O'DONNELL, Corporal, JAMES CHARLES, VX113116. A.LF. 2/4 Indep. Coy. Australian Infantry. 4th September 1943. Age 21. Son of John and Margaret Bell O'Donnell, of Red Hill, Queensland. A8. E. 1 5.O'DONNELL, Lance Corporal, JAMES GERARD, VX105405. A.LF. 39 Bn. Australian Infantry. 26th August 1942. Age 31. Son of Terence and Ellen O'Donnell, of…[Read more]

OAK LEY, Private, LEONARD THOMAS, TX 16004. 2/31 Bn. Australian Infantry. 18th September 1945. Age 21. Son of Edward Thomas Oakley and Clara Dover Oakley of Burnie, Tasmania C8. B 1 25 (Coil.)OASORA FARAPO, Pata (Private), 3895. A.C.M.F. Papuan Bn. Australian Infantry. 24th June 1945. Ale 22. C8. E. 11.OAVETA KAILA, Pata (Private), PN3867.…[Read more]

NOLAN, Trooper, THOMAS MATTHEW, NX16341. 2/7. Australian Cavalry Regiment. 5th February 1943. Age 26. Husband of June Alma Nolan, of Lockhart, New South Wales. Al. B. 9.NOONAN, Private, FRANCIS JOHN, VX53471. A.LF. 2/14 Bn. Australian Infantry. 13th October 1942. Age 23. Son of Matthew Lawrence Noonan and Ethel May Noonan, of Kyabram, Victoria.…[Read more]

NICHOLS, Corporal, ALFRED, WX4353. A.LF. 2/16 Bn. Australian Infantry. 1st December 1942. Age 26. Son of Thomas Henry and Rose Elizabeth Nichols. of Bunbury, Western Australia. C5. B. 19.NICHOLSON, Private, BRUCE, VX69186. A.LF. 2/4 Indep. Coy. Australian Infantry. 4th September 1943. Age 20. Son of Frank and Ivy Nicholson; stepson of Thomas…[Read more]

Editors 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 province64120_318285224887474_2144118781_n.jpg

Finally, 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…[Read more]

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…[Read more]

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…[Read more]

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…[Read more]

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…[Read more]

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…[Read more]

The Japanese ransacked and destroyed many of the native people?s properties and food gardens, as well as shooting dead many natives who opposed their intrusion.About 3,000 Orokaivan natives supported the Japanese and betrayed some Australian and American Soldiers, civil Europeans and Anglican missionaries who were later killed by the Japanese. As…[Read more]

According to official war records, about 350 native carriers from the Wawonga Region helped the American soldiers from Jaure to Kumusi River Bridge at Ajeka, and from Jaure to Naunga, Gora and Dobuduru after they crossed the Owen Stanley Range from Port Moresby in September-October 1942. War records showed that 48 Orokaivan carriers from…[Read more]

After the establishment of this project, many people both in Papua New Guinea and Australia including Charlie Lynn launched publicity to promote the Kokoda Trial and the Kokoda Trail Campaign which has already attracted wide media publicity both in Papua New Guinea and Australia.What were these individuals between 1942 and 1992? Why did they fail…[Read more]

After the visit, I have prepared a Kokoda War Memorial Project Proposal based on three petitions on war compensation which were presented to the Australian Government the Prime Minister of Paua New Guinea, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, at Kokoda. Petitions were presented by the famous Fuzzy Wuzzy Angle, Raphael Oimbari; President of Kokoda Council, Rodney…[Read more]

Fifthly, I have conducted research on the Papua New Guineans aspects of World War II and have written 25 different research papers on the Kokoda Trail Battle. From this research, I have found that more than 1,200 Orokaivan natives worked as carriers out of the total 5,000 carriers during the Kokoda Trail Battle along the track between Kokoda…[Read more]

Fourthly, the Foundation is wholly controlled by Europeans in Australia with 'very little or no say' from people of Papua New Guinea, particularly those from Kokoda and Koiari. I suggest that four persons (two each from Kokoda and Koiari) who are well vested with thorough knowledge and experience of the Orokaivan and the Koiari culture and the…[Read more]

Thirdly, I applaud Charlie Lynn's efforts to establish the Kokoda Memorial Foundation and having a very high profile person to serve as members of the Board of Directors of the Foundation. The Foundation intends to offer educational scholarships to children from villages along the Kokoda Trail, and to seek help from Australia to refurbish…[Read more]

Firstly, I wish to tell the people of Australia and Papua New Guinea that the name "Kokoda" originates from the Orokaivan territory of the Northern Province, and not from the Koiari territory in the Central Province. Kokoda simply means 'place of (human) skulls'. Original ancestral name of the small beautiful plateau is Pavau.Secondly, the…[Read more]