Kokoda Trail for Dummies (eBook)

Dr Peter Williams is a military historian and the author of many books and websites on Australian military history. Currently working as a researcher for the Australian Government Department of Defence, Peter has walked the Kokoda Trail and has visited Papua New Guinea several times to research significant battlefields.

Introduction 1

Part I: The Essentials of Kokoda 7

Chapter 1: Understanding the Significance of the Kokoda Trail
9

Chapter 2: Reasons for Walking the Kokoda Trail 19

Chapter 3: Finding Places of Military Importance 35

Part II: Australians in Retreat 55

Chapter 4: The Pacific War: Setting the Scene 57

Chapter 5: The Papuan Campaign: Spies, Port Moresby and
Guadalcanal 69

Chapter 6: Building Up Troops and Assembling the Armies 85

Chapter 7: Making a Fighting Retreat: Kokoda and Deniki 99

Chapter 8: Entering the Mountains 111

Part III: Fighting In the Jungle 125

Chapter 9: Understanding Jungle Warfare 127

Chapter 10: Feeling Hungry and Sick in the Jungle 141

Part IV: Chasing the Japanese Out of Papua 153

Chapter 11: Turning the Tide Against the Japanese 155

Chapter 12: Besieging the Japanese 171

Chapter 13: Defeating the Japanese Army: Why the Allies Won
191

Part V: Walking the Kokoda Trail 203

Chapter 14: Preparing For the Big Walk 205

Chapter 15: Packing Your Kit and Organising the Paperwork
217

Chapter 16: Respecting the Locals and Keeping Yourself Safe
239

Part VI: The Part of Tens 255

Chapter 17: Ten Legends about the Kokoda Trail 257

Chapter 18: Ten Things to Look For On the Kokoda Trail 269

Chapter 19: Ten Veteran Stories 279

Appendix 291

Index 297