Therefore on the contrary, the soldiers on the Kokoda track in 1942 were part of a stealthier affair using techniques such as camouflage and hiding within their surrounding environment which is known as JUNGLE or guerrilla WARFARE. In Papua New Guinea natives given the nickname the ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’, were vital to the survival of injured soldiers as they transported them to places where they could be treated, in Gallipoli the soldiers lacked this invaluable source of help. In 1915 they relied on each other and the ideals of mateship which contributed to creating the renowned Anzac Legend which was made famous by people such as Simpson and his donkey.
The climate of the two battle scenes would have contributed heavily to the experiences of the Australian soldiers. Experiences at Gallipoli would have been inclusive of a constantly changing climate. As this diary entry suggests, Gallipoli was freezing cold in winter, soaring mercury in summer and rain throughout autumn and spring which resulted in a variety of weather-induced illness and deaths such as frostbite or even freezing to death, trench foot or drowning from the flooding of the trenches and heat exhaustion. On the Kokoda track, the Australian soldier experienced a constant steady pattern of wetness and rain, and of course humidity. Being drenched in sweat and soaking wet only lead to more health issues within the militia such as heat exhaustion and dehydration. In both cases, the climate endured by the soldiers was unpleasant and consequentially lead to more disease within troops.
As the Anzacs arrived at Anzac cove large daunting cliffs and unforgiving typography approached them. As you can see, the hills were extensive and it was very hard to fight back when they were establishing themselves on the edge of mountains. In Kokoda it was a constant notion of trudging up a hill and then walking down the other side only to be faced with yet another hill. To put what walking the Kokoda track is like into perspective, each day the soldiers walked in deep mud and up large mountains, the tallest being almost equivalent to Mt Kosciusko, can you imagine walking that each day! **Photo of Mount Kosciusko and Kokoda mountain comparison.
The Turkish and the Japanese provided only a portion of the enemies that the Australian soldiers faced in these campaigns. In Gallipoli, flies, lice and rats proved to be the soldier’s worst nightmares. Rats thrived in their millions among trenches and carried diseases, fed on the remains of the men who had died and ate the very little food the soldiers had. The flies and lice constantly pestered the soldiers and they very easily spread disease. When Australians soldiers entered the jungle of Papua New Guinea, mosquitoes added a whole new level of danger and were the biggest cause of disease and consequently death during Kokoda because they carried Malaria and Dengue fever. Many troops could not fight due to suffering from Malaria. The Flies contributed to the food going off in under 3 hours and helped spread diseases.
The battle for Gallipoli in World War I gave Australians, as people, a chance to meet the world, and Australia as a unified nation to display to the globe her morals, her honour and affirm herself as a nation. The battle for Kokoda in World War 2 gave Australians a chance to save their country and represent themselves and their families in a war close to home. The experiences of the soldiers of these two campaigns would have been made up of sadness, sickness and mental scarring as well as disease, deaths and hardships and the true horrors of war. Gallipoli made Australia, Kokoda saved Australia.
by
bellatilleyhotmailcom (student)
