The Essence of Kokoda

Description

Kokoda is much more than just the name of a military campaign. Like Gallipoli, it represents a tradition - a tradition conceived at Anzac Cove, then reborn in the jungles of the Owen Stanley Mountain Range in Papua New Guinea. And like Gallipoli, the spirit of Kokoda lives on to this day. In this remarkable and accessible new account, bestselling author Patrick Lindsay succinctly captures the essence of the battles and the heroes who helped defend Australia from invasion in 1942. Featuring stunning images as well as interviews with the survivors - from both sides - Patrick shows how a group of young, untested Australians, many of whom were just in their teens, repelled an invading force vastly superior in both numbers and firepower. Amidst deplorable conditions and wracked with disease, these valiant young men 'dug in' and for just on six months held the enemy at bay, eventually forcing a retreat. Mateship, courage, grit and determination triumphed on the Kokoda Track in 1942; and the legacy of these brave young Diggers - prosperity and freedom - is a debt which every Australian owes them. Lavishly illustrated with many never-before-seen images, The Essence of Kokoda is the quintessential guide to the battle that saved a nation.

After a long career as a print and television journalist, Patrick Lindsay has also become one of Australia's leading non-fiction authors. Among his published books are: The Spirit of Kokoda (Hardie Grant), the story of the battles which saved Australia in WWII; TheEssence of Kokoda, a concise guide to the Kokoda story; The Spirit of Gallipoli. Cosgrove... Portrait of a Leader; Kokoda Spirit exploring the spirit of the Diggers of Kokoda in words and images; and The Coastwatchers covering the story of the remarkable band of men and women who reported on the Japanese operations, many from behind enemy lines, during WWII. Prior to writing full time, Patrick spent 20 years in network television as a reporter, presenter, producer and writer. During that time he had leading roles on the Nine Network, Foxtel's Lifestyle Channel and the Seven Network. He has also reported, written and presented documentaries and feature series in Los Angeles, New York, Hawaii, France, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, London, Romania and Papua New Guinea. He wrote and directed the acclaimed documentaries, Kokoda... the Bloody Track and Kokoda... The Last Parade. Patrick devised the format for the highly-successful documentary TV series, In Their Footsteps, broadcast on the Nine Network in 2011. Patrick is a founding director and Chairman of the Kokoda Track Foundation Ltd (see www.ktf.ngo), an Australian philanthropic organisation that aims to repay the selfless help given to Australia during World War II by the beloved Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels of Papua New Guinea by helping to improve the lives and futures of their descendants. In 2015, Patrick was named a Member of the Order of Australia for 'significant service to the media as a television presenter and journalist, to international relations, and to literature as an author'. Patrick and his wife Lisa Cotton live in Sydney. He has three grown-up children, Nathan, Kate and Sarah and one grandson, Lucas.