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The trackThe Track has been famously described by Kingsley Norris, senior medical of the 7 Division thus: “Imagine an area of approximately one hundred miles long. Crumple and fold this into a series of ridges, each rising higher and higher until seven thousand feet is reached, then declining in ridges to three thousand feet. Cover this thickly with jungle, short trees and tall trees, tangled with great, entwining savage vines. Through an oppression of this density, cut a little native track, two or three feet wide, up the ridges, over the spurs, round gorges and down across swiftly-flowing, happy mountain streams. Where the track clambers up the mountain sides, cut steps - big steps, little steps, steep steps - or clear the soil from the tree roots.”... “About midday, and through the night, pour water over the forest, so that the steps become broken, and a continual yellow stream flows downwards, and the few level areas become pools and puddles of putrid black mud. In the high ridges above Myola, drip this water day and night over the track through a foetid forest grotesque with moss and glowing phosphorescent fungi. Such is the...route for ten days to be covered from Ower’s Corner to Kokoda.’’
By the time the 2/14 commander, Lt Col Arthur Key reached Myola he knew he had a problem of immense proportions. At that time there were about 1100 fighting men heading up the track, who would have to be kept supplied with food and ammunition, but with a 6-day trek to get to Myola, and still 2 days short of Isurava. Key held the 2/14 at Myola for a few days while he tried to get something sorted. Air drops into Myola were a solution, but initially, much was lost, until successful techniques were developed. Getting the wounded out was going to prove even more challenging. |
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