| To Kokoda And Beyond
The Story of the 39th Battalion
1941-1943 By Victor Austin ISBN 0-522-84379-4
Melbourne University Press 1988 This book gives a complete account of the 39th Battalion with lots of personal stories. Compiled by Victor Austin who was a member of the 39th Battalion, this book also contains many photos some of which are not often published. |
 | Men of the 2/14th Battalion
The Human Face of a Fighting Unit in the Second World War By J.C. McAllester ISBN 07-316-8581-4
2/14 Battalion Association 1990 This book is compiled by Jim McAllester who was the original intelligence officer of the 2/14th ,with a forward by Lieutenant Colonel P.E. Rhoden.
Not only does this book tell many personal accounts of the individual members of the 2/14th but like To Kokoda and Beyond it is full of photographs not published anywhere else. This is a hard book to come across but it is well worth the effort to track down. |
| Those Ragged Bloody Heroes by Peter Brune ISBN 1-86373-264-0
Allen & Unwin 1991 Peter Brune is quite simply the greatest historian of the Kokoda campaign, this book is what started me off on my quest for knowledge about the battles fought along the Kokoda Track. Those Ragged Bloody Heroes was written at a time when Kokoda was not as well known as it is today to many Australians. Peter Brune’s passion and dedication to accuracy makes this book a must for anyone walking the Kokoda Track. Ragged Bloody Heroes is still available in most book shops. |
| A Bastard of a Place Peter Brune ISBN 1-74114-403-5
Allen & Unwin 2003 This book continues the account of Australian in Papua New Guinea and covers not only Kokoda but Milne Bay, Gone, Buna and Sanananda with the same historical accuracy as you would expect from Peter Brune. If you wish to learn of the other battles that took place in New Guinea along with the Kokoda campaign then this book is certainly a must, you can still find this book sold in most good book stores. |
| Ralph Honner Kokoda Hero by Peter Brune ISBN 978-174175-372-1
Allen & Unwin 2007 First published under the title We Band of Brothers this re-release is a biography of Lt Col Ralph Honner commander of the famous 39th Battalion. Peter Brune was friends with Ralph Honner and had access to his personal letters. This book is a great insight into a true Australian hero. |
| The Silent Men by Peter Dornan ISBN 1-86448-991
Allen & Unwin 1999 Following the story of a handful of men from the 2/14th Battalion who would all become members of the most highly decorated section within the British Empire. Bruce Kingsbury, Alan Avery, Harry Saunders, Teddy Bear, Stan and Butch Bisset
to name a few. This is their story all the way from Syria to Gona. |
| Kokoda Commander by Stuart Braga ISBN 0-19-551638-9
Oxford University Press 2004 Kokoda Commander is the story of Maj Gen Tubby Allen, a remarkable Australian who served his country in both the First and Second World Wars. This book explores the myths surrounding his command and once and for all gives an accurate account of the skill and leadership of one of our great military commanders. |
| Warrior of Kokoda by Bill Edgar ISBN 1-86448-908-1
Allen & Unwin 1999 Warrior of Kokoda is the biography of Brigadier Arnold Potts who commanded the 21st Brigade on Brigade Hill. This book is well written and tells the story of a man who lead the fighting withdrawal of Maroubra force across the Kokoda Track. This story has all the drama of Pott’s dismissal by the Australian High Command and the politics that went with it. |
| Retreat from Kokoda by Raymond Paull A Panther Book 1960 Written in an era when the battles of Kokoda were still fresh in people’s minds, Retreat from Kokoda is one of the early books about the campaign. In paper back this book can sometimes be found in second hand book stores, it is well worth the read and leaves out all the political correctness that sometimes subdues the truth. |
| The Knights of Kokoda by Geoffrey Scott Horwitz Publications 1963 Another book written not long after the war, The Knights of Kokoda is a great read, in paper back format and only 130 pages it still hits home the story of Kokoda. Recommended by men who were actually there. Very hard to come by so if you can get your hands on a copy hang on to it. |
| Kokoda by Peter Fitzsimons ISBN 0-7336-1615-1
Hodder 2004 This is a great beginner’s book for people who want to learn the history without to many confusing military abbreviations and numbers. Peter Fitzsimons has put the story of Kokoda in and easy read format and is great for everyone from school kids to veterans. From an historical point of view it is a great read just for the interviews with Stan Bisset. It also did quite a lot for getting the message out there. |
| Kokoda by Paul Ham ISBN 0-7322-7693-4
Harper Collins 2004 This book tells the story from both sides with interviews not just from the Australian Diggers but also from the side of the Japanese. Paul Ham has done a wonderful job and if you are serious about learning the history of Kokoda then this book is more than a worthwhile read. You can easily find this in most book shops. |
| Field Guide to the Kokoda Track by Bill James ISBN 0-9775704-0-1
Kokoda Press 2006 You can not trek Kokoda without this guide. The pages of my copy are stuck together with the mud of the Kokoda Track as this book is a vital part of my kit. I will always remember Bill James and Stan Bisset doing a rendition of Danny Boy on stage together in Sydney. This book is well researched and contains a water proof map. With detailed descriptions of the various battle sites and interviews with many veterans this is truly a book that you must purchase. It is available direct from http://www.kokodapress.com.au/ |
| New Guinea 1942-44 by Timothy Hall ISBN 0-454-00321-8
Methuen Australia 1981 There is one chapter in this book that would make any Australians blood boil if they read it, Cannibals and Revenge. Which deals with Australian soldiers been eaten by the Japanese. This book gives a great overview of all the New Guinea campaigns. |
