Damien Parer was putting his life at risk just as much as those soldiers he was filming. To the extent that he lost his own life later in the war. Killed in action without ever having lifted anything more than a camera in battle. All so people back at home could appreciate what australian soldiers were truly going through.
He died after getting fed up with Australian bureaucracy and leaving to go work for the USA, I believe it was Paramount Pictures he went to work at, still as a war correspondent... He died in 1944, and apparently before dying he expressed a wish that he had stayed with the Australians in PNG.
Never forget Thomas blamey banished him from covering Australian troops Damien told the Australian prime minister that blamey was wrong the troops did indeed need green clothes not khaki. Never forgive blamey for anything ever.
Thank you Peter FitzSimmons for writing Kokoda and telling the stories of these men. As an American I was right there booing at Dugout Doug every time he would say the Australian soldier was no where near as strong as an American. Those men were absolute machines.
Recently I had to chance to look at - and handle! - some of Damien Parer's pre-war photo albums at the State Library of New South Wales. A young life tragically cut short. His son was born six months after his death. This film was one of four to share the very first Academy Award for documentary, along with John Ford's The Battle of Midway, Frank Capra's Prelude to War, and the Soviet film Moscow Strikes Back.
The Aussies were the first to defeat the Japanese advance in WW2 with some help from the Americans at Milne Bay. The British general Slim, whom was under enormous pressure from the Japanese at Burma, said it was an enormous relief and encouragement to hear of the success at Milne Bay..
And unlike McArthur and the turncoat General Blamey, who denigrated the Australian Militia at every turn, Slim was a truly inspiring leader of men and recognised what incredible odds our troops faced.
@@zhukie Slim should’ve been made commander of all commonwealth troops in the Far East including the Aussies in the pacific. The Australians would’ve been treated far better than they were. He would’ve done a better job than Mac Arthur or Blamey and appointed Australian commanders who could get the job done.
@@commando4481 The Far East also needed troops that would actually hold the line and fight well, the Japanese would have struggled a lot more if the soldiers taking on the germans and italians ( who were the best) were in Asia earlier on.
When you think, it was the much maligned Australian Militia who stopped the Japanese during the initial campaign. While the 2nd AIF was assisting the Brits in their campaign, specifically in the Western Desert, Australia had nothing with which to send against the Invasion of NEW GUINEA, except poorly trained and poorly armed Militia. Considering their lack of support, the indifference of the Military high command, these blokes were sent into a Country and type of warfare they knew nothing about, against a hardened, professional enemy who had been undefeated on land. The 2ND AIF saw them as CHOCOLATE SOLDIERS, who would melt in the heat of combat, underserving of the term AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER. There were Militia Battalions that indeed broke and earned a bad reputation. and considering their lack of training and the way in which some were drafted into the Militia, many being totally unsuitable for that service, its easy to understand the breakdown. They never enjoyed the training or material support of the AIF, but were thrown in to battle because the Australian Government never took the japanese threat seriously until they landed. The Curtin Government pressured Churchill into releasing the Australian division from the Desert campaigns where they had become the Backbone of the British campaign, and the Brits were reluctant to release them to fight the Japanese, in what they considered a sideshow. Dad served with the AIF in New Guinea, and had been in the Militia in 1940 before transferring to the AIF where he served in the campaigns including GONA, BUNA, SANANANDA and others. There was considerable animosity between the AIF and the Militia. Today there is still that disparaging view of the Regular Army over the Army Reserve. The AIF soon learned how tough it was in New Guinea, even with all their experience. Thankfully, the US was able to back us when Britain was unable or unwilling to do so.
I walked at the Kokoda Trail in 2010 knowing very little about it's significance in Australia's military history, and even less about the lives of the people that live along the tracks route over the Owen Stanley Ranges. Hearing the stories and looking at the sites where these battles were fought, particularly by the 39th Battalion Chocos when facing the battle hardened fanatasism of the Imperial Japanese Army...truly humbling
Damien Parer stated be never wanted to do 'camera panning' while filming - he considered it didn't capture the action and reality - but he did just that on at least one occasion and some of this footage ended up in this film! At 8:17 he has panned to film four members of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR) who had just flown from Wau to Port Moresby on 22 September 1942 to be evacuated to Australia for hospitalisation. The first of those four men he filmed was Acting Sergeant Gilbert Stuart Tasma Robertson NG2243 - my Grandad Robbie! Malaria had finally forced Gil Robertson out of the New Guinea jungles where he had been serving with Kanga Force, the unit Damien Parer had been filming in addition to his footage of Kokoda. And for the record, it was with Kanga Force at Salamaua that Australia first struck back at the Japanese forces on land in New Guinea on 29 June 1942. (See 'Salamaua Raid'.)
This is brilliant footage, but all deceptively nice. Very little got through the government censors. Cannibalism was rife ! Listen to "Kokoda" by Paul Ham. An awesome, and informative podcast. 21 hours, but worth every bit.
It's fascinating to look into the past at important events like this. You can't help but be struck by the way styles of music and commentary have changed for the better over the years. The naive but well-meaning voiceover would never be accepted today: _"The care and consideration shown for the wounded by the natives has won the complete admiration of the troops. With them, the black-skinned boys are white!"_
My grandparents were dear friends of his. My grandmother being a photographer like him. My grandfather said he was killed whilst filming an armoured advance, running behind a tank. I can't remember where.
8:27. Lt Vale Gardner 2/14 Bn Second AIF is the young man on the stretcher having his durrie lit by sallyman MAJ Morris. Many years ago Vale told me there were two smokes in his mouth. A wonderful man.
My grandparents knew him well. My grandfather in the army and my grandmother a photogrpaher also. From memory, my grandfather relayed that Parer had an almost suicidal apetite for risk. I remember them saying, regarding the many christian necklaces he wore, that if he was to thrown off a boat, his religious chains would have drowned him.
Please go and wash your mouth out with soap. It was 1941, Damien Parer (whose son I later served with in the Army) won an academy award for this, then later paid the ultimate price. His son grew-up without a dad.
Not to trivialise things, but I reckon it was worth a couple of extra takes for that rather lethargic half-arsed kangaroos effort at the beginning yeah? Not very, patriotic…
This Australian newsreel film got a US academy award for a documentary film
Damien Parer was putting his life at risk just as much as those soldiers he was filming. To the extent that he lost his own life later in the war. Killed in action without ever having lifted anything more than a camera in battle. All so people back at home could appreciate what australian soldiers were truly going through.
He died after getting fed up with Australian bureaucracy and leaving to go work for the USA, I believe it was Paramount Pictures he went to work at, still as a war correspondent... He died in 1944, and apparently before dying he expressed a wish that he had stayed with the Australians in PNG.
Never forget Thomas blamey banished him from covering Australian troops Damien told the Australian prime minister that blamey was wrong the troops did indeed need green clothes not khaki. Never forgive blamey for anything ever.
Thank you Peter FitzSimmons for writing Kokoda and telling the stories of these men. As an American I was right there booing at Dugout Doug every time he would say the Australian soldier was no where near as strong as an American. Those men were absolute machines.
Recently I had to chance to look at - and handle! - some of Damien Parer's pre-war photo albums at the State Library of New South Wales. A young life tragically cut short. His son was born six months after his death.
This film was one of four to share the very first Academy Award for documentary, along with John Ford's The Battle of Midway, Frank Capra's Prelude to War, and the Soviet film Moscow Strikes Back.
The Aussies were the first to defeat the Japanese advance in WW2 with some help from the Americans at Milne Bay. The British general Slim, whom was under enormous pressure from the Japanese at Burma, said it was an enormous relief and encouragement to hear of the success at Milne Bay..
And unlike McArthur and the turncoat General Blamey, who denigrated the Australian Militia at every turn, Slim was a truly inspiring leader of men and recognised what incredible odds our troops faced.
@@zhukie Slim should’ve been made commander of all commonwealth troops in the Far East including the Aussies in the pacific. The Australians would’ve been treated far better than they were. He would’ve done a better job than Mac Arthur or Blamey and appointed Australian commanders who could get the job done.
@@commando4481 The Far East also needed troops that would actually hold the line and fight well, the Japanese would have struggled a lot more if the soldiers taking on the germans and italians ( who were the best) were in Asia earlier on.
When you think, it was the much maligned Australian Militia who stopped the Japanese during the initial campaign. While the 2nd AIF was assisting the Brits in their campaign, specifically in the Western Desert, Australia had nothing with which to send against the Invasion of NEW GUINEA, except poorly trained and poorly armed Militia. Considering their lack of support, the indifference of the Military high command, these blokes were sent into a Country and type of warfare they knew nothing about, against a hardened, professional enemy who had been undefeated on land. The 2ND AIF saw them as CHOCOLATE SOLDIERS, who would melt in the heat of combat, underserving of the term AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER. There were Militia Battalions that indeed broke and earned a bad reputation. and considering their lack of training and the way in which some were drafted into the Militia, many being totally unsuitable for that service, its easy to understand the breakdown. They never enjoyed the training or material support of the AIF, but were thrown in to battle because the Australian Government never took the japanese threat seriously until they landed. The Curtin Government pressured Churchill into releasing the Australian division from the Desert campaigns where they had become the Backbone of the British campaign, and the Brits were reluctant to release them to fight the Japanese, in what they considered a sideshow. Dad served with the AIF in New Guinea, and had been in the Militia in 1940 before transferring to the AIF where he served in the campaigns including GONA, BUNA, SANANANDA and others. There was considerable animosity between the AIF and the Militia. Today there is still that disparaging view of the Regular Army over the Army Reserve. The AIF soon learned how tough it was in New Guinea, even with all their experience. Thankfully, the US was able to back us when Britain was unable or unwilling to do so.
What a crock 👈😑
@@barbararice6650 Dad would laugh at that.. as a member of the 2/7th BUNA GONA and SANANANDA, his experience outweighs your stupidity
@@barbararice6650 A crock pot of Rice or just a crack pot are we ? Piss off. 🖕
@barbararice6650 where is your mind?...
Thanks for preserving this vital history-👍
I walked at the Kokoda Trail in 2010 knowing very little about it's significance in Australia's military history, and even less about the lives of the people that live along the tracks route over the Owen Stanley Ranges. Hearing the stories and looking at the sites where these battles were fought, particularly by the 39th Battalion Chocos when facing the battle hardened fanatasism of the Imperial Japanese Army...truly humbling
Awesome vid. Loved it 😍😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️
Damien Parer stated be never wanted to do 'camera panning' while filming - he considered it didn't capture the action and reality - but he did just that on at least one occasion and some of this footage ended up in this film!
At 8:17 he has panned to film four members of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR) who had just flown from Wau to Port Moresby on 22 September 1942 to be evacuated to Australia for hospitalisation.
The first of those four men he filmed was Acting Sergeant Gilbert Stuart Tasma Robertson NG2243 - my Grandad Robbie!
Malaria had finally forced Gil Robertson out of the New Guinea jungles where he had been serving with Kanga Force, the unit Damien Parer had been filming in addition to his footage of Kokoda.
And for the record, it was with Kanga Force at Salamaua that Australia first struck back at the Japanese forces on land in New Guinea on 29 June 1942. (See 'Salamaua Raid'.)
This is brilliant footage, but all deceptively nice. Very little got through the government censors. Cannibalism was rife ! Listen to "Kokoda" by Paul Ham. An awesome, and informative podcast. 21 hours, but worth every bit.
It's fascinating to look into the past at important events like this. You can't help but be struck by the way styles of music and commentary have changed for the better over the years. The naive but well-meaning voiceover would never be accepted today: _"The care and consideration shown for the wounded by the natives has won the complete admiration of the troops. With them, the black-skinned boys are white!"_
The militiamen, taken from Sydney bars , off the streets are heroes for all time.
Yeah, I'm named after one who was knocked at Buna. Amen to that mate..
My grandparents were dear friends of his. My grandmother being a photographer like him. My grandfather said he was killed whilst filming an armoured advance, running behind a tank. I can't remember where.
1 word....legend,
Incredible
Good job
5:52 - Lt Col Ralph Honner addresses the 39th Battalion.
5:00 that’s some cool footage
intro brings me tom an jerry flashbacks
Tom and Jerry did not win an Academy Award, Kokoda Front Line did.
just saying
@@haydenau3073 mate stick with your Karaoke and don't give up your day job !🚮
And Blamey couldn't be bothered with doing anything constructive apart from feeding his career. He was no friend of those blokes..
Very good
Look at the faces - thank god they went in to battle
8:27. Lt Vale Gardner 2/14 Bn Second AIF is the young man on the stretcher having his durrie lit by sallyman MAJ Morris. Many years ago Vale told me there were two smokes in his mouth. A wonderful man.
My grandparents knew him well. My grandfather in the army and my grandmother a photogrpaher also. From memory, my grandfather relayed that Parer had an almost suicidal apetite for risk. I remember them saying, regarding the many christian necklaces he wore, that if he was to thrown off a boat, his religious chains would have drowned him.
those Kangaroos are gonna staunch.
nice videos
Jesus
Most of this is training footage 👈😑
Please go and wash your mouth out with soap. It was 1941, Damien Parer (whose son I later served with in the Army) won an academy award for this, then later paid the ultimate price. His son grew-up without a dad.
@@NSWLancer
😑
Babs-🍚you can't handle the heat so get out of this kitchen ! 👊
@@sheerluckholmes7720
Go and wee in your mum's pocket 😁
@@NSWLancer thanks for your service mate, damien was my great uncle, ive still got a machete that my grandma says belonged to him
....the black skinned boys were white. lol
🦘🇦🇺
Not to trivialise things, but I reckon it was worth a couple of extra takes for that rather lethargic half-arsed kangaroos effort at the beginning yeah? Not very, patriotic…