Scribed across the front and back of the Battle of the Kokoda Trail Polo are the words ‘courage’, ‘endurance’, ‘mateship’ and ‘sacrifice’, reflecting the defining qualities of Australian soldiers throughout the Kokoda campaign.

Following the fall of Singapore in February 1942, the Pacific War moved closer to Australia. Shortly before 10am on 19 February 1942, Darwin’s sky filled with 188 Japanese aircraft, bombing the harbour, wharf and moored ships, including the destroyer USS Peary, which sank with the loss of 88 lives. Japanese forces captured the village of Kokoda and its strategic airstrip, before advancing towards Port Moresby via the rugged Kokoda Trail through the Owen Stanley Range.

What followed was the Papua New Guinea campaign from July 1942 to January 1943. Australian troops fought through treacherous terrain and extreme conditions against a larger, well-prepared enemy. Often under-trained and unfamiliar with jungle warfare, they endured immense hardship. The campaign resulted in approximately 600 Australian soldiers killed, 1,600 wounded, and over 10,000 Japanese fatalities. In January 1943, Japanese resistance in Papua ceased, marking a pivotal moment in halting further advances towards Australia.

Since the Second World War, the terms Kokoda Trail and Kokoda Track have been used interchangeably to describe this significant chapter in history.

The hand-drawn design features Australian and Papua New Guinean flags, alongside aircraft such as the Douglas Dauntless and P-39 Airacobra, and a stylised map of the Kokoda Track. The green base reflects the tones and textures of military uniforms worn during the campaign.

Papuan stretcher bearers carried wounded Australian soldiers through dense jungle and across mountain streams to aid stations behind the lines. Their compassion and bravery earned them the enduring gratitude of Australian troops, who referred to them as ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’. This tribute is illustrated on the back of the garment.

On the front, an Australian soldier carries a wounded comrade, capturing the spirit of mateship and sacrifice that defined the campaign. The back also features a hand-drawn compass, symbolising the direction and journey of the Kokoda Trail.