Veterans from Second World War battles on the Kokoda Track have made an
emotional pilgrimage to a key battle site.

PNG correspondent Shane McLeod reports, it was one of the largest ceremonies ever seen at the recently opened memorial at Isurava

Thirteen veterans of the war in Papua returned to the rugged Owen Stanley
Ranges above Kokoda. At the Isurava Memorial, members of the 2nd 14th and
the 39th Battallions remembered those who had fought, and those who died at the key battle site. A moving ceremony organised by the Port Moresby RSL was attended by the diggers and scores of family and friends, and groups of walkers on the Kokoda track. The veterans are continuing their pilgrimage, visiting other battle sites from the Papua campaign. A dinner to honour them will be held in the PNG capital later this week.

The weather was very ominous, clouds swirling in, it was a misty backdrop for the service. The reps of the 2/14th and 39th Battalions laid wreaths at the memorials .. lots of emotion, a few tears, and three cheers on behalf of each battalion for the other.

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http://www.pngbd.com & http://www.kokodatrail.com.au & .pg sincerely thank Shane McLeod for passing this on to us.

Shane McLeod
Papua New Guinea Correspondent
ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Isurava Monument – courage, mateship, endurance, sacrifice:
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