Kokoda Trail – A Journey of Humility

It is very difficult to express in such a short article the impact that completing the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea had on me. Being an ex-infantry soldier, the attraction of completing the 96km trail was not necessarily for the physical challenge, it was for the  rare  chance to spend ANZAC Day at the Isurava Battle Memorial on the 25th April. I have attended many ANZAC Day Dawn Services in my life, but I knew this Dawn Service at the Isurava Battle Memorial in Papua New Guinea would be a special one. 

There is no doubt completing the 96km journey over some of the most rugged and mountainous jungle terrain in the world is a significant challenge and achievement. But for me, the motivation to embark on the journey was to learn the war history of The Kokoda Campaign during World War 11. The fierce battle along the trail is perhaps regarded as one of Australian’s most significant battles during World War 11. If our courageous Australian Soldiers did not successfully defend The Kokoda Trail, The Japanese Imperial Forces would have invaded Port Moresby. Having secured a forming up battle area in Port Moresby, the Japanese would have been in a position to launch an invasion of Darwin on the Northern Point of Australian. With Darwin captured, the Japanese would have been capable of launching a full-scale invasion on Australia.

During my journey over the trail, it was difficult to comprehend and put into perspective the courage of the soldiers of both the Australian and Japanese Forces. It was difficult to fully grasp how these men waged battle against each another in such an inhospitable environment and rugged terrain. I have served as an Infantry Soldier in terrain that I would have considered inhospitable, but it was nothing compared to the jungle of PNG. For these soldiers, it was not just the environment, terrain and the enemy that they were doing battle with. The battle conditions were made more difficult due to illness, lack of food and supplies, the need to care for the injured and wounded and lack of battle training. Many of the Australian Soldiers who fought on the KokodaTrail from July 1942 –January 1943 were reserve soldiers with no battle experience and limited training.

As I walked along the trail, it was common for my thoughts to wander and play out battle scenes of the horrors, courage, sacrifice and mateship. I have been in many simulated combat battles, but for these young soldiers, it was the real deal. Life-and-death for them hung in the balance, and it could tip either way at any moment. As much as I tried to put into perspective their adversities, it was difficult. I guess the outcome was that the sheer extent of their adversities, sufferings and courage, gave me a real sense of humility and some perspective in my own life. When I thought a moment in my life was tough and the world was against me, I would drift back to my memories of Kokoda. Compared to what those young men had to endure, my problems didn’t seem all that bad or significant. I just felt a deep sense of gratitude, humility and courage to keep moving forward.

There is no doubt the most memorable moment of the journey was ANZAC Day at the Memorial at Isurava. Isurava was one of the bloodiest battles of the Kokoda Campaign where several hundred Australian Soldiers held off 6,000 of Japan’s best combat troops. The Australians were heavily outnumbered, inadequately armed, and poorly supplied, but their resolute stand over four days at Isurava inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese and blunted the momentum of the Japanese drive towards Port Moresby. The stubborn resistance of the Australian troops wrecked the Japanese timetable for crossing the Kokoda Trail. This gave time for Australian reinforcements to be brought forward, and paved the way for the ultimate defeat of Major General Tomitaro Horii’s army before it could reach Port Moresby.

We had just completed 9 days on the trail, with one more day to go to reach the end of the trail at Kokoda Village. When we reached The Isurava Memorial Site, we had the pent-up emotions and knowledge of the battles and the stories of courage, mateship and the horrors that had occurred along the trail from 1942-1943. On ANZAC Day at the Dawn Service, I can assure you there was not a dry eye. The sounds of the bagpipes bellowed out the message of courage, mateship, sacrifice and endurance. These are the words that are scribed on the granitestone templates that stand at the IsuravaMemorial Site. It is easy to take for granted the sacrifice of our forefathers to provide us with the freedom that we have today. On this day, the message of remembrance and gratitude was loud and clear as it entered the hearts and souls of those at the memorial. We were all there to remember and pay our respects to the brave men that fought and lost their lives during the Kokoda Campaign. The emotional impact was obvious as silence and a sense of humility fell over the group for the remainder of the day.

I know as I grow older, my life experiences will be the assets that will grow in value for me. In the end, they will be the most valuable things that I will be able to take with me. But it is not just the memories, these experiences are building blocks that continue to lay the foundations of my character. It has been said, “In life, we are the sum of all our experiences”. I have always been a person that has asked questions of myself as well as the world we live in. I am not always sure of the answers, but if I did not seek, I would not find an answer to even one question. I have been fortunate to have had a diverse life of experiences, both good and bad. I also know more experiences both good and bad lay ahead on my life’s journey, but my biggest fear is running out of time to do all the things I dream of. There is just so much to experience and to explore in this world, but there is also so much more exploring that I need to do within myself.

With each new challenge and adventure, I know I am contributing a new building block to my foundation of character. At the same time, I am exploring my inner strength’s and testing new limits both physically and mentally.

The Kokoda Trail not only challenges you mentally and physically, but it opens your heart and soul to a deep sense of humility and respect for others that may not been so fortunate in life.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

“Lest We Forget”

May their souls rest in eternal peace.

Please make sure you that on ANZAC Day on the 25th April you take a few minutes to remember our fallen soldiers. Their brave sacrifice will be forever etched in our freedom.

If you would like to view more pictures from my Kokoda Trail expedition, please visit the Corporatemonk facebook page http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/corporatemonk/58164569715