Angels of Mercy

Angles of Mercy By Kevin L Fairbrother There is not to many of us that can say that the owe their existence on this earth to a Native in a Foreign country, in my case I can say that without the help of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels of New Guinea, I would not be here to write this My Father served with the Australian Imperial Forces in the Middle East, New Guinea and Borneo, a sapper in the engineers his service with the AIF overseas was over a period of 4 years. The time my father served in New Guinea fighting against the invading Japanese has great consequences for me as I was conceived not long after his return to Australia and back home to Tasmania. My father along with thousands of diggers who served in New Guinea, suffered not only from the Japanese forces but from internal diseases that were rife at the time, the mosquito spread Malaria and Gengy fever and the climate of New Guinea and poor sanitation spread Dysentery throughout the camps. A big push by Japanese forces pushed the diggers back into the hills and forests and as the numbers of sick and wounded were growing at a very fast rate, the Generals decided that they had to find a way to get the sick and injured back to Port Moresby. The only way down from the steep mountainess jungle was via an old supply trail used by the natives to sell their wares at Port Moresby, It became known as the Kokoda track and to this day many thousands of people trek this notorious track to relive the past and to familiar themselves with the torturous and dangerous trail of misery and death and to pay homage to the Fuzzy Wuzzy angels act of sheer strength and perseverance to carry and support the many sick and injured, the dead and dying to a place of safety at Port Moresby. Even as the column of misery descended down the track the Aussie diggers were fighting the Japs in a rear guard action, this hard fought battle turned the tide for the Japs were beaten back and even though many diggers were killed and injured it was a turning point in the war against the Japanese invaders. Thousands of diggers reached the safety of Port Moresby and so many owe their lives to the Fuzzy Wuzzy angles, many were shipped home, and others recovered from sickness to fight the Japanese in Borneo. My father was one of these men who helped beat back the Japanese army and have an influence in the Japanese surrender. I salute the courage and tenacity of the Fuzzy Wuzzy angels and thank them for bringing my father to safety and eventually home. Like many diggers of World War 2 they kept their feelings and stories of war to themselves, my Father never said much about his service in the war and what little I know has been told by others. I also salute the courage and fortitude of our diggers who kept Australia safe from invasion from the Japanese. My Father, (rest his soul in peace) went on to have a productive working life, rearing 9 children, 6 were born after the war including me and 6 of us still survive today. The six of us born after my father returned from the war owe the native Fuzzy Wuzzy of New Guinea a big thanks for without their courage’s deed of mercy we would not be here. ANGELS OF MERCY By Kevin L Fairbrother Who were these men of such courage and fortitude? Whose hair curled and matted reached for the sky Well, muscled and full of resolve to complete the mission To get the sick and injured Aussie Diggers home to safety Never thinking about their own well-being or safety The Fuzzy Wuzzy angles as they became known Carried and supported the Diggers down the mountain Never flinching nor feeling that they would fail the mission Endless rain, a sea of mud, so steep hard to stand up Raging rivers, swollen streams, impenetrable jungle Constant darkness from the thick forest canopy The Fuzzy Wuzzy persevered with strength and courage On stretches, on their backs using their bodies as support These angels carried an endless tide of sick and injured Down the notorious Kokoda track of misery and death Contemplating to never give up on their mission of mercy With Japanese mortars and bullets befalling the column As the Diggers fought a rear guard action to stem the Japs The Fuzzy Wuzzy continued their mission down the mountain For their job was to get as many Diggers as possible to safety Eventually they reached the safety of Port Moresby Largely due to the push by the Diggers to push back the Japs The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels were given a hero’s welcome And to this day a revered and honored for their mission of mercy