Pte Stanley (Pat) Oppy, VX17664

One of the most rewarding experiences of being a tour guide on the Kokoda Track is being able to take relatives of veterans to the battlefields where their Father, Grandfather, Uncle etc, actually fought, in some cases where they actually died. On our August trek I had the pleasure of taking Robert Oppy the grandson of Pte, VX17664, Stanley James Oppy 12 Platoon 2/14^th Battalion. Stan Oppy was killed on the 8^th of September 1942 at Brigade Hill. Whilst Robert Oppy never met his grandfather he grew up with the stories from his grandmother and father, stories about a heroic man that paid the ultimate price in defending Australia.

Just before dawn on the 8^th of September 1942 the Japanese launched a fierce attack against the Australians at Brigade Hill. As the Japanese moved around the western flank of the Australian positions, B Company of the 2/14^th had the task of cutting through the main Japanese force. This opened B Company’s right flank which was under threat of being attacked by strong Japanese patrols that were known to be lurking in the surrounding jungle.

Captain Claude Nye was in command of B Company and knew the dangers that were facing his men. B Company was made up of 10, 11 & 12 Platoons. Capt Nye held 10 Platoon in reserve and went ahead with 11 & 12 Platoons which included Stan (Pat) Oppy.

B Company ran directly into the main force of the Japanese who were situated just below Brigadier Pots’ Headquarters. Coming under heavy attack, Claude Nye and his men were cut off by enemy on their right flank. Only 8 men of B Company were able to make it back to Brigade Headquarters. The rest of 11 & 12 Platoons continued fighting for two hours and took heavy casualties.

Stan or Pat Oppy as he was known to his mates belonged to 12 Platoon, B Company which was commanded by Capt Claude Nye. B Company had been fighting heavily for around two hours and 11 and 12 platoon took many casualties including the death of their company commander Capt Nye and the hero of Isurava Cpl Charlie McCallum D.C.M. The Company also lost on the same day the following men; Cpls “Nobby” Kelton and “Knocker Hayes, Pte’s Chris McKinley, Laurie Allen, “Snow” Bryant, Jim Scullion, Mac McPherson, “Scotty” Hamilton, Lloyd Kerford, Wally Clark, Darby Munro, Ray Farnsworth, Pat Oppy and Joe Harvey.

‘Lest We Forget’.

Good News Story!

If you have trekked with Kokoda Historical chances are you have stayed at the little village of Efogi II with our good friend Stanley. Unfortunately Stanley’s two year old girl Sue fell in to a fire and burnt her left arm just above her wrist. Trekkers on our August trip arrived at Stanley’s on the same afternoon as little Sue was injured.

Medical treatment by one of our trekkers stabilised little Sue overnight. The next morning it was decided by all in the group that Sue would require medical attention in Port Moresby. Stanley and Sue accompanied the group to the larger village Efogi I. There, thanks to the Efogi KTF Ranger, Stanley and Sue were able to board a charter flight and make their way to Port Moresby. We are happy to report that Sue has received medical support and treatment and has now returned to her village. Special thanks goes to Bruce and Antony, two trekkers on our August trek that helped pay for the some of the costs associated with the airfare and medical treatment.

Our trek leader Gary will stay with Stanley next month as he passes through with our September trek and will update us further to the recovery of little Sue.

Kokoda Historical in the Good Guts Magazine

Kokoda Historical are proud to have featured in this month's 39th Battalion Association's magazine, The Good Guts. The article depicts an account of the wonderful experience the Harold Bould Competition winners had on their prize which was a trip over the Kokoda Track and to the northern Beachheads visiting Buna, Gona and Sanananda.

To read the August 2010 edition of the Good Guts magazine please click here.

New Trek Update Service

Kokoda Historical is offering a new free trek update service. For those trekkers who have friends and family at home that would like to receive regular updates as to how the group are travelling please visit our new webpage: Trek Updates

This page is dedicated to reporting how the group is progressing on their tour and will be updated approximately every 2-3 days. Email alerts will also be sent to those who request it.

There is also the faciliity to add your own comments and words of encouragement which will be passed on to the group. Personal messages can be emailed to us if necessary.

Click here to visit this new webpage: Trek Updates

"Lost" Kokoda Battlefield of Eora Creek

Recently you may have seen the program about the so-called "lost" Kokoda Battlefield of Eora Creek. The Sunday Night program on Channel Seven recently show cased a story regarding this subject. The program implied that the battlefield on the Australian advance in October of 1942 (Eora Creek) had been recently re-discovered. Kokoda Historical has been visiting the Eora Creek battlefield for many years and so too have many other trekking companies. One excursion lead by Kokoda Historical in 2007 followed the route taken by Capt Sanderson (2/1st Battalion) and his party in what is to be believed to be one the fiirst attempts by the 16 Brigade against the Japanese right flank. This Japanese right flank certainly included the area of ground depicted in the channel seven story, in particular the site of the Japanese mountain gun position.
 
Japanese Type 92 Machine Gun for use on aircraft,
note the broken trigger guard identiclal to that used
on the Sunday Tonight program.

Kokoda Historical merges with Komplete Kokoda

Kokoda Historical is excited and pleased to announce that they have gone into partnership with Komplete Kokoda. We have now combined forces in order to provide the foremost expert tour company for Kokoda History.

Of all the tour companies, and there are approximately 80 of them servicing the Kokoda Track, Soc Kienzle (son of Capt Bert Kienzle) has chosen the fellows at Kokoda Historical, because he believes that the genuinely share with him the same determination to get the 'history right' and help to protect and enhance the integrity of the Kokoda Track and its people. Of the many tour leaders Soc has met during his travels, he believes Kokoda Historical have shown the most willingness to learn from his unique knowledge and experience.

'Soc Kienzle'

This partnership has been developing for some time and both Komplete Kokoda and Kokoda Historical believe that by working together they can offer trekkers the best possible Kokoda Track experience on the market. At the end of 2010 Soc Kienzle and David Howell will both be on the Kokoda Track for a special trip. Soc will be raising the original Australian flag used in 1942 to signal the re-capture of Kokoda!

You too can share in this unique Kokoda experience, for more information please see Kokoda Day Trek, 2010 (Please refer Soc's Kokoda Blog for further details).

Please take the time to visit www.kompletekokoda.com.au

Sam Templeton

WHAT HAPPENED TO UNCLE SAM?

Captain Sam Templeton V50190

You may have heard the name Sam Templeton in the media of late. Sam Templeton of the 39th Battalion went missing on the 26 July 1942. He is an important figure in the Kokoda story. Recently the Japanese veteran Kokichi Nishimura (AKA The Bone Man of Kokoda) returned to PNG where he has been reported to have stated that he personally buried the body of Captain Sam Templeton near the village of Oivi located north of Kokoda. Latest reports from our sources here in Australia and in PNG indicate that Templeton's remains have in fact not been located.