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I just wanted to let people know a new feature film ?KOKODA? will be in Australian cinemas from late April. It tells the story of a unit from the 39th battalion cut off from supply outside of Isurava during the battle. Thought some of you may be interested in seeing it. More information can be found at http://www.kokodathemovie.com.au
My partner and I went to the cinema to see this and it was very Aussie no fairy tale ending, quite raw and honest cinematography. We both got quite emotional watching the movie and for quite awhile after when we spoke about it. A friend has bought me the Peter Fitzsimons book to read as well. Help me make up my mind that we are going to do Kokoda.
Hi Karen, the person you just replied to was the director of the movie. He will be so glad I am sure that you enjoyed what he put together on screen and the message it portrayed.
Please come and walk KOKODA, it will be the best thing you have ever done! If you think the movie is moving, wait until you have walked in our diggers footsteps. . .
8th_pic.jpgI had heard about the movie, but missed it at the cinema. I recently watched it on DVD and it really put everything i had read into perspective. I would def reccomend anyone reading about kokoda or contemplating the trekk to watch this movie. It has subtle themes through it, and puts the whole war/trekk/struggle into one. Indeed the ending was dimm, but so is war. It was excellent.
QUOTE(Boss Meri @ 31 May 2007, 04:31 PM) [snapback]4299[/snapback]Please come and walk KOKODA, it will be the best thing you have ever done! If you think the movie is moving, wait until you have walked in our diggers footsteps. . .I'd have to second that. Seeing is completely different from actually being there. Although, like someone said before, seeing the track before walking it's a good idea and preparation's definitely needed.
I sa Kokoda, the movie too, as I wanted to visualise the experiences on film. I walked part of the track while in the PNGVR, (the descendent of the NGVR, whose members became guides for Aussie troops arriving for the battles to come.) I think it was a film that captured in a nutshell the conditions and experiences those troops had fighting a very experienced guerilla styled army. There in Kokoda, our troops first learnt the only efficient way to get out of an ambush, the hard way. Simply put, once ambushed all survivors charged into the attack firing from the hip. Casualties were high, but lower than the 100% fatalities than if they tried to avoid one.The aim was to do something the Japs would not expect, throwing panic into an almost perfect ambush. Robert Clive Jackway-koomans, ex PNGVR Mortar platoon sergeant.
BeretBadge.jpgHi Robert,
Wonder if you knew my father, Bill Guest? He was 39th Battalion, after the war he went back to Port Moresby in 1952 with the PNGVR then to Lae with the PIR. He was known as Sargent Biscuits, as the natives had trouble with the name Guest. There was also a Bob Harvey-Hall, he was in Lae.
Cheers
Nettie
What a small world, my first job in Lae in 1972 was to work alongside Bob Harvey-Hall with TAA. He was still a Major in the reserve Army when working in Lae.
The last I heard of Bob was that he had retired from TAA – then Australian Airlines and was still living in Melbourne with his wife.
His brother was in Wau at that time but lost his life in a plane crash. His wife Donna still lives in that area to this day along with a couple of their grown up children and grandchildren.
Hi Gail,
Bob and his wife are living in Brisbane, his email
bodahh@bigpond.com if you would like to contact him, I am sure he would love to hear from you.by the way if you happen to mention that you got the email from me, tell him it was Bubby Guest , that's what all the old timers up there knew me as and to this day, that's still what he calls me.
Cheers
Nettie
Hi, Sorry did not revisit site for a while. I know Bob harvey-Hall, lives in Brisbane now and is a member of PNGVR/NGVR association here. Large group, we march in ANZAC day Parades in the City. I think we are the only ex-PNGVR association around Australia: correct if wrong. Bill Guest, – remember the name, trying to place. Kokoda is a good place to go, stirs up feelings for those guys who fought against a numerically superior and battle hardened Japanese Army. I would not wish upon anyone to have to actually fight a war in such terrain without the backup we expect today. rkoomans@yahoo.com
BomanaWarCem.jpgthanks, have sent an email to Bob and he has responded he is still going strong but says he is still living in Melbourne with Dawn his wife.
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