SONGS OF THE KOKODA TRAIL (and those Ragged Bloody Heroes)

After WWI’s Gallipoli, the story of WWII’s 3-year Kokoda is probably the next most acclaimed. Precious few of the servicemen and women are still alive, but stories of the campaigns have gradually come to light, with many docos, films, and books now produced.

Kokoda’s results were hard-won – battling Malaria, Dengue Fever, Dysentery, on top of Humidity, Leeches, Crocodiles, Mosquitos, Mountains, Mud et al – on top of being under-equipped (in both weapons and clothing), under-trained, under-fed – on top of being VASTLY outnumbered – against the ferocious, unrelenting, battle-hardened Japanese who had swept through Asia and the Pacific and were now invading the tropical jungles of the very mountainous Papua New Guinea region from the North.
While Australia’s defense of these Mandated Territories was left to relatively inexperienced Militias (like the CMF) and in the case of the 53rd Battalion, 100 of the young men had been literally Shanghaied-Pressganged (in good military tradition - but this was, after all, the 20th century!!!!) from Sydney all in one day - and not told their destination nor permitted to inform relatives and friends, nor given training and equipment. Of course, their resentment festered..…..
Meanwhile, once the Japanese conquered Port Moresby, it was just a short hop across the Coral Sea to FNQ (Far North Qld) : Oh so very close to Australia, which was, of course, their intended target (and they had already been making air raids down both the West and East Coasts).

Some more background to the Kokoda songs :

Kokoda, the bloody track:
“Documentary made for the 50th annivesary of the Kokoda campaign. Features on camera interviews with Australian and Japanese veterans of the campaign intercut with archival footage.” AWM (Austn War Museum)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbSXJsG90hQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ6oS0v59Ig
ABC’s Chris Masters’ excellent doco for “4Corners” using Damien Parer’s 1942 footage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3i_W90EqnA – aerial view of the 8-day 96km trek you can do, along the famous Trail.   “The Kokoda Track is a single file, very rough, tropical jungle path that connects villages over the Owen Stanley Range.
It crosses rivers and creeks as it crosses over six mountain ranges, covered in mud. The vegetation changes along the way and so does the track, but one thing remains constant, it is rough, narrow and requires concentration to avoid slips, trips and falls.”

And finally : KOKODA – is it Track or Trail?! : both have been used, but “trail” has the edge (and not due to any American usage!) : https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/the-kokoda-track-or-trail

David Campbell’s poem “Men in Green”; a school favourite for me - first published in The Bulletin in 1943 (I’m surprised not to have found a musical setting though)…….
https://ninglun.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/friday-australian-poem-12-david-campbell-men-in-green/



RUGGED 'N' BUGGERED

David Nipperess

This song is directly inspired by Peter Brune’s book ‘Those Ragged Bloody Heroes’.
The lyrics reflect the language of spoken accounts included therein. Apologies for any instances of historical inaccuracy - put it down to artistic license.
- David Nipperess.

I was working for my father
On a dairy farm out on Otway
When one day that thrice-poxed postie
With a conscription notice came
John Curtin said “boy you’re the one
To protect our dear home from the rising sun”
‘Cos the volunteers were fighting for England
Only the rugged and the buggered remained

So they placed me in a Choco battalion
39th AMF was its name
And they sent us on off to New Guinea
Even though we were only half-trained
I remember turning twenty quite well
‘Cos the very next day was when Singapore fell
And as the panic spread to Port Moresby
Only the rugged and the buggered remained

So we marched on up to Kokoda
And the track it was sheer muddy hell
And they told us to hold this great ridgeline boys
Before the Japs could get there as well
But they took us at about six to one
When the best thing we had was an old Lewis gun
And the cry went back to Port Moresby
Only the rugged and the buggered remained

Well we fought them off with our rifles
With our spades and our boots and our knives
And we gave those sons of the Emperor
The bloodiest fight of our lives
But we knew we hadn’t a hope
As we paid with our youth to retreat down the slope
And as the veterans sailed for Port Moresby
Only the rugged and the buggered remained

We were on our last bloody legs at Isurava
We were sick, we were starved, we were worn
Then the veterans came to fill out our line
Just when we thought we were gone
Well we staggered away from the front
Our clothes were old rags and our guns rusted up
And as I looked out amongst my companions
Only the rugged and the buggered remained

LISTEN HERE : https://miguelheatwole.bandcamp.com/track/rugged-n-buggered

Thanks to GerryM for knowledge of this one.



KOKODA TRACK

A.E. Brooks & Slim Dusty (aka David Kirkpatrick)

With no shouldered arms or bayonet fixed, they march on Anzac Day
The measured tramp of steel-shod heels a memory away
Veterans of a jungle war who went to hell and back
Those Ragged Bloody Heroes of that grim Kokoda Track.

So dig your reversed rifles in the mire of memory
The swirling mists of time have healed the scars
You climbed that golden stairway to keep our country free
Where the jungle hid your nightmare from the stars.

When sullen days brought no relief from blood and muck and mire
And death was ever striding at your back
You trod that hallowed path to be baptized in hellfire
The Ragged Bloody Heroes of that grim Kokoda Track.

Oh the devil took the hindmost and the snipers took the fore
With no quarter asked or given in that muddy, bloody war
With black angels there to guide them, the salvos by their side
Those Ragged Bloody Heroes simply marched and fought and died.

Astride a broken mountain top you stood defiantly
As the devil took your comrades one by one
He taunted you and beckoned you to face eternity
You saluted with a burning Thompson gun.

His hand was on your shoulder like a burning grip of steel
But you turned him and you fought off his attack
You broke the devil’s squadrons and you brought him to your heel
The Ragged Bloody Heroes of that grim Kokoda Track.

Oh the devil took the hindmost and the snipers took the fore
With no quarter asked or given in that muddy bloody war
While politicians pondered and great generals swelled with pride
Those Ragged Bloody Heroes simply marched and fought and died.

With no shouldered arms or bayonet fixed they march on Anzac Day
With the memory of white crosses and the mounds of fresh- turned clay
Of green fields and a bugle call and a solemn requiem
[spoken]
"And at the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them."

Those Ragged Bloody Heroes of that grim Kokoda Track.
Those Ragged Bloody Heroes of that grim Kokoda Track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RydSdjW5zi4&t=131s
Slim Dusty sings. From his album: "Natural High"



ONLY THE BRAVE ONES

Lee Kernaghan, Garth Porter, Colin Buchanan

Storm cloud blacks the sky, the rain comes pouring down
This God-forsaken place will bring you to your knees
We sweltered through each day in sweat and desperation
Diggers on the march on the Kokoda Track.

Step by muddy step, tortured hour by hour
Some prayed, some swore with fear, but you'd never show your mates
The kid beside me dropped, shot right between the eyes
Death waits in the jungle under Kokoda skies.

And it's only the brave ones, afraid, but keep on going
One step moving forward, the next step slipping back
Scared bloody stiff; still you keep on going
It's only the brave ones out on the Kokoda Track.

From the land of the rising sun, they came screaming through the darkness
And a few Militia boys, they held the buggers back
The wounded carried down by fuzzy wuzzy angels***
Heroes’ blood was spilt on the Kokoda Track.

Yes, it's only the brave ones, afraid, but keep on going
One step moving forward, the next step slipping back
Scared bloody stiff; still you keep on going
It's only the brave ones out on the Kokoda Track.

Private Kingsbury fought beside his mates in Isurava
When it seemed that all was lost, alone he rushed the line
Well they finally cut him down but his courage turned the battle
He laid down his life on the Kokoda Track.

Yes, it's only the brave ones, afraid, but keep on going
One step moving forward, the next step slipping back
Scared bloody stiff; still you keep on going
It's only the brave ones out on the Kokoda Track.
Yes, it's only the brave ones out on the Kokoda Track.

***Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels was the name given by Australian soldiers to Papua New Guinean war carriers who, during World War II,
were recruited to bring supplies up to the front and carry injured Australian troops down the Kokoda trail during the Kokoda Campaign……
Despite the great fatigue often experienced by the Carriers, no known injured soldier that was still alive was ever abandoned by the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, even during heavy combat…..
“The care they give to the patient is magnificent” (WIKI)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG0M3GNM4TQ&t=11s
sung by John Schumann (Redgum), Lee Kernaghan, Garth Porter.



THE KOKODA ANTHEM (BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA)

Frank Gallagher

Our Anzacs left for over there
When darkness fell on Leicester Square
In freedom's name for liberty
They fought and died for you and me
Poland's gone, France has fell
Pearl Harbor blown to hell
Prison camps, millions dead
Europe's burning, newsreel said

Australian sons of the Southern Cross
It's time to stand against the odds
The Kokoda Trail and the Rising Sun
And fight with God 'til the battle's won

The Kokoda Trail the track to hell
Where soldier sons and angels fell
That mountain range of death and pain
Where young blood flowed like jungle rain
The Kokoda Trail the track from hell
Where Fuzzy Wuzzy angels dwell
Heroic souls to guide us on
And safely bring our wounded home

Australian sons of the Southern Cross
Victorious against the odds
The Kokoda Trail and the Rising Sun
They took them on and fought and won
Australian sons of the Southern Cross
Victorious against the odds
The Kokoda Trail and the Rising Sun
They took them on and fought and won

They took them on and fought and won

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWN8BJ4Jp6w
Sung by Adam Harvey & Gina Jeffreys



Sorry, didn’t have the energy to transcribe these last two!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wasceChoMfw    Kokoda - Hamish Wyatt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I73WZPJ4fmo    The Ballad of Kokoda - Lance Birrell


N.B.   and of course, I know it wasn’t JUST the Australians - the Papuans and the Americans were also involved in this PNG war!!
And I’m aware that I may have left out important detail, but the story is just too big for one post, which anyway, is mostly about the songs :)


Just found this Mudcat thread!! which discusses Kokoda and things pertaining (including songs of course) : /mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=40206,40206

In it, Catter Bruce D noted in a 15May2009 post : “Going back to the subject there are a number of song about Kokoda including "The Kododa Trail" Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels" -
other songs from the era include "the Yanks Back Home", "The A25 Song", Bungin 'Em In, Blowing 'Em out", The Infanteer" and "Information Please"
I got these songs on a very old cassette called "Australians at War" by Barry Collerson and the Reedy River Bushmen.”



R-J