[Max Hedges]

On the 10th December 1942 father's battalion (2/2) were pulled out of battle at Sananada in New Guinea , they set out from Pt Morseby on the Kokoda Track , they first engaged the Japanese at a place called Templeman's Crossing on the 20th October 1942.From there they chased the enemy to Sananada which is on the coast. There were only 60 of them left when they pulled out (I think from memory there were over 500 at the beginning). Father came out bare footed from his pit from there he was sent to the doctor they fitted him with new boots with the sides cut out to make room for the blisters on his feet. He was then called to do one more patrol of which only 18 were fit enough to go on.Once the patrol was completed and a few days rest the survivers where flown to Port Morsby and once in camp farther's company only had 2 of them left. After this father came back to australia and remained in hospital until he recovered.

Max