Kokoda

For Australians, Kokoda is the iconic battle of World War II, yet few people know just what happened and just what our troops achieved.Conditions on the track were hellish - rain was constant, the terrain close to inhospitable, food and ammunition supplies were practically non-existent and the men constantly battled malaria and dysentery, as well as the Japanese.Kokoda was a defining battle for Australia - a small force of young, ill-equipped Australians engaged a highly experienced and hitherto unstoppable Japanese force on a narrow, precarious jungle track - and defeated them.Peter FitzSimons looks at the importance and symbolism of Kokoda in our history, and what we can all learn from it personally. '...an engrossing narrative, beautifully controlled by a master storyteller.'  Sydney Morning Herald