30 July 1942
Monday, July 30, 2012 at 8:56AM Major Watson of ANGAU takes temporary command of 39th Bn after its CO is killed at Kokoda and the heavily outnumbered Diggers take their wounded and withdraw under the cover of mist through the rubber trees behind Kokoda plateau and gather at Deniki.
60-year-old Doc Vernon tends to the dying Lt Col Owen before being one of the last to leave Kokoda.
Medic Jack Wilkinson: "... Light mist is our saving. Waited for Dr Vernon till he started up road but he turned back to some others who were at edge of rubber. Went on alone to rear-guard. Picked up several wounded on track and bandaged them. Reached Deniki after daylight very buggared."
The remainder of 39th Battalion are rushing up the Track to reach their mates at Deniki. Jack Boland recalls: “At Kagi we had a rest day and some of the time was used to show us a Bren gun for the first time and explain how it worked.”
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