KoKoda

[ALANM]

KOKODA
(By AlanM _ posted November 2019 _ edited November 2022)

We know about Gallipoli and the Western Front
Tobruk, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan... Iraq.
Each war has had it’s Heroes, every battle shed their blood,
so did the young men of Kokoda, that selfless brotherhood.

Back in nineteen forty two, Australia was in danger,
the rising sun was reaching out all over South East Asia.
The steep and muddy mountains of New Guinea's vast highland,
were all that stood between them and the conquest of our land.

Across the Owen Stanleys was the way they had to come,
the sea had been denied them, those battles we had won;
part time soldiers held the line ‘gainst a battle hardened foe,
the courage that they showed was there, for all the World to know.

Driving rain and chilling cold, Malaria…. clinging mud
raging fevers, painful wounds, their blood spilled in the sod.
Time and again they held the line while slowly pulling back,
’til the tide did turn at Imita, retreat turned to attack.

The battle wasn't over,they had to drive the enemy back,
more sacrifice was needed, to push them back along the track.
Back to Gona, Sanananda and to Buna on the coast,
two more months of bloody fighting, 'til Victory, at last

Those Heroes of Kokoda, who died there on the track,
those Heroes of Kokoda, who survived and made it back.
Those Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, who hauled supplies up to the track,
those Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, who then carried the wounded back.
We all owe to them our freedom, we all owe them such a debt,
we should honour and remember them. We never should forget.