Kokoda

A small Australian section from the 39th Battalion goes on a forward patrol in the New Guinea jungle and is suddenly struck by a Japanese assault. The platoon commander, a veteran AIF lieutenant, is killed early, forcing the section to fall back. The unit is left in the hands of a recently promoted lance-corporal, Max, who must shoulder leadership under fire.

Bren gunner Blue volunteers to stay and cover the retreat as the others fall back. The Japanese close in and Blue is tortured and bayoneted, then decapitated in a brutal display. Jack and Darko witness the atrocity from hiding, the horror seared into their memories.

The section is able to kill a pursuing Japanese force but is driven further into the dense jungle. They become cut off from their larger unit and fight to survive with dwindling supplies. Max struggles to keep the group moving and hopeful for relief.

Sam sustains a leg injury and begs for the others to leave him behind. They refuse, choosing to carry on as a unit despite the mounting pain and risk. The march grows harder as malaria and dysentery begin to bite at the exhausted men.

After a full day of walking, Sam slips away by hiding in a hollow tree stump to ease the burden on his mates. The remaining six press on, sustaining themselves on grit and stubborn resolve. The group’s bond is tested as supplies dwindle and hope wanes.

The party is ambushed by a Japanese patrol, and though the scouts are killed, Max is struck in the stomach and unable to walk. The others bear him as they push onward through the harsh terrain. The goal remains the same: reach Isurava before they break.

The survivors reach a village long since destroyed by the advancing Japanese and choose to take shelter. An argument sparks between Jack and Darko over leaving Max behind; Max decides to stay with the group, and Johnno remains with him despite severe dysentery. The others press on toward Isurava with heavy hearts.

A handful of Japanese soldiers come to search the village, and Johnno fires in a desperate bid to save his mate. He is tracked down and shot by the invaders, his sacrifice underscoring the brutal costs of retreat and survival. The village then bears silent witness to the losses.

A New Guinea tribesman returns to inspect the village and discovers Max badly wounded in a hut. Help arrives in the form of local aid, while the rest of the group pushes toward Isurava. Max’s survival hangs in the balance as time and terrain work against him.

Jack, Darko, and Burke are found by Australian troops and transported to Isurava, where the situation is dire. The 39th is exhausted after their trek and joins the makeshift fields where they can contribute. Reinforcements from other units begin to solidify the frontline.

That night the Japanese attack in waves against the Australian positions. The defenders, armed primarily with rifles and machine guns, struggle to repel the assault. Despite the heavy odds, the Australians fight stubbornly, slowing the Japanese advance with determined firepower.

During the night assault, Burke is shot and dies in Darko’s arms as the battle rages on. The remaining members of the section endure intense losses and mounting fatigue as the fight wears on. Burke’s death marks a brutal toll on the group and the unit.

The next day the remaining 39th is paraded at Isurava and informed they will be withdrawn off the line. The message carries a glimmer of relief for having steadied the defense against a feared invasion. The mood remains heavy, tempered by the realization of the ongoing danger.

As the withdrawal begins, Jack and Darko spot Max being carried by Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels toward a field hospital. His survival is confirmed, providing a fingernail hold on hope for the unit. The men prepare to fall back and rejoin at Brigade Hill.

With Isurava behind them, Australian forces begin a strategic withdrawal to Brigade Hill to establish a new defensive line. The 39th’s stubborn defense has slowed the Japanese advance and bought precious time for larger Allied forces to reorganize. The campaign continues beyond the events of this retreat.