The Architect of Kokoda: Bert Kienale, the Man Who Made the Kokoda Trail by Robyn Kienzle

Book Description

Secondhand. Good condition. Wear to book corners and edges. Bend to front cover tail right corner. Some foxing to foredges and tail half-title page. Pages have sunned. Body text and binding are still very good.

In 1942, when the Japanese had invaded Papua New Guinea and the Australian soldiers sent to hold them back thought victory impossible, the endeavours of one man, Bert Kienzle, changed the course of history. Born in Fiji to parents of Fijian, German and English descent and interned in Australia during World War I, this charismatic man, well known in Papua after having run gold mines and rubber plantations there in the 1930s, was charged with the seemingly impossible task of establishing a trail across the Owen Stanley Range in just a few short months.

Out of the jungle and mud, Kienze carved a working transport route that his handpicked teams of bearers, the now 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels', would work on alongside the Australian troops, ensuring that the men got the food, munitions and medical support they needed.

The feats that these men performed were heroic, and their endurance as they transported supplies along the Trail was unparalleled. (back cover)