15. The first painful lesson

The Japanese landed at Buna on July 21 1942. Despite air attacks by allied aircraft the Japanese had landed their task force, unchallenged on land, during that night. Allied observers posted along the coast had radioed this event to Port Moresby but received no response..

At Port Moresby, Major-General Morris was ordered to establish one battalion at Kokoda immediately. Lieutenant-Colonel Owen and his 39^th Battalion was ordered to leave by air for Kokoda on July 23 and assume command of all allied troops on the northern ramparts of the trail, including Templeton’s force, some Papuan infantry, planters and Patrol Officers. This force were named “Maroubra Force”!

Templeton had pushed two of his three platoons forward to ‘stage a delaying action’. His third platoon occupied Kokoda, guarding the airstrip there. The Japanese were easily able to push the Australians back, their numbers and their drill were far superior.

The Japanese jungle fighting tactics were to send a scout forward (expendable) and when fired upon they would follow up with a strong frontal attack in which quick casualties were the accepted norm. The speed in which they encircled and destroyed and enemy reflected their lightly equipped infantry, their excellent camouflage and, above all, their tremendous and almost silent deployment. To the inexperienced Australians, the enemy’s preoccupation with his continual frontal attack merely ensured that they would encircle and overrun any static defenders. The Japanese infantryman was the epitome of the jungle fighter; lightly equipped, even his food supplies were meagre – a ball of rice, some seaweed and , perhaps, some dried fish – enough to survive on for 24 hours, he travelled light, fast, was practised in most matters of jungle warfare and, most of all, he was prepared to lay down his life for his Emperor.

(with acknowledgement and thanks to "Trails of war")

In a series of engagements from Gorari to Kokoda the two platoons of B Company 39^th battalion were engaged in almost constant contact and withdrawal. It was during these forays that Templeton, while insisting on leading from the front, disappeared.

It later was learnt that Captain Templeton was captured, tortured and executed:

Kokichi Nishimura stands in front of his

house in Kazo, Saitama Prefecture

Japan Times - on-line

“…. Kokichi Nishimura, The Bone Man of Kokoda, ….(returned) to the site at Oivi Village where he stated he had buried Captain Templeton. ……….  Nishimura did not suddenly remember that he had buried Templeton 68 years previous, he had just assumed that Templeton’s remains had been recovered and re buried on the Australian’s advance. It was not until I returned to Japan that Templeton’s name came up in a conversation with Nishimura and he recounted the events to me. He was surprised that his remains had not been recovered.

Nishimura still clearly remembers the day he stumbled upon the bloated and rotting remains of Captain Templeton. Nishimura did not discover Templeton’s body until six days after Templeton’s execution. It is important to remember Nishimura arrived six days after the execution and was not a witness to the execution.

How could Nishimura remember the spot so clearly after 68 years? The event was clearly etched in his memory, the sight of the body, the smell and the waterfall that the body lay near. If you ever had a chance to meet Nishimura or read his book The Bone Man of Kokoda then you would understand he is a man of high honour and exceptionally intelligent, he has nothing to gain from assisting me. …”

(With appreciation to Wayne Weatherall at Kokoda Spirit Blog )

During a brief action at Oivi a concentration of Japanese firepower was assembled at the rear of the defenders who answered with grenades and rifle fire before a degree of panic broke out, abandoning the position the defenders had no hope of defending. Some pushed forward to their original front whilst others retreated to their rear and almost certain annihilation. If was the bush craft of a native policeman, Sanopa, serving with the Papuan Infantry battalion, that saved most of those moving forward and cut-off many heading for the rear where a strong enemy force lay in wait for them. Amongst the fierce actions fought that day there was much understandable confusion amongst the poorly trained and ill-equipped militiamen.

Kokoda Walkway - click to enlarge

Kokoda Walkway

With these events in train, Lieutenant-Colonel Owens decided  that the the Trail was easier to defend than Kokoda Village so he took the decision to fire the buildings and stores and to fall back to Deniki. To his latter amazement, on arrival at Deniki, he was told that the Japanese had still not occupied Kokoda. Owen thought he may still have time  to reinforce Kokoda by air, so, leaving a small force at Deniki he could hurry back to Kokoda. If his small force of around 80 men could hold Kokoda airstrip long enough reinforcements might land.


The second painful lesson was about to be learned in a desparate battle which bravery was defeated by overcaution.