My Gandfather didn't join up when war was decleared in Australia, instead waiting a couple of years hoping by then things would have settled down and he would avoid being thrown in at the sharp end without support. Shortly after he did join, Japan bombed pearl habour, and by the time he had finnished training his battalon was posted to New Guniea to Fight on the Kokoda track.
On the way from Sydney, the ship stoped at Cairns and all the troops did a heavy transport driving course. Half a dozen men were picked to stay behind, the rest were shiped to New Guinea, where they lost a large nuber of men. My Grandfather was on of the men who was picked to stay behind and train others.
He Did end up in New Guniea, as part of the logistics and supply group there. He did tell some intresting storys about building rope bridges for tuch to cross gourges!
He end the war on the island of Wewack, where he was left with other soldiers without resupply for three months. They lived off a large stock of baked beans till they were picked up. He didn't eat baked beans untill just before his death 55 years later.
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