The Significance of Kokoda

The Fall of Singapore is considered one of the greatest defeats in British History. For it to be overtaken and then occupied by the Japanese posed a massive threat and shock to Australia, which then caused Australia to withdraw troops introduce conscription and also the USA came in to help Australia against the threatening Japanese.

Not long before 10:00am, on February 19, 1942 the Japanese forces commenced air raids on Darwin. Over 260 enemy planes attacked Australian and US shipping, the harbour of the town, military and civil aerodromes and the local hospital. There were two waves of attacks which were part of Japan's efforts to harm Australia's confidence, hold back the use of Darwin's military base, and at last secure neighbouring Timor. At least 243 people were killed in the attack and up to 400 people were injured. Eight ships in the harbour were sunk and twenty military aircraft were destroyed. Over a space of almost two years the air attacks continued and about half of Darwin's population ended up moving south.

Australia entered the war in 1939 and it became at their doorstep on the 19th February 1942, Nazi Germany and Japan were major enemies to Australia during the war. Australia’s foreign policy and changing alliance during 1942 impacted our national identity because Australia developed a new relationship with America, while it weakened the strong connection with Britain, which demonstrates that Australia was starting to become its own independent country. At the beginning of war, Australia had a strong relationship and alliance with Britain, making Britain their leaders when entering the war. Secondly, as the war progressed Australia began to look to America as an opportunity for protection from the Japanese, while Britain was fighting their own

“Kokoda was one of Australia’s most successful and significant military campaigns and should be commemorated as such.” Discuss.

Although Australia’s relationship with the British was weakened as the result of actions during WW2 our relationship with the USA was the reciprocal; this period resulted in a strengthening of ties with the Americans. A few key events were pivotal in this change. The first of these was when General Douglas MacArthur took over the defence of Australia and the Pacific Campaign in March 1942, discarding the current battle plan of holding ‘The Brisbane Line’. Instead in his quote “...so I instantly changed the conception (The Brisbane Line) with the basic thought that the ‘battle of Australia’ would be settled in the little islands to the north, north-east and north-west. I would make my fight there - win, lose or draw” explains that the battles, in which the fate of Australia would be decided, were to occur in the Philippines.

World War One is regarded as a major turning point in history and modern warfare which has impacted Australia monumentally, scarring the nation’s history. Australia played a significant role in World War One and the Gallipoli campaign, which is considered the birthplace of the ANZAC legend. These events have immensely shaped Australia as the nation we know of today. World War One began in 1914 from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and ended in 1918 on November the 11th which is now recognised as a day of mourning and a time given recognition to the lives taken on the battlefield. To a prominent extent, the ANZAC legend is significant to the concept of Australian identity and nationalism through the origins of the ANZAC legend, the key events that have helped form Australia as an independent nation, and in addition to how ANZAC day is commemorated today.

Last year, on the 25th of April was the centenary of the Gallipoli landing. Which, according to the Australian Defence force website, was to be for Australians, “one of the most significant commemorations to take place during their lifetime.” With the centenary looming in the backs of the minds of the Australian people, it is unsurprising that great pains have been taken to construct a three year long celebration that would “encompass a number of historical milestones on Australia 's involvement in conflicts”, such as both World Wars, Korea and Vietnam.

The Anzac legend is still relevant in today’s society as it reminds Australians and New Zealands of the sacrifice they made to protect our country and let us live in freedom. The legend defines our national identity and helps shape our national reputation so that other countries can look at us as and think of us as a country who are determined, brave, resilient and helps our mates when they are in trouble. Almost a whole generation of young men was lost and they deserved to be remembered. The soldiers continued to fight during challenging times and when they felt as though it was too hard and should give up. They slept in wet and dirty clothes and barely had enough food to survive. Australia wouldn’t be Australia without the legend of the soldiers who sacrificed themselves for us.

Although the Australians eventually pushed back the Japanese in the Battle of Kokoda. They were not always certain to win the war. Owing to a combination of factors such as, the Incompetence of Australian Command, the Discipline and Attitude of Japanese soldiers, difficult terrain and weather, Early Errors and an outbreak of diseases, the Australians would have been defeated. There was a real threat of defeat.

The next battle, in which there was significant Australian contribution, was in El Alamein, in the Mediterranean theatre of war. This was a battle which after the loss of Tobruk, halted and turned around the German forces which were advancing towards Egypt. After the battle Churchill said “Before El Alamein, we never had a victory, after El Alamein, we never had a defeat”. This campaign managed to destroy the Germans hopes of capturing Egypt.

‘We’re all Australians now’ draws the reader to see the war from a positive Australia home front perspective. Texts from

The Kokoda campaign was very imported to Australians back at home because they were scared of the Japanese army coming to Australia.

The terrain on the Kokoda Track was very mountainous, with frequent mist and heavy rain. The dense jungle of Papua New Guinea was good at concealing big groups of men, which worked in both sides favour, as a result of this the Australian soldiers could not see and communicate with each other properly and they often got lost in the jungle. Fighting in the jungle resembles fighting at night, as they couldn’t aim properly through the foliage. These reasons support the fact that terrain, along with inexperience, were obstacles faced by the Australians on the Kokoda track in

The Japanese landed at Gona on the north coast of Papua New Guinea on the 21st of July 1942. The Australians were forced to fight back against the Japanese over the next four months. The Japanese had intended to invade Port Moresby, the main Australain base. They intended to do so by an overland strike across the Owen Stanley Range. The simplest and quickest way for them to reach their destination wad across rough, uneven mountains was to go through a trail known as the Kokoda Track. Up until the 16th of November 1942 the Australian soldiers fought against the Japanese trying to keep what was rightfully theirs. The Australians fought to keep the Japanese away from Port Moresby anf later to repel them back over the mountain to Buna, Gona and

It tells the story of a couple who get a night pasera by car, trying to get a perfect date and mentions it to say that the moon was gold that night, indicating that this was his most valuable night and I had to seize the opportunity . She just kissed him and whispered no, continue driving better ,. In his rare walk without knowing where to stop in a place called Ko-ko-mo (Kokomo is a city in the middle of Indiana and is Also a small resort owned by Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay; Represent all the tropical places and Images that people think of When wishing to get away to some island paradise to escape the dreary work life. "That's Where we want to go.")