when I visited the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway some years back, I understood why John wrote "fought disease and the Japanese" as the deaths from tropical diseases far outweighed the battle deaths.
Approximately 625 Australians were killed along the Kokoda Trail and over 1,600 were wounded. Casualties due to sickness exceeded 4,000.

google maps photos of Kokoda Park memorial walkway unfortunately I can't see a photo of the panel showing casualty counts

sandra

of course, everyone (posting here!) knows I mean John Dengate's Lanes of Woolloomooloo, normally a powerful poem. Once I heard a sweet-voiced soprano singing it (it did not work) but as Jason & Chloe have also put a tune to it, I can post it!