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This was the first baptism of fire, and Papua New Guinea soldiers caused the first Japanese casualties in World War II in Papua New Guinea when they killed about 45 Japanese. There were no Papua New Guinea casualties. Mystery of this first encounter is being documented in a manuscript titled 'THE FIRST BAPTISM OF FIRE.'
After the successful conclusion of the Kokoda Trail Battle, the General Officer Commanding the Australian 7th Infantry Division, Major General George Vasey, arrived at Kokoda on November 3 1942 with men from the 2/33rd Battalion and other units of the 16thBrigade after the members of the 2.31st Battalion recaptured Kokoda unopposed from the Japanese on November 2 1942. General Vasey raised the Australian flag at Kokoda during a small ceremony to mark the recapture of Kokoda.
On November 6 1942, a small ceremony was held at Kokoda to thank the Papuan carriers for their valuable services rendered to the Australian soldiers during the Kokoda Trail Campaign. During the ceremony, General Vasey presented Long Service Medals to four outstanding Papuan natives for long service rendered and an issue of knives and clothes to each native. Names of these carriers are available with me. It was the first time in World War II that such recognition were given to the natives of Papua New Guinea.
In order to recognise the sacrifices made by Papuan carriers, particularly those in the Wawonga Region, I am now completing a manuscript titled HANNIBAL HAD ELEPHANTS which is based on the experiences of an American officer, Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Smith, Commander of 126th Infantry Regiment, and the experiences of American soldiers trekking over the Owen Stanley Range from Kapakapa near Port Moresby to Jaure, Kumusi River, Natunga, Bofu, Dobuduru and Oro Bay.
I am also completing another manuscript titled PAPUAN NATIVES – OUR BEST FRIENDS which is based on the experiences of another American officer, Captain Alfred Medendorp, Commander of the Anti-Tank and Cannon Companies of the 2nd Battalion of the 126th Infantry Regiment.
As a result of my research, I have completed writing the following research papers:
- Australian Army's hanging of Kokoda men.
- Kokoda Living Memorial
- The Battle of Isurava
- The Battle of Brigade Hill
- Massacre of Australian soldiers at Sengi Village
- Just Who Named the Kokoda Trail
- Who Inspired Green Shadows
- Kokoda Track ? A Bloody Track
- Fate of former Japanese-conscripted New Guinea Native Carriers
- Why Too Much Attention on the Kokoda or Kokoda Trail Campaign
- Architect of Kokoda Trail – Herbert Kienzle
- Original Migration of Mountain Koiari (Biage and Chirima) People
- Original Migration of the Kokoda Orokaiva People
After the war the greater part of payments under the War Damage Compensation Scheme in New Guinea were made because government stations in New Guinea which had been destroyed during the war, had to be rebuilt before full attention could be given to village affairs. Papua received smaller part of the war damage compensation because most government stations were intact after the war.
First payment of $174,000 under the War Damage Compensation Scheme were made after the civil administration resumed control of the administration of Papua New Guinea in 1946. A total of $27,233,500 was paid under the War Damage Compensation Scheme.
Payments made between 1947 & 1957 are listed below:
- 1947 – $379,000
- 1949 – $455,000
- 1949 – $546,000
- 1950 – $1,945,000
- 1951 – $2,178,000
- 1952 – $2,740,000
- 1953 – $3,283,500
- 1954 – $3,734,000
- 1955 – $3,916,000
- 1956 – $4,024,000
- 1957 – $4,033,000
No Papua New Guinea, be a Koiarian or Orokaivan, has thoroughly researched and documented the experiences of the native aspects of the Kokoda Trail Campaign. But I have, and I have already written 25 papers on various episodes of the Kokoda Trail Campaign.
No Papua New Guinea has recognised the sacrifices and contributions made by the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and made representations to both the Papua New Guinea and the Australian Governments but I have and I have already recommended Raphael Oimbari, Sergeant Benjamin Moide and the Koiarian carrier Batia Lega Oagi of Efogi Village to the Papua New Guinea Government for Queen’s Honours and Awards. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II has already awarded OBE to Raphael Oimbari, OBE to Sergeant Benjamin Moide and BEM to Batia Lega Oagi in 1994 and 1999 respectively Her Majesty has also honoured me with MBE in June 1999.
Papua New Guinea has recognized the sacrifices and contributions made by the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and made representations to both the Papua New Guinea and the Australian Governments.
Besides the efforts made by Australian individuals and organizations to promote and develop the Kokoda Trail, the National Government has established the Kokoda Track Local Level Government Special Purposes Authority under the Local Level Government Administration Act 1997 in June 2003 with the general purpose of assisting the implementation of the functions of the Koiari Rural Local Level Government and the Kokoda Rural Local Level Government.
I am both sad and disappointed that the Koiari members Kokoda Track Authority Management Committee are already using the Authority for the interests of the Koiari people and not the Kokoda and the Koiari people. The Authority office is only entertaining the Koiari people requests and enquiries. Biage Koiari have no land in Kokoda Town and around Kokoda, and they must not use the Authority to promote their self-interests on Kokoda soil.
The Australian High Commission must be warned not to continue spoon feeding the Koiari people because they are not the legitimate landowners in Kokoda. The Australian High Commission must talk to the true Kokoda landowners and work with them to promote the Kokoda Trail. I am prepared to recommend the names of the legitimate people for their own information and purposes. Benjamin Ijumi is not a true landowner of Kokoda land. He is a man with no culture because he purchased the 'Hunjara people's headdress.
The Kokoda Memorial Foundation, and the Authority must NOT use the Kokoda Trail and the history of the Kokoda Trial Campaign not only to promote World War II legacy for the present and future generations, and promote tourism related activities, but also they must carry out research and document the histories of the Kokoda Track, the Kokoda Trail Campaign, the Kekedo family, the Kienzle family, the Komere family, the name Kokoda, and Private Bruce Kingsbury for the benefits of the future generations.
64120_318285224887474_2144118781_n.jpgFinally, I would like to present the significance of the name Kokoda or Kokoda Trail. There would be no Kokoda or Kokoda Trail today if there were no six K's. The people need to know why these six K's stand for, and understand why Kokoda or Kokoda Trail is getting too much attention both in Papua New Guinea and Australia.
- First K represents the name of one of the first two tribal warriors and chiefs of the Kokoda Orokaiva, KOMBERE, the first generation chief of the Tuna Clan of Saga Village who originally migrated from the Upper Kumusi Valley.
- Second K represents the name KOKODA which originated in February 1900. Kokoda is made up o two words, KOKO and DA. Kokoda means 'skulls' while Da means 'place or village'. Therefore, Kokoda means 'place of the skulls'.
- Third K represents the Kienzle family who first settled in the Yodda Valley in 1933 and who made an enormous contribution to the economic development of the Kokoda District, particularly in gold mining, cattle, farming and rubber plantation.
- Fourth K stands for KOKODA TRAIL – a native bush track connecting many other tracks with the remote villages on the Owen Stanley Range which was used by the natives for thousands of years before the white men first discovered it in 1879. During the war, it was described as "a trail of blood and iron".
- Fifth K represents Kingsbury – Private Bruce Kingsbury of 2/14th Battalion who was posthumously awarded the Victoria when he lost his life in the Battle of Isurava on August 27, 1942.
- Sixth K represents the Kededo family who settled in Kokoda in 1947 and who made much contribution to welfare and educational services in the Kokoda District and the district administration.
Historical accounts on the six K's have already been written and are available with me.
Maclaren Jude Hiari MBE
Kokoda-Buna Historical FoundationEditors Note: If you would like to purchase any copies of his papers, please contact him direct:
Postal address is:
PO Box 251,
Popondetta,or telephone: +675 3297626, +675 fax 3297276.
Maclaren Hiari, MBE,
Popondetta, Northern province
64120_318285224887474_2144118781_n.jpgI totally agree with the valid statements issued by Mr Maclaren Jude Hiari,MBE of the Kokoda-Buna Historical Foundation.The past executives of the Kokoda Trail Authority have mismanaged funds without tangible and sustainable developments.I have noticed that the have connections with local and international companies and diverted funds to their business cronies for personal gain.
The Native Labour Section of the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) showed that about 49,500 Papua New Guineans were recruited as labourers for the Allied Forces.There were 25,500 carriers in Papua and 25,000 in New Guinea.Interestingly,war records indicate that some carriers were recruited as far as Benabena and Chimbu for the Lae,Wau and Salamaua Battles.
Records indicate that 46 natives have been killed by Japanese fire and 1,962 died from tropical diseases,other illnesses and courses, and accidents while 91 were wounded by Japanese during the war.
The Kokoda campaign involved the participation of some Koiarians and natives recruited from other parts of PNG.
Finally, I believe the newly appointed KTA Chairman,Mr James Enage will make a difference and consider such organisation run by Maclaren Jude Hiari,MBE.
George Batia
Former Board Member,Kokoda-Buna Historical Foundation
Queanbeyan,NSW
Australia
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