An article that I wrote for the 39th Battalion Association magazine "The Good Guts"

http://www.kokodahistorical.com.au/images/GG172-AUG-11extract.pdf


This article is about my trip to PNG to trek the Kokoda Track with Komplete Kokoda/Kokoda Historical.

On my Facebook page  "A Fighting Life"  you can see a link to 3 albums I put on my personal profile.  Just scroll to 4th October 2011.

Or you can just click the links below:

Album 1 - Beachheads and Kokoda

Album 2 - first part of Kokoda Track

Album 3 - The final leg to Ower's Corner

RIP Don Daniels

I am so sad that another member of A Coy (7 platoon) and WW2 comrade of Jim Cowey has passed away.  Gentleman Don Daniels passed away after a long illness on Monday.  I had the pleasure of interviewing Don, then meeting him and his lovely wife Peg at my Great Grandfather's plaque unveiling ceremony in Sea Lake.  They made such an effort to travel up there for the day from Ocean Grove and were wonderful to talk to.

Don and Peg seated talking to my Gran, Marj Stacey (in Land Army uniform) at Jim Cowey's memorial service in Sea Lake.

Don, Thank you for your service to Australia.  Rest in Peace.  

Lest We Forget.

RIP Harry Barkla

Yesterday, Harry Barkla, 39th Battalion veteran of A Coy (9 Platoon), and comrade of Jim Cowey, passed away aged 90 years.

 Harry Barkla (second from left) at Jim's graveside in Sea Lake, Victoria.

Thank you for your service to Australia Harry, and for your willingness to give me an insight into your experience of war on the Kokoda Track.  I'm very thankful I got to meet and talk to you, and I'm so glad in your latter years you were able to find peace of mind.

The man himself: James Picken Cowey, M.C.

James Picken Cowey, M.C. served in the 14th and 46th Battalions in World War 1, seeing action at Gallipoli, Egypt and the Western Front.  He was injured several times, rose to the rank of Lieutenant and was twice recommended for the MC in the final stages of the war in 1918.  He was awarded the Military Cross for gallant action and devotion to duty as Intelligence Officer during operations West of Bellenglise on the 18th and 19th of September, 1918.  His award stated:

When the line was held up by heavy machine-gun fire, he dashed forward, organised a party and pushed forward to a sunken road, where he established posts under intense machine-gun fire.  It was owing to his fine work in assisting to organise the line that the position was held.

Image provided by 39th Australian Infantry Battalion (1941-43) Association

In World War 2, Jim firstly trained young militia men in the use of the Lewis Gun before being attached to the 39th Battalion, who were sent to Port Moresby in then New Guinea.  After the Japanese invaded there, the 39th Battalion were sent up the Kokoda Track to protect the airstrip and fought fiercely against the Japanese who significantly outnumbered them.  Overran by the enemy, Jim saved many men by walking them out through the Japanese rather than trying to make a run for it, which is what some of the young fellas wished to do.  He also fought in the Battle of Isurava and Eora Creek before being evacuated sick back to Australia.  

Jim was 52 years of age in this action, in some of the most arduous jungle terrain one can imagine, in appalling conditions as the men had little food or equipment and scant ammunition.  Almost all the men he was fighting with were half his age, or younger!

Lest We Forget

I'm blogging!

Well, have just created my blog and have no idea what I'm doing!  Hehehe, this should be interesting! 

The primary reason for doing so is to promote and chart my progress writing my Great Grandfather's biography, which if I ever get it published will be called:

"A Fighting Life: The story of James Picken Cowey, M.C., 

veteran of Gallipoli, the Western Front and Kokoda".

I certainly won't be blogging everyday as my focus will be writing, but every so often I'll post something which I believe will be of interest. 

Feel free to add any comments or suggestions, as I'm certainly not a military historian and may need assistance in that area.  I am a humble, proud descendant of an Australian Digger that gave a great deal to his country by serving in both WW1 and WW2.