Background : Grandpa served in the second forming of the Battalion and fought in New Guinea at places like Nadzab, Heath's Plantation, Markham Point, Lae, Ramu Valley and Shaggy Ridge. He didn't really talk much about the war until later in life and even then, tended to gloss over the really bad bits. Recurring bouts of malaria for years afterwards also took its toll. His Soldier's Handbook and copy of Jungle Warfare (both Australian Government publications) only hinted at what happened. I know he would never lie to me and that is why the stories are real. What these men went through defies belief!! Here are a few stories he shared with me:

• The weather. The weather was unbelievable. He told me that after one particularly bitter battle, his platoon resting behind the line fell asleep in their foxholes and found themselves up to the chin in freezing water next morning. It had poured down overnight and they had just been too exhausted to even know.
• The Salvation Army were HIGHLY regarded by the men. Often, the Salvos' tent would be situated just away from the firing line with food and drinks for the soldiers. A damn sight nearer the action than the Brass in Melbourne! Impressed by this example, Grandpa always said to look after the Salvos; they looked after the Pioneers. Whenever I see the Salvos collecting, I still do.
• Once, Grandpa had just scrabbled forward from cover behind a log and another soldier who dropped into the vacated position was instantly shot and killed. Such was the luck of the draw.
• He did NOT like the number 13 and refused to go on a patrol if it had that many members.
• The Japanese were EXTREMELY good snipers. Grandpa was a crack shot after so many years shooting rabbits on the farm and naturally often was put "on Point". This is the lead soldier in a patrol. Not the best position to be in; as you are usually the first one to be shot by a sniper.
• The tangled and dense jungle made the New Guinea Campaign very much a one on one battle front. No massed attack could ever work since the "roads" were usually tracks made by generations of natives. Ambushes were easy to setup and happened all the time. Even the Kunai grass could hide a Battalion and you would not know until it was too late. Many fights were at close quarters.
• Even dead bodies had to approached with caution. Sometimes, the enemy had deliberately left a primed grenade under the body as a lethal trap for the unwary.
• The Japanese had an excellent artillery piece called a mountain gun that was far easier to move over the ridges than the Allies artillery. This gun caused many casualties across valleys.
• Finding dead comrades with strips of flesh cut out of their thighs because the enemy could not resupply their starving troops.
• Different coloured parachutes were used for different parts / loads during airdrops. He saw an airdrop at Nadzab and said it was one of the prettiest things he had ever seen.
• Grandpa was a strong swimmer. He used to keep his rifle above water and dry whilst swimming one handed across the flooded Strathfilian Creek at Stuart Mill where he grew up. There are many fast flowing rivers in New Guinea. A common misconception by people is that water pressure doubles when the water speed doubles. As a lake and river rescuer, I know this is NOT the case - the calculation is to the square; i.e. FOUR times more pressure against the body. Grandpa saved several drowning soldiers caught in the traversing ropeline across rivers (eg. Uncle Sid had his machete caught around the rope when he was saved) and often swam a light line across rivers to enable heavier traversing ropes to be positioned.
• Uncle Normy (VX72724), Bushy (VX73087), Uncle Sid (VX68919) and Grandpa were great mates and stayed in touch after the war. Sid became my Mum's godfather.
• Apparently dysentery was a very common and unpleasant occurrence.
• They were known by the United States Air Force as C47s, the R.A.A.F. as DC3s or Gooney birds but the troops knew the supply planes as "Biscuit Bombers".
• After the Battalion was involved in the taking of Lae, noises were heard from a bombed Japanese submarine stranded on the shore. Investigation found several enemy soldiers hiding during the Allied mopping up operation.
• Another time, the troops were very thirsty on a hilltop (somewhere near Shaggy Ridge) but did not want to go to the river to get water as enemy snipers were picking soldiers off there. The natives (affectionally known as the "Fuzzy, Wuzzy Angels") laughed and then cut bush shoots to obtain water. The soldiers had been sitting right next to natural water stores and had not known it. Without the natives on the Allies side, events could have been very different and many wounded simply would not have survived the trip from Regimental Aid Posts (R.A.P.) to the Field Hospitals.
• Somewhere near Shaggy Ridge, a Japanese soldier had dug into the side of the steep slope and used a canvas sheet cover to knock clear grenades rolled down to him before they exploded. This difficult problem was solved by lowering a grenade into position on a long stick and pulling the pin out with string.
• He gave me a hand written copy of a poem before he died. The paper is fairly fragile now since it was carried in his wallet for many years (and I believe through the New Guinea jungle). However, the impact of the poem is as strong as when Grandpa decided to write it down. I don't know who wrote it or when. Here it is :

FADED SUITS OF GREEN

I am standing at my window; I can hear the tramp of feet,
I can hear the soldiers marching down the bush roads and streets,
They are coming into vision; now they can be plainly seen,
That shining line of figures in their faded suits of green.

Suits that went into dyepot in a hurry as you know,
For the Jap was at our doorstep; a crafty cruel foe,
No time for fuss or finish; very little lay between,
Those swarming hordes of Nippon and those faded suits of green.

The dye came out in patches of pale yellow, green and brown,
They were fashioned for the jungle; not for touring around town,
They were not meant for dandering, to strut in or to preen,
They were made for men of action; streaky faded suits of green.

These men who went to outposts; to flies muck an heat,
To monotony and boredom; no offensive; no retreat,
And they missed the path to glory with their mates at Alamein,
They were left to guard Australia in their faded suits of green.

On the battlefields of Papua; on the shores of Milne Bay,
On the road to far Kokoda and down Buna Gona way,
Thru fever laden jungles where Nippon lurked unseen,
Into slime and slush a slaughtering went those faded suits of green.

Pressing onward; ever onward; rivers crossed; pathways strange,
Facing death; defying danger on the Owen Stanley Range,
Up cliffs and down valleys; thru the deep and dark ravines,
Torn and battered splashed with crimson glory faded suits of green.

Standing watching at my window my thoughts wing as before,
To rice fields of Malaya to the docks of Singapore,
To prison camps of Nippon where our loved ones gaunt on lean,
Weary wait there to be rescued by those faded suits of green.

They are coming captive soldiers tho the way be hard and grim,
They will fight onto finish inch by inch yard by yard,
Forming suits of shining armour worn by knights before a queen,
Ever held such pride and honour as those faded suits of green.

When peace bells are aringing as they did in days of yore,
When the hated sound of war drums cease for ever more,
When we live in love and laughter and happiness serene,
Oh, Australia please remember those faded suits of green.