What was Kokoda known as?
Kokoda was known to be one of the most successful military campaigns in world’s history. Its significance to Australian history can be known as a historic campaign and can be proudly talked about in centuries to come. Strategically and symbolically the Kokoda campaign saved Australia from being possibly invaded by foreign invaders or more importantly United States of America leaving Australia to be completely on their own. Winning the battle of Kokoda also meant for the Australians that improvements in their post war practises and military operations were bound to reach its high peak.
The Kokoda Track
The Kokoda Track will be remembered as a historical event in the Second World War and it will be a well honoured symbol …show more content…
This demonstrates the importance of the Kokoda war. It saved us from a possible invasion from the Japanese and we would have been forced to surrender. For most Australian’s in the second wold war, they had already built the mindset and belief that they were going to be invaded due to the bombing of Townsville, Broome and more importantly Darwin. Port Moresby was the only base in Australia that stood in Japans domination
Citizens of Australia were extremely scared for their safety. They were in constant danger because Port Moresby was a very crucial base due to its airfield and its important tactical position. Japans eyes were fixed on invading Port Moresby because if japan had control over Port Moresby, their other ambiguous missions would be done easier such as sending troops to invade …show more content…
Malaria, Dysentery, Diarrhoea, pneumonia and typhus were some of the most common diseases that were contagious in the troops. It was very hard for the doctors to cure the sick or injured. It was estimated that a quarter of the death rates were due to sickness.
Soldiers also suffered from starvation. The Australian soldiers were known to only be eating bully beef and dry biscuits. While on the other hand, he Japanese soldiers were known to be eating a varied diet of rice, meat, tinned fish and sometimes soy pasta and soy sauce. But unfortunately their supplies finished which forced them to eat pack animals and also human flesh which they called white pork.
Description of the Kokoda Trail
Australian Colonel Frank Kinsley Norris who led the Australian troops into the Kokoda trail descripted the conditions as this. “Imagine an area of approximately one hundred miles long. Crumple and fold this into a series of ridges, each rising higher and higher until seven thousand feet is reached, then declining in ridges to three thousand feet. Cover this thickly with jungle, short trees and tall trees, tangles with great, entwined savage vines. Through an oppression of this density, cut a little native track, two or three feet wide.” There was not much comfort at night as the nights would be very cold and