18 July 1942

In Moresby, Col Bill Owen ordered to move 39^th to Kokoda, by company, starting with C Coy the following day. He orders his troops to immediately ready themselves for the journey across the Owen Stanley Range via the Kokoda Track, following B Company, already at Kokoda.

17 July 1942

Capt Bert Keinzle lifts the troops spirits at Kokoda by bringing them supplies from his home in the nearby Yodda Valley before setting off back to Moresby to supervise the carrier system.

16 July 1942

39th Battalion's Medic Jack Wilkinson takes over the native hospital at Kokoda, treats troops blistered and swollen feet by soaking in solution of potash permanganate, then drying in sun.

15 July 1942

B Coy arrives at Kokoda and Capt Sam Templeton immediately orders intensive weapon and patrol training. He places one Platoon to defend the Kokoda airstrip, another where the Track crosses the Yodda River and the third in the Yodda Valley.

14 July 1942

Bert Kienzle's Fuzzy Wuzzy carrier system extends from Owers Corner to Kagi, with food dumps for the Diggers along the Track over some of the roughest country in the world. 

Kienzle reports: "A carrier carrying only foodtsuffs consumes his load in 13 days and if he carries food supplies for a soldier it means 6.5 days supply for both. This does allow for the porterage of arms, ammunition, equipment, medical stores, ordnance, mail and dozens of items needed to wage war on the backs of men. The track to Kokoda takes 8 days so the maintenance of supplies is a physical impossibility without large scale co-operation of plane droppings."