2 August 1942

Japanese patrols probe around the perimeter of the Australian’s position at Deniki trying to discover their strength and defences.

But the main Jap advance force does not immediately follow up Australians as they withdraw to Deniki. Rather they concentrate on their main task of improving the road from their beachheads to Kokoda and securing Kokoda as a jumping-off place for the main body of the invading force, due to land in four days.

1 August 1942

Lt Col Ralph Honner, in Perth after returning from Middle East, receives orders to take command of 39^th Bn on the Kokoda Track and immediately heads to Moresby. He had just 2 weeks leave home with his wife and two young kids after two years service in the Middle East.

He packs and rushes to his plane, starting a journey that will take him plane-hopping around the south and eastern coast of Australian before arriving in Moresby.

Honner is regarded as one of Australia's finest tactical commanders, having proved himself during with the AIF in the Middle East, winning a Military Cross in Greece.

31 July 1942

Pte Kevin ‘Spud’ Whelan receives his first Bren gun at Deniki while awaiting the Japanese advance. It's still in its wooden packing case covered with grease. He's never seen one before. His officer tells him to wipe off the grease and he’ll show him how to use it. “I didn’t know that in a few days time I would have to use it for real, but I fell in love with it and nursed it like a baby.”

In Moresby, Capt Alan Cameron, a survivor of the 2/22nd Battalion which was lost in Rabaul, is promoted to Major and named temporary commander of Maroubra Force, the 39th Bn and PIB on the Track. He hurries back up the Track to meet his men at Deniki.

30 July 1942

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 39^th 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.”

29 July 1942

The enemy attack Kokoda around 2.30am in large numbers, charging up the slopes of the plateau from three sides. Lt Col Bill Owen is with his troops in the front line, firing down at the Japanese with his rifle when he is mortally wounded by a sniper.

Greatly outnumbered and now under mortar fire, the Australians withdraw through the rubber plantation behind the plateau back to Deniki further back down the Track.