21 October 1942

Jap defenders now back near Eora Creek village where they have prepared positions on the dominant ground overlooking the village and the valley.

Diggers lose two from 2/1^st Battalion killed in action, Cpl Ron Rothery and Pte Ted Munday and the 2/2^nd Battalion loses Pte David Fernance kia and Pte Tom Johnson who dies of wounds received in the earlier fighting.

At Eora the Japanese 144^th Regiment’s 1 Company battle diary records it “suffered heavy losses from enemy’s attack and was almost annihilated”. Late in the day the Australian break through the Japanese left flank and force them to back down the Track.

20 October 1942

In heavy fighting the 2/2nd the Australians work their way around the Jap positions at Templeton's Crossing and break through their perimeter on the high ground, led by the 2/2nd Battalion. Casualties are high on both sides, with 24 Diggers killed in action, 22 of them from the 2/2nd Battalion.

The Japs are forced to with draw back down the Track to prepared positions at Eora Creek with the fighting continues.

19 October 1942

Fighting intensifies at Templeton’s Crossing as the Australians, led by 3^rd and 2/2^nd Battalions, work their way around the high ground above the Japanese positions.

The Australians lose 16 killed in action on the day, eight of them from the 3^rd Battalion. By the end of the day the 2/2^nd troops are heavily pressing the Japanese perimeter, threatening to break through.

All the while Higher Command demands the Diggers energise their attacks: "During last five days you have made practically no advance against a weaker enemy." HQ had no concept of the precipitous terrain and the advantage it gave an entrenched force.

18 October 1942

Battle at Templeton’s Crossing continues as Diggers try to outflank the Japanese defences, dug in on the high ground. The 3^rd Battalion takes brunt of the action, losing four soldiers killed: Cpl Bob Rogers and Ptes Kevin Cosgrove, John Jones and Arnold Kemp.

Meanwhile Blamey signals General ‘Tubby’ Allen: “General MacArthur considers quote extremely light casualties indicate no serious effort yet made to displace enemy unquote. You will attack enemy with energy and all possible speed at each point of resistance. Essential that Kokoda airfield be taken at earliest. Apparent enemy gaining time by delaying you with inferior strength.”

Allen replies: "25th Brigade has been attacking all day and enemy is now counter-attacking".

17 October 1942

Near modern day Templeton’s Crossing No 2, Sgt Bede Tongs 3^rd Battalion takes command of his platoon after his officer Lt Colin Richardson is badly wounded. He evacuates Richardson then deploys his platoon to attack Jap machine gun positions.

Tongs crawls down a fire lane close to Jap machine gunners, takes a grenade, pulls out the pin waits two seconds then tosses the grenade into the pit, silencing them. He will later be awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry.

After a harrowing evacuation and many operations in which he has a lung removed, Lt Colin Richardson survives and recovers. He and Bede Tongs are both hale and hearty and in their early 90s.