Kokoda, Papua, 1942-11. The first group of sick Japanese soldiers to be captured waits beside the ...

Kokoda, Papua, 1942-11. The first group of sick Japanese soldiers to be captured waits beside the airstrip at Kokoda to be evacuated by air to base hospital in Port Moresby. Some Australian military policemen (MPs) (left) keep guard over them. All of the Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) are sitting or lying on the grass or, in one case, lying on a stretcher in the open without the benefit of any protection from the sun. By contrast, Australian medical evacuees were always given some shade to rest in while they waited for the evacuating aircraft.