"We Had to Bloody Win": Kokoda, Remembered by Fred Westphal.
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- Fred Westphal of 6th Div. AIF gives a gripping account of the famous Kokoda Campaign that halted the Japanese advance towards Australia in World War Two. Fred was a successful Sydney businessman and war veteran, whom I recorded in 2016. He gives an unforgettable first hand account of the "courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice" of the battle and of returning to civilian life after the war. Fred died before Christmas 2018, at the age of 99. I have uploaded his story in three parts: "Leaving for War", "War in the Middle East" and "Kokoda", which you will find on my RUclips channel. For more in information on my history videos, you can visit www.theoclarkmedia.com.
More of Fred Westphal:
* Part 1: Leaving for War, remembered by Fred Westphal - • Leaving for War, Remem...
* Part 2: WW2 in the Middle East, remembered by Fred Westphal - • WW2 in the Middle East...
#kokoda #ww2 #australianarmy #png #australianwarmemorial #anzac
I'm a US Army veteran, I have the highest respect for the Australian Warriors. You've always been dam hard fighters. Appreciate the interview
RIP and God Bless Fred and his mates who gave us freedom.God bless the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.
NZer here. I have a *huge* amount of respect for wonderful guys like Mr Westphal.
He and all of the Aussies fighting in the Kokoda campaign were heroes, fighting against a vicious enemy in *awful* conditions - constant rain, heat and then cold.
Read the books Mud and blood, Those Ragged Bloody Heroes are good examples.
When i was a teen i started work at Fielders flour mill Tamworth N.S W my miller was Frank Thompson he told me he was a machine gunner the whole new Guinea campaign he said life expencecy was 7 mins in battle he survived the whole war tough old bastard he was 65 years old then in 1979 RIP to another legend
Thanks digger, your strength and bravery bought our freedom 🙏
No it was the Americans.
@@anthonyeaton5153 do some homework idiot!
The hell that these men endured could never be understood by those who weren't there . Raise my hat to each and every one of them in total respect . Real men , fighting for world freedom so all people could live in peace . The ultimate sacrifice given by all these brave men .
I knew Fred, one of the finest people I have known, went on to found Rentokil pest control, one heck of a smart person , RIP Fred
Absolute hero’s these men were. I will never forget the sacrifice these men gave for this beautiful country. Anzac Day is my favourite day of the year and every year I will raise a glass for these ragged bloody hero’s ❤️🇦🇺❤️
Eternal gratitude for these hero's who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our today ... Lest we Forget
Lest we forget.
Bravest of the Brave !
Damn, Fred broke me at the end there mentioning his visits to the graves in Port Moresby and how this is the first time he's truly spoken about his experience. It's not something to talk about lightly making this all the more special. Cheers Fred, rest in peace.
Thanks for commenting FatNature. It's a remarkable scene isn't it? There is more of Fred's story here: ruclips.net/video/Knx9XyAutlc/видео.html
I had two old blokes, mates in Townsville, Queensland. One was a Lancaster pilot in bomber command. And the other fought in New Guinea. I helped both at different times to write their stories. One of things Laurie, told me about was the conditions. He said, you'd put on new, clean kit and it would rot off you in a few days. The terror and hardships these men endured. True heroes and should never be forgotten. Len's story is bloody frightening too. Night after night of bomber raids over Germany.
And they were only kids
LEST WE FORGET , you and your mates have my eternal RESPECT Thankyou Sir !
Thank you Fred! You have my undying respect.
When I was growing up , I learnt in high school about how Australian troops held the Japanese from invading our country, 40 years later I get to see these veterans telling how/what and where they experienced the fight to save OZ , Bravest young Aussies .....
My grandfather fought across the track to Gona with the 2/25 battalion, I once mentioned an incident where some Japanese prisoners were bayoneted and he looked into the distance and said “yes mick, a lot of things happened up there but you just don’t talk about it”. RIP Dennis Heron D company 2/25th Battalion.
Big ❤ Love from Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬
Trained by the Australians, the Papuan Infantry Battalion and the New Guinea Infantry Battalion fought bravely alongside the Australians. Not forgetting the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angles. Mipla stap tu!!!
My uncle was at this whole campaign.......affected him till his dying day.....never said much about it to anyone....only thing he said once after a lot of beer was coming across bayoneted babies in a native village.....still had a hatred for the enemy till he died...no one had heard of PTSD back then....
So sad. Like those that came back from the Great War, another generation of men had to live with these horrors till the end of their days. Strange though, there were men who would talk about it with enthusiasm and others that could not bring themselves to do so. Just live with it in silence.
What a wonderful man and an incredible telling of the story. My father went to New Guinea with the 2/2 Machine Gun Unit
R.I.P. Mr. Westphal.
My great grandfather fought the Japanese and was taken as a POW to Changi prison 😢 As an Aussie I will never forget was these men went through, we hold them in our hearts ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
The British suffered just as badly.
It is good that today, men are learning to talk to people and are opening up about how they feel and coping. As Fred said, it wasn't about the war itself, it was the loss of the men who understood you. Rest easy soldier, Fred. Lest we forget.
The first defeat of the Japanese was in New Guinea and it was the Australian Militia Battalions that did the job, particularly the Victorian 39th Battalion. There was no-one else available at that time, those blokes were Aussie Spartans committed to fighting to the last man.
This is not really true. The first defeat of the Japanese’s was at Milne Bay. A part of the force was militia but most of it was AIF and US engineers.
The AIF was available. The 2/16, 2/16 and 2/27th were at Kokoka. The 2/9, 2/10 and 2/12th were at Milne Bay.
No need to create a BS legend. The truth is good enough.
@@daviddou1408 chill mate, do not be so sensitive when someone corrects you. That is how you learn.
Milne Bay was 25th August to 7th September. Kokoda technically started before, but was a Japanese offensive until the fight for Imita Ridge on the 25th-26th September, where they were stopped by bravery attrition and starvation. Both sides on Kokoda actually fought with more than human endurance and bravery.
And McArthur competes with Clark, Stilwell and Fredendall as the most incompetent US general. It says a lot that Eisenhower who could work even with Monty, hated McArthur's guts.
You are both wrong though, the first land defeats of the Japanese were the invasions of and battle for Tulagi and Gavuto-Tanamboto on the 7th to 9th of August, or the First Battle of the Matanikau on the 19th.
And on sea it is Midway of course.
@@daviddou1408 you really cannot see that? After going all defensive and name-calling?
Oh well, to each his own, and nobody is obliged beyond his abilities...
@@daviddou1408 where did I say that? You really are good at seeing things that are not there. And starting by writing "no need to be a smartarse", is what prompted me to tell you to chill. Though in fairness, you were not the one being corrected- which I initially thought- so maybe I should have written; "Chill, no need to be so sensitive when *others* are corrected".
And with that, I bid you farewell, for this is a great waste of time. Both those cheastbeaters are wrong in their statements, one is borderline rude, you are overly sensitive and I mix all of you up.
Chüss
My grandpa was a 6 th div fella. He was lucky he didn’t get sent to New Guinea with the army but was loaned to the navy operating landing craft in New Guinea from hmas Manoora. He did North Africa , Greece and Crete though.
Thanks for getting this great story out there it's a must!. All my love to my down under brothers🇦🇺 from the 🇬🇧
Genuine australian heroes, thanks
My uncle jack james an ex rat of Tobruk was in New Guinea , it was over 6 years after the war he was still suffering from bouts of malaria and nightmares, non of my 5 uncles who served from 1939 to 1945 in war zones all over the world never spoke about it or attended an Anzac parade. They all suffered from some form of mental illness.
Thank you sir form Wales 🏴
My dad was over there but luckily he came home 14/32. My uncle was at Ambon 2/21 . He’s still there
Good on you, Fred. If your bravery hasn't survived a few more generations, your sardonic understatement has. Thanks, mate.
Thanks for making this.
Hugely grateful to Mr Westphal for sharing his story.
Thanks Fred and all ya mates . God bless you all and your families from the uk
My Next door Neighbor Jonno Died last year at 96 years of age fought in the Pacific 1943-45 For the AIF a few years back some rotters stole his medals and Slouch hat he got his medals back and I got him another Slouch hat with his badges which we put on his casket
Thank you!
"To be with men like that...there's something to be envied" absolutely, Sir. Impossible to thank enough for what this gentleman and his mates did for humanity. Our eternal admiration and gratitude.
Awesome effort. Thankyou Fred and family, thankyou. After walking it in Aug 2019 it's still hard for me to imagine anyone carrying weapons and fighting on that terrible track.
Fred Westphal, thank you cobber, for your sacrifice.
Thanks Fred
Great interview . 🇦🇺🇦🇺👏👏
What an incredible thing to be able to have this moment with him. My great grandfather fought on the Kokoda Trail in an armoured regiment. He passed before I was born and as hard as I research, it hurts knowing I'll never be able to sit with him and talk with him. This is the closest I'll ever get.
Thanks for sharing this comment. I will pass it on the Westphal family.
Your for ever a brave and heroic man. Thank you.. .
I salute you Fred, thank you for my freedom.
Both my grandfathers joined the Papuan Infantry Battlion.
They were part of the Battle of Milne Bay in 42.
They both helped the Australian soldiers.
😊🇵🇬👍
Commenting from Alotau Milne Bay Province.
Respect & Tears
Thank you for your service. Sir.
Thanks for sharing your story Fred. We love you all.
What a hero, absolute gold of a man, thank you from the bottom of my heart mate
It is important to talk , and it will be up to us young Australians to answer the call when we need to defend our home family and mates again from those who would take what has been hard fought for !
The Militia in New Guinea were all draftees. The AIF were volunteers - you had to volunteer for service outside Australian territory (New Guinea was an Australian territory at the time - a point for all those who claim Australia was never invaded by the Japanese…).
@@allangibson2408 Australia was bombed Darwin, Broome, Derby. Miniature submarines torpedoed Sydney Harbour Newcastle. We were in big trouble. One of the captured submarines is in War Memorial Canberra.
I shudder to think about being defended by the calibre of the rent a crowd we have now.
@@barbaraclayton2171 I am fully aware of the 256 air raids on Darwin… (and the landings in Western Australia and Queensland - but those didn’t result in engagements).
I felt that. Thank you good sirs.
to be with men like that is something to be envied - what a great insight
Oh,he spoke about entering the Japanese camp and finding meat cooking in pots. It was edited there, because the meat was from the thighs of dead soldiers. That was how much the Japanese were starving.
You are so right about that.
My grandad was in the 2/3 AIF infantry battalion.
The soldier wiping his face at 3.15 is Pte Robert Steele NX4831 of the 2/33rd Infantry Battalion. The film depicting that shot was taken 5th October 1942 near Menari on the Kokoda Trail.
Thanks Righty. Fred told us he met the great war photographer Damian Parer who filmed much of this iconic footage and said Parer got them to blow up a tree for the cameras. So somewhere, Fred is filmed too.
@@TheoClarkMedia Thanks for the reply Theo. Robert Steele was my dad. He joined up in October 1939, departed Australia on the Queen Mary May 1940 on the way to the M.E.
Events in the war had the convoy being diverted to G.B. The 25th Brigade was formed in G.B. with the battalions being 2/25th, 2/31st and the 2/33rd. Eventually saied to the M.E. and participated in the Syrian Campaign. Back in Australia March 1942 and then in September1942 up the Kokoda trail and on to Gona. Wounded twice at Gona. Again in New Guinea 1943 to early 1944 and back home. Discharged in August 1944 just shy of five years service.
In the film just after the close up of Pte. Steele, aka Stainless aka Bob, there is another shot of four troopers with Stainless leading crossing a creek. Bob is carrying the gun and the trooper behind is carrying the tripod. Bob spoke of a little Scottsmen who was lucky to be 5 foot tall and 8 stone in a wringing wet overcoat. He added the Scott also cut off his trouser legs and shirt sleeves. So I would say the trooper behind Bob is the one he spoke off. He also added the little bloke carrying the same weight as the big blokes powered up the step climbs making sure the others got a serve.
Wounds, malaria, skin afflictions- dermatitis. Skin peeling off around groin area and down legs. Feet and toes as well. Dysentery.
Anyhow he filled me in with a lot of stories with most good ones but a few not so. Hard times for all who served.
Regards, Righty.
@@righty.275 here is Fred's account of the Middle East: ruclips.net/video/hYATMoiBGE0/видео.html
Thank you for this first hand account of what happend along the trail. Something we should do more....let this old veterans talk, so that the young generation understand what they endured, what hey thought and why they where willing to sacifice their live. Rember ...when they fought for our freedom they where young men.......men you see today at the beeches, the pubs......they have not seen a pub or a surfing beech for years. They fought for their live, their country, their comrades. We should honor these men!
People need to know about the sacrifices these men made. People need to know the story of the Kokoda Trail.
Great interview
Thanks mate
All wars are fought for your mates, not greedy politicians.
My Dad was one of the few who came home from Kokoda
Good on ya Fred,... thank you.
There is an awful lot in this. He speaks eloquently about the commonalty of soldiers and the difficulties of adjusting to civilian life. Well worth watching.
Thanks for your comment. It was very moving to hear Fred tell these stories for the first time.
Tough bastards them Diggers, tough as old nails…..they had to be! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏😊 Cap off 👍👍🇦🇺
My uncle served in the 39 th battalion in the advanced unit and was a Bren gun operator he never spoke much about what happened there his name was Charlie miller
Hell was on our doorstep and they, including my father, saved us.
You were not in danger of invasion, do not delude yourself.
@@anthonyeaton5153 It's YOU who is deluded, fool. The Japs performed multiple bombing raids across the top end, with
896 raids on Darwin.
9 raids on Horn Island.
4 raids on Broome.
3 raids on Exmouth Gulf.
98 raids on Townsville,
and at least two subs entered Sydney harbour, and many more.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_raids_on_Australia,_1942%E2%80%931943#List_of_attacks_by_date
How many deaths and how many bombing raids would your know-all self say would constitute an "invasion"? The Japs were only repelled because their supply lines were cut.
@@Jesse-BBombing raids do not constitute intention of invasion. Darwin was bombed to stop it being an American supply base. The Germans bombed Britain relentlessly in 1940/41 but did not dare to invade and they were only 25 miles away at the nearest point. The Japanese simply did not have the wherewithal invade Australia. Don’t be upset because it is suggested that Oz was not to be invaded. It’s a historical fact.
@@anthonyeaton5153 "Bombing raids do not constitute intention of invasion"
Precisely, because bombing raids ARE an invasion.
@@anthonyeaton5153 And you took 10 months to come up with that glass diamond.
epic. we will never see their like again.
No we won't ❤️🔥
If this man says it's 1916, that's OK with me.
That was great! Incredible digger
These videos are fascinating. Thanks for posting. My Dad was a signaller on the track. He'll be 99 in September.
An amazing account by an amazing digger. Lest we forget old mate.
"They were men and a half". So are you Fred, and there's a whole lot you're not saying, but viewers can now fill in some of the gaps. And what grace to regret not shaking the hand of his then mortal enemy.
Thanks Flowerpower. Isn't it a powerful account of the story. You may like to see the earlier chapter here: ruclips.net/video/hYATMoiBGE0/видео.html
Lest we Forget
such dignity
My God, there are so few of this man's caliber left in our "free" countries that I just wonder how we in this "modern" world would have done it. There is a special pub in Heaven where they can rest in peace for a job well done.
God bless you soldier.
The first time Japanese infantry were stopped on land.
Thank You for your Video.
Tough fellas those Aussies
The government should have some method to keep these 3,000 together after the war. Have a place where they are totally constructive and paying their way. After the Vietnam War we had many ghost men living in our forests all around my state, (washington), that could have been helped by other vets but left out in the forest and forgotten. After Iraq we had one vet every day dead from suicide for at least 5 years. That number is NEVER entered as a battlefield loss, no sir. Yah sure you betcha.
Lest we forget ,
Heroes all of them 👍🇬🇧
...." and the next day, bingo, She's on!"
Dad would sing hi ho it of to work we go with a shovel and spade and a hand grenade.
Now some youth of today burn that flag and stomp on it
Bloody disgusting
It’s that flag that represents us
real men
About 8:45, we won. The conditions on Buna & Gona ...horrific.
No worse than Burma and island hopping by the Americans.
@@anthonyeaton5153
Burma was british troops though wasnt it ?
Go the ANZACS
Respect
Lest we forget. 🇦🇺
Yep. Soldiers are soldiers and not decommissioned
The grey generation thank you
Aussies won this campaign through some dinkum tenacity.
These where hard men. And I dont mean tough or strong. Though they where both of those aswell. I mean hard, hard men.
The jungle is a brutal place to conduct a war.
is this fella still alive?
Sadly, he passed away aged 99, a couple of years ago.
All these gallant events had very little bearing on the defeat of both the main enemies, Japanese and German, that was sealed elsewhere.
Indeed. But for the citizens of north and east coast Australian cities, do not underestimate how significant it was to deny the Japanese a naval and airforce base in Port Moresby to molest shipping and bomb civilian populations. It is a point of pride for Australians that the AIF participated in both the first defeat of German land forces at Tobruk, and the first defeats of Japanese land forces in New Guinea, though obviously both events pale in comparison to what later took place on the Russian Front and the Japanese outer islands. But beyond these particulars however, Fred tells a universal story of "courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice" known to any soldier, and the poignancy of him remembering the dying Japanese prisoner looking up at him, and describing the real battle that began after the war with the separation of soldiers from their mates, could, I am sure, be told by servicemen from many fronts.
@@TheoClarkMedia An excellent reply. You put it in context about the universal soldier. Yes the defence of Port Moresby was absolutely vital for the reasons you said. You alluded to the Russian front, but there were others,chiefly the Allied invasion of North West Europe without which the Russians would have failed. Then there was Italy, not a soft underbelly but a tough old gut as General Mark Clark said. And if course there was El Alamein with great Aussie 9th division and Burma where the British and Indian 14th army subjected the Japanese to their heaviest ground defeat. Then there was the bomber offensives Europe and Pacific we could go on. It was an all round effort to defeat two evil regimes.
Regards.
Really very little bearing lol...
at 12:21 that Australian Flag would of been Red the Federation Flag as Australia didnt adopt the Blue Modern Australian Flag until 1953
The current Blue version was initially approved in 1908. The Red version was only for civilian use until 1957. The Blue was the army version. (The navy uses a white version).
@@allangibson2408 nope
@@allangibson2408 The blue version was only officially adopted in 1953
@@zaynevanbommel5983 No - you are wrong. The issue was the original 1903 legislation (which was amended in 1908 to change the federation star to seven points from six) required that the blue ensign ONLY be used for official government and military business. The Australian army ALWAYS used the blue ensign. The Australian navy used the British white ensign until 1967 when a white Australian ensign was adopted.
The red ensign was for civilians shipping use but as the legislation left this as the default option for all non government use it was commonly flown for other purposes as well. The 1957 amendment changed the use of the blue ensign to the default with the red ensign only to be used for civilian shipping.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Australia
@@allangibson2408 no you are wrong
THANKS DIGGERS. I SERVED, I ONLY HOPE I COULD HAVE 'A CRACK' LIKE YOU BLOKES DID....CHINA?
I hope not.. it's not a game.