Australia’s last surviving Kokoda veteran passes away, aged 102

Reginald “Reg” Chard OAM – who was Australia’s last surviving veteran of World War II’s bloody Kokoda* Campaign – was a reluctant hero.

His son Robert said his dad was far too modest to ever admit it himself, but following his death at 102 after a short illness, Mr Chard will be remembered as one of Australia’s finest.

“He was a tough, tough man,” Robert said.

His father joined the Australian Army at the age of 18, fighting for the country in the pivotal* World War II campaign against the Japanese forces across Papua New Guinea in the 55th/53rd Battalion. It was crucial to the Allies* regaining control of the Pacific.

His eldest son said Reg was a strong-willed man who would “rather give than receive”, and who loved and cherished his time with his wife Betty and their two children.

Yet despite having fought bravely for Australia, Robert recalled his beloved dad fiercely rejected being called a hero.

“Someone one day called him a hero, and he said, ‘Don’t ever call me a hero, I’m not a hero’,” he said.

Reg instead said: “The heroes are the ones that we left up there. They gave their days for our country, our lives and our legacy.”

RSL Australia national president Peter Tinley said: “In 1942, Papua New Guinea became the frontline* in the defence of Australia, the only time our mainland has faced direct invasion.

“Australian troops fought village by village, ridge by ridge, for almost three years in some of the harshest conditions of the war; a campaign that secured the freedom Australia has built on ever since.

“Reg Chard was one of the young men who answered that call, and for more than 80 years afterwards, he carried the memory of what his generation was asked to give. With his passing, we lose the last known living link to that campaign, but not the debt we owe it. Lest we forget.”

During the Kokoda campaign, when vastly outnumbered, about 625 Australians died.

By the end of the war, when Reg returned battered and bruised, he battled a series of health challenges he brought home with him, including scrub typhus* and malaria*.

But Reg soldiered on, working two jobs at once to provide for his family in Villawood.

He worked in a foundry* during the day, and then loading trucks all night for his brother-in-law’s transport company.

Robert said his dad kept much of his experience in the war to himself until 2011, when his wife of 68 years, Betty, passed away from bowel cancer.

“He never said a word, until we lost Mum, and then he opened up about Kokoda to me.

“He said, ‘We did things that one human being shouldn’t do to another’.”

Reg had felt the trauma of the war throughout his life, and Robert said it deeply troubled him, particularly after Betty died.

At his lowest, Reg one day visited the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway at Concord in Sydney.

Reg stared at the sight of a famous picture of wounded Private George “Dick” Whittington being led to safety by New Guinea villager Raphael Oimbari.

“My father was sitting there, and there were two ladies talking among themselves.

“And they said (referring to George), ‘I wonder what that Digger’s name was, and I wonder what happened to him?’”

Reg overheard, and told the women what had happened to “Dick”, and who he was.

They were so amazed at his knowledge that they said he should become a guide for the memorial. So he did.

“That gave him a reason to get out of bed every morning,” Robert said.

From 2011 until Christmas last year, Reg guided anyone who wanted to learn about the sacrifices and understand the experiences of Kokoda.

He wanted to ensure the legacy of Kokoda lived on.

“It drove him because he did it for all the guys that didn’t come back,” Robert said.

“He said, ‘Their story has to be told, that’s what I do it for’.”

Robert had been caring for his dad recently as he became unwell, and said following his passing, the family had received “overwhelming” support.

“The pouring out of emotion; I know he touched a lot of people, but I didn’t know as many,” he said. “It has been incredible.”

An RSL Australia statement said: “With heavy hearts, we farewell Reg Chard, who peacefully passed away.

“Enlisting at 18, Reg marched through New Guinea’s mountains, survived malaria at Eora Creek and the brutal fighting at Sanananda*.

“When he came home, he built a life with his beloved Betty, then honoured his mates’ sacrifice by devoting his later years to the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, where his voice and spirit became irreplaceable.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Reg’s family, friends and all the lives he touched throughout his incredible life.

“Rest easy, Reg. Your courage lives on in every step along that track.”

POLL

GLOSSARY

• Kokoda: a four month land battle in World War II that involved Australian and Papua New Guinea forces defending the Kokoda Track against an advancing Japanese army. The Japanese intended to capture Port Moresby on the Southern Coast of Papua to cut off Australia from the US and the Kokoda Track was the only footpath across the mountains that would allow for an overland invasion. More than 600 Australian soldiers were killed and many more were injured. The humid, jungle terrain and high risk of disease such as malaria and dysentery made the campaign a brutal and exhausting one. Australia successfully stopped the Japanese advance at Ioribaiwa before pushing them back, helping to prevent the invasion of mainland Australia
• pivotal: extremely important to the extent that other things depend on it
• Allies: the Allied Forces were the countries that banded together to defeat the Axis of Germany, Japan and Italy during WWII. These included the UK, the Soviet Union, the US, China and France as well as other Allies, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India and South Africa
• frontline: the combat edge of a conflict
• scrub typhus: an infectious disease caused by a bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi transmitted to humans through the bites of infected chiggers (larval bites)
• malaria: a life-threatening disease spread through the bites of mosquitoes
• foundry: a factory that produces metal castings by pouring melted metal into moulds
• fuzzy wuzzy angels: an affectionate name given to the Papua New Guinean people who helped Australian soldiers during the Kokoda Campaign, serving as wartime carriers, stretcher bearers and guides
• Sanananda: fierce battles were fought at this Japanese stronghold in Papua in order to take down the Japanese army. The conflict cost the lives of 2100 Allied soldiers and 1500 Japanese soldiers

EXTRA READING
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WWII veteran turns 107 in SA
Remembering D-Day, 80 years on

QUICK QUIZ
1. Which WWII campaign did Reginald “Reg” Chard serve in?
2. What age was he when he enlisted?
3. What challenges did he face when he returned to Australia?
4. What prompted him to volunteer as a guide on the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway at Concord?
5. For how many years did he do this?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Gratitude letter
Write a thank you letter to Reg’s family thanking him for his service. In your letter explain;

• Why his service mattered
• what you learnt from Reg's story
• how Australia remembers veterans

Feel free to share your letter with some classmates or you might even want to get your teacher or parent to forward it on to Reg’s family.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History, Civics and Citizenship, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Reg insisted he wasn’t a hero... Do you agree or disagree with him?

What can young people today do to honour men like Reg and their service to our country?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History, Civics and Citizenship, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
What happens next?
Imagine the full story turns out to be in three parts and this article is only Part One. Think about what the rest of the story could be and write the next two parts that tell the rest of this story.

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Critical and Creative Thinking