This is the story of the single file trail and that long ago battle – the Kokoda Trail Campaign of 1942.
The Kokoda Trail is as important a part of Australia’s history as Gallipoli, and is a pilgrimage that thousands of Australians make, but few will have completed the trail as many times as Brian Freeman. The former Special Forces soldier has set records running the 96 kilometre trail and led dozens of treks along it as part of his adventure trekking company.
After years of friendship with local villagers, Brian was entrusted with a secret that had been hidden from outsiders since 1942, only passed down among the villagers, from generation to generation. The long-kept secret was the location of a lost World War Two battlefield where Australian and Japanese forces engaged in what was one of the bloodiest engagements of the campaign, after inaccurate mapping of the area, post-war, the battlefield was forgotten and lost to the jungle.
Knowing that such a revelation would command tremendous interest and require careful management, the villagers’ decided to divulge details of the site to Brian, the first westerner to hear of its existence in decades. He authenticated and mapped the lost battlefield with archaeologists and helped set up a trust to act as guardian for the special site.
Part fascinating military history, part gripping archaeology mystery, part exciting adventure The Lost Battlefield of Kokoda is the story of the trail on which fierce and bloody warfare was waged between the Japanese and Australian forces, how the important battleground was forgotten, and finally found.
The Lost Battlefield of Kokoda is due for publication on October 1st 2012 by Pan Macmillan Australia and will be available at all good bookstores.
ENTER TO WIN
Pan Macmillan are offering my Australian readers the chance to win
1 of 2 trade paperback editions of The Lost Battlefield of Kokoda
(Open to Australian Residents only)
Required To Enter:
Leave a comment &
include your name, email address and state.
(You do not have to include the email in the comment body as long as you fill in the email field when you comment)
For extra entries:
+1 tweet or facebook this post Use the icons below to make it easier and please provide a link
+1 follow Pan MacMillan via Facebook or Twitter
Total possible entries = 3
Entries close October 14th 2012
Winner drawn via Random.org
This sounds amazing! I’ve just finished reading a fiction book about an archaeological dig and I’d love to follow it up with something real and see what that’s like. Kokoda is something that’s so mired in our history now, I know people that have done the trail and they say how tough it is.
Already following Pan Mac on fb and twitter, plus I’ll tweet it 😀
LikeLike
The history of the Kokoda Trail is fascinating, I’d love to read this book:) Thanks once again Shelleyrae!
Brenda
NSW
Have shared on FB and follow Pan MacM on FB also.
LikeLike
This sounds like an amazing book thanks for the great giveaway Shelleyrae.
NSW. +1
tweeted – daystarz99 +1
Pan McMillan on Facebook +1
Total entries=3
LikeLike
This book is sure to be received with enthusiasm by so many!
LikeLike
My Father does not talk about his time in New Guinea very much, just snippets. THE LOST BATTLEFIELD OF KOKODA would be a fabulous read for us both.
Mary Preston
+1 QLD
+1 follow Pan MacMillan via Facebook
LikeLike
Having lived in Papua New Guinea I’d love to read this book which offers a new perspective on the battlefield of Kokoda. Pauleen Cass, NT
LikeLike
Linked via FB and twitter.
LikeLike
Sounds like a very absorbing read for Husband’s birthday, but I’ll want to read it too. Thanks for your interesting reviews!
LikeLike
This is spooky as I was just listening to the pod cast of the interview with Richard Fidler (ABC). I can believe that this is possible as I grew up in Port Moresby and Rabaul and have seen the left over detritus of that conflict. Look forward to reading more. Nigel
LikeLike
Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the opportunity. I reside in VIC.
LikeLike
Tweeted too here: https://twitter.com/queenofcomps/status/255202777536557057
LikeLike
I follow Pan MacMillan on twitter (my twitter handle is @queenofcomps)
LikeLike
This book sounds incredible! I generally don’t like to read about war, unless it is based in fact and can offer some sort of insight. This sounds like a very good read!
LikeLike
I am in WA 🙂
i have shared on fb https://www.facebook.com/trina.bassula/posts/442785089101721
and on twitter https://twitter.com/TBassula/status/255211931575656448
LikeLike
I have liked the pan macmillan fb page, and follow on twitter (@TBassula)
LikeLike
Wow, I heard the author interviewed on Abc , what an amazing story, i’ve worked in Kokoda 3 times, the war musuem there and the cementery at Bimanu are truly amazing and very moving places and the local peoples’ joy in a very underpriveldged life has been a gift to me and very grounding considering the largess we grissle about here!
LikeLike
I listened to the author today on a podcast (conversations with Richard Fidler). This is one of the most fascinating, important and emotional stories that i’ve ever encountered. I obsessively came home to look it up on-line and search for images of the lost battlefield. If you are passionate about Australian History and the sacrifices that were made for us, you owe it to yourself and the poor blokes that fought there to buy this book. I’m probably wrecking my chances of winning, but I’m going to buy this book anyway.
LikeLike
Hi Marcus, I hope you enjoy the book and thank you for the comments above – Brian Freeman
LikeLike
I am thrilled to have won a copy of this book. Thank you and also Pan MacMillan.
LikeLike