac and many cases of illness were noted. Desertions were frequently being reported. The medical side was in the capapble hands of Captain Vernon, Australian Army Medical Corps. I commenced reorganising and allotting labour to various jobs. One of the firest tasks was to erect quicly sufficient clean, dry buildings to house the labou7r adequately. Plenty of native material close at hand enabled this to be done rapidly. The consideration shown and an address to the natives had the effect of bringing about a better understanding and appreciation of the task ahead.'
Kienzle was given the task of guiding B Company of the 39th Battalion across the track and set out for Uberi on 6 July 1942.
Warrant Officer Jack Wilkinson, another New Guinea old hand, accompanied Kienzle as the medic for the Company. His diary records the advance to Kokoda:
7 July: 0800 hours. We left Illolo in a hurry carrying packs. What a weight. Uncle Sam [Templeton] in the lead. Arrived Uberi 1730 hours. Several chaps sent back here with fever and bad knees. Hell of a strain on knees on down grades. Had busy time patching feet.
8 July: Made Ioribaiwa. Had carriers for our packs and just as well. Two long hills to climb. Missed out on tea as I was with last of troops. Had a job to get some of them to make it. Uncle Sam came back and helped me about half-way up last hill. Was carrying four rifles and three haversacks and had doubts about making in myself. Uncle Sam insisted on carrying all my gear as well as that of others. Had a busy time when reached camp. Many feet blistered and chafes from haversacks and rifle slings. Camp cold and wet. Made a brew of rum and lime and hot water which revived some. Many non-drinkers among these kids. Rum turned out to be mainly metho spirits. Doled out by Steve [Captain Stevenson, Second-in-Command, B Company]. Had a bad, cold night.
9 July: Made Nauro. A long day but not too bad. One man broke down but we all made camp. Good camp and nice place. Bothered by native bees en route crawling all over us after the salt in sweat. No stings. Last downhill to camp very hard to take. Many falls as knees gave way. General condition of troops good. One man severe exhaustion. Conference with Uncle Sam and decided to stay here for one day to give troops a spell.
10 July: One man shows signs of dysentery. Age about 48. Oldest man in company - first war also. Has son in company and trying to keep up. Said nothing about being sick hoping he would improve. Decided to leave him here to come on later.
11 July: Made Efogi. Along day but not too bad. Menari is nice spot in between and we had lunch there. Troops in good shape. Day's spell worked wonders. Uncle Sam very annoyed about the rum and metho. Pity any QM blokes he can pin the blame on.
12 July: Made Kagi. Only a short walk but steep. Fairly high and cold. Peter Brewer [Assistant Resident Magistrate at Kokoda]
here with carriers from Kokoda. Long talk about track ahead.
13 July: To Eora Crossing No 2. Long day over range. Rain forest and lawyer vines. Deep moss and slippery track. Rain forest and mist. Cold and dreary. Camp not too good. Creek roaring loudly. To bed in wet clothers. Hope my feet stand up to it a bit longer.
14 July: To flat below Deniki. Long day but resonable walking. Could see Kokoda from hilltop. Knienzle, Uncle Sam and Brewer to Kokoda first and sent back tents for troops. Much warmer than in hills. Troops in good form. Some bananas and pawpaws for 'kai'.
15 July: To Kokoda. Nice place. Glad to be here. Took over native hospital. Got some ptash permanganate and made troops soak feet for an hour. Then to sit is sun and dry out.
17 July: Kokoda. Bert Knienzle is a tower of strength. Brought us some supplies from his home (in Yodda Valley) then set off back to Moresby.
Sources:
Australian War Memorial
To Kokdoa and Beyond, Victor Austin, Melbourne University Press, 1988