2012 Famous Battles in Australian History - Kokoda 1942-1943 $1 1oz Silver Coin

2012 Famous Battles in Australian History - Kokoda 1942-1943 $1 1oz Silver Coin

The third coin the this popular series – Honours the Kokoda campaign.

The Kokoda Track or Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War during the Second World War. The campaign was a series of fierce engagements fought between Japanese and Allied forces from July to November 1942. The Allied contingent consisted primarily of Australians which defended what was then the Australia Territory of Papua.

The Kokoda track crosses some of the most rugged and isolated terrain in the world. It is a single-file track, passable only on foot and the coastal lowlands beyond. The troops endured nightmare conditions : torrential rain, leeches, malaria, humidity in the day and freezing temperatures at night, horrific hand to hand fighting, and a terrain churned with the traffic of war.

A remarkable feature of this conflict was the part played by Papua New Guineans, who evacuated the wounded on foot, bearing the heavy stretchers to medical aid. The Papuans became known as the ‘fuzzy wuzzy angels’ for their dedication and bravery.

By 16 September, Allied reinforcements had arrived from Port Morseby and during the next six weeks, the Japanese fell back over the mountains. Several significant actions were fought and the Papuan campaign finally ended with the surrender of Japanese survivors on 22 January 1943.

The story of Kokoda remains deeply significant with walks and tours to honour this legacy becoming part of an Australian tradition.

• Finish : Proof
• Metal : 99.9% Pure Silver
• Weight : 31.135 grams
• Diameter : 45.60mm
• Mintage : 5,000