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The Digger of Kokoda
- The Official Biography of Reg Chard
- Narrated by: James Saunders
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Featuring a special message read by Reg Chard
The battle that saved Australia. The track that saved one man's life.
Reg Chard endured hell as an 18-year-old Australian soldier who fought in 1942 on the infamous Kokoda Trail in World War II.
Ironically, Kokoda rescued Reg decades later when he decided to take his own life. After losing Betty, his wife of 66 years, the grief-stricken great-grandfather lost the will to live. But he found new purpose through educating young people, giving guided tours of Sydney's Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway.
On these tours, Reg relives Kokoda every day. He sees an image on the wall of a soldier - a comrade - who succumbed to disease weeks after the photograph was taken. He feels his heart beating as his patrol chases down Japanese troops who had mutilated women in a jungle clearing. He hears the war cry of a samurai sword-wielding officer charging towards him. And he tells these stories along the walkway, preserving the memory of those who never came home.
As one of the last surviving diggers of Kokoda, Reg Chard has become a custodian of its legacy. This deeply moving, healing and inspiring biography of the 98-year-old veteran tells us of Reg's war in the jungle and how, 80 years after the battle that saved Australia, Kokoda still lives within him.
Critic Reviews
"Reading the story of Reg Chard and his fellow servicemen only reinforces how grateful we all should be to the soldiers who sacrificed everything in order for us to have the privileged life we often take for granted. These men were full of bravery, courage and conviction yet were regularly battling against the odds in the knowledge they may not see out the day. Every word of this story has meaning, importance and impact and I for one am indebted to those who have served our nation to make it what it is today."—Steve Waugh
"The Digger of Kokoda is a gripping read about an all-Australian hero, Reg Chard, who like so many of that WWII generation had greatness in him, only revealed when he was called on to put everything on the line for his country. This biography evocatively portrays the hardships of the Kokoda campaign, the sacrifices made, and the irrepressible spirit of the Australian soldiers and nursing sisters. Bravo the lot of them, and this book."—Peter Fitzsimons
"The lessons and life experiences of Reg Chard are ones all Australians today could learn a lot from. The Digger of Kokoda was very honest and gave me a new perspective and understanding of what they went through and why. Warm, moving, heartbreaking and inspiring in equal measure. The greatest lesson I take from Reg is his quote: "Make the most of life, because no matter how bad something may seem, life goes on—just make sure you go with it.'"—Emma McKeon
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What listeners say about The Digger of Kokoda
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 20-09-2022
Excellent
Well written and narrated. I could not stop listening. A true story of courage and sacrifice and the futility of war
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- Elissa P.
- 24-05-2023
An Engaging, Interesting & Educational Read
What an honestly told, inspirational, engaging book!
I couldn’t stop listening.
It was beautifully written and well executed.
I hope this is or becomes a book for all Secondary School Students to read, but worth reading at any age beyond also.
Highly recommend
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- Anonymous User
- 14-09-2022
Wow! What an incredible story…
Thank you Reginal Chard for your raw honesty & vulnerability in putting it all out there. Words cannot describe the profound impact it had on me; so many mixed emotions throughout, I learnt so much, truly inspiring.
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- Anonymous User
- 18-02-2023
FANTASTIC
What a true gentleman. Every Australian should try to read this book. Gives you a good insight into the years before the war as well as during. Thanks for this great audio experience.
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- Anonymous User
- 06-05-2023
Beyond belief. I walked the Kokoda Trail two weeks ago, but wow. This brought tears to my eyes.
How brave to document this. This is a new low in atrocities. Everyone owes all these diggers the utmost respect and also to their families who also survived the veterans after they returned. We are free of what could of been. Thanks for bringing these first hand accounts to light.
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- Anonymous User
- 03-08-2022
Wonderful biography
Thank you Reg for giving me this personal insight into your struggles and the struggles of the brave men who served with you. It must have been very difficult for you to relive. We owe you men a lot for your sacrifices
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- Anonymous User
- 29-08-2022
WOW!!!!
The best book I’ve read about the war
They are the greatest generation to have ever lived
Reg’s story kept me enthralled the whole way through with a lump in my throat about the way he idolised his wife and the nurses who cared for him
A great Australian we should all be proud of
Thanks for your service Reg
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- Sleep Tech
- 26-05-2023
Brilliant.
The BEST book I have ever listened to. Thank you Daniel Lane for having the courage to get this story out there. And James Saunders for narrating. Highly recommended.
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- chris
- 09-08-2022
Wow!
Nothing held back!Thankyou what a great book! And thank you for fighting for what we have today, we all owe a massive dept to those brave and unbelievable humans all those years ago.
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- Kindle Customer
- 13-08-2022
The Digger of Kakoda
These people are our true hero’s. They put there lives on the line to enable the freedom we have today. Absolute amazing book. I wish I had my time again to talk to my grandfather who also served in PNG. Lest we forget
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