When Xavier Powles arrives in Papua-New Guinea to begin his walk in the footsteps of heroes across the Kokoda Trail, he will be carrying a heavy responsibility.
The Year 11 St Augustine’s College student will be representing local families whose sons, husbands, brothers and fathers fought on the Kokoda, some who did not come home.
The Colin Sinclair Kokoda Scholarship recipient — one of five from the Murray Plains electorate — will be representing the Sinclair family.
Xavier is joining State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh and other scholarship recipients on the trail.
As a member of B-Company in the 39th Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Sinclair was among the first Australian troops to journey across the trail to confront the Japanese at Kokoda.
B-Company withdrew to Deniki, where the other companies of the 39th had arrived, and then fought at the battle of Isurava – where he was reported as missing in action.
In the following weeks, a number of the ‘missing’ would make their way back to their units through the jungle, although many were never seen again – either killed in action, caught and executed by the Japanese, or simply succumbing to wounds, to the jungle and to hunger.
Lt Col Sinclair appeared to have been one of the lucky ones, and four days later, was able to rejoin his unit.
But that wasn’t to last.
Sent to the battle of the northern beaches, he suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen and legs and then contracted dengue fever – dying on December 19, 1942.
He was just 28.
Lt Col Sinclair’s cousin Ronald, from Moama, also served in the 39th and he returned home.
The group members expect the visit to Bomana War Cemetery at the end of the walk to be an emotional one.
Where Xavier will not just visit the grave of Colin Sinclair, but will also represent his region at the grave of Bob Watt, a private from Kyabram.
Xavier is making the walk with the generous support of the program sponsors, including especially Kyabram Club, Moama RSL, Freemasons Foundation Victoria and Tiverton Agricultural Impact Fund.
“Bob Watt was killed in action near Efogi around September 5, 1942, and sadly this brave man has no known grave – he is recorded instead on Panel 4 at Bomana War Cemetery,” Xavier said.
“He had been reported missing on September 5 and was then reported killed in action on September 10 according to his records.’’
The official record of the 2/14th states Pvt Watt was killed on September 5 or shortly after, but not because of the battle of Brigade Hill and Mission Ridge.
Instead, it is believed, according to the history of the 2/14th, that he had been wounded and then died as a result of fighting after conducting one of the forward scout patrols which took place and regularly encountered the Japanese.
Xavier said in the 48 hours of September 4 to 5, the 2/14th was screening the withdrawal of the 2/16th in the area around Eora Creek through to Efogi, and there were many skirmishes as patrols interacted.
A few 2/14th soldiers lost their lives conducting those patrols.
“Efogi is almost certainly the best location for me, for all of us on the trek, to remember Bob’s sacrifice,” Xavier said.
“I have also been asked to remember men from areas between here and Tongala as well, which includes Cecil Hutchinson, who lived and worked in and around Tongala – even though he was born in Chile and relocated here – enlisting at the age of 24.
“Cecil fought at Deniki and Isurava and then later in the Northern Beaches campaign, and was one of the lucky ones not to be killed in those tough campaigns.
“Bernie Rawlings did a lot of work as a farmhand in Tongala, and sometimes in Echuca, and he had been working at Tonny when he enlisted.
“Both these men were among the more fortunate, they survived the war
“It will be my privilege, and honour, to visit, and remember all these men on behalf of the people of Kyabram and district.”