Table of Contents

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

About the Author

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.