Walking the Track

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign, 39 ADF personnel from 39th Operational Support Battalion (39 OSB) and 16th Royal Western Australian Regiment (16 RWAR) walked the Kokoda Trail over the period of 31 Aug to 12 Sep 22. Both 39 OSB and 16 RWAR maintain links to the Kokoda Campaign through the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion and 2nd/16th Australian Infantry Battalion respectively. The contingents united at Brigade Hill (Mission Ridge) to conduct a commemorative service, 80 years to the day of the Battle for Brigade Hill, followed by a small 39 OSB ceremony at Menari 80 years to the day that Damien Parer captured on film the then CO 39th Bn speaking to the survivors of the battalion. At the conclusion of the trek, 16 RWAR conducted a battlefield tour of the northern beaches at Buna and Gona, where they hosted a small ceremony on 11 Sep 22. V20222927