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Tony Wehlow

A Bunch of Ragged Bloody Heroes A Tribute to ‘Kokoda’ Campaign

by Tony Wehlow

Story 55

A Bunch of Ragged Bloody Heroes A Tribute to 'Kokoda' Campaign

The mountains are so treacherous and so bloody steep
They made this humble Aussie want to lie down and weep
After every plunging valley there was yet another peak
I stand in awe at the Diggers that accomplished an incredible feat

The ghosts of many brave Aussie Diggers past
Slapped me in the face, just like a mortar blast
When I walked the Kokoda Trail there were no japs on my tail
So I would have understood had the Diggers decided to bale

The 39th militia was the first to hit the shore
A bunch of young Aussies, as soldiers they were raw
Hopelessly outnumbered but they knew they couldn't give
Not even an inch never mind a bloody ridge

They hightailed it down the Trail time and time again
But then they would just dig in, ready to defend
MacArthur didn't like it but what the hell did he know
If Potts hadn't done it this way it was 'Hello Tokyo'

Looking down the gun barrel and thinking of Bondi beach
Determined that was one place the Japs would never reach
With pure guts and pride they defended the Trail and bled
While Australians back home only knew what they had read

These men became known as our Ragged Bloody Heroes
How the hell they kept going no one really knows
Their morale was so low, little food and no rest
And every jap onslaught put these Heroes to the test

Despite the claims by Blamey, they never ran at all
Just like his leadership, his comments they were flawed
And the less said about MacArthur and his tactics on the Track
The better it is for the brave men who never made it back

Throughout the Kokoda campaign the locals stood side by side
For this was their country and they would not be denied
They carried out the wounded and brought in the supplies
It is the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels to whom many owe their lives

There was one man in particular to whom we owe our thanks
For without him Australia would not have stood a chance
If I had to rank all the persons that got this battle won
Then Herbert Thomson Kienzle would be my Number One

The mountains are so treacherous and so bloody steep
They made this humble Aussie want to lie down and weep
After every plunging valley there was yet another peak
I stand in awe at the Diggers that accomplished an incredible feat

Tony Wehlow 31 August, 2011

Story 55