Wairopi, Papua, c. 1942-11-17. An Australian soldier followed by a line of native Papuan carriers ...

Wairopi, Papua, c. 1942-11-17. An Australian soldier followed by a line of native Papuan carriers and other soldiers carefully steps out onto a makeshift bridge over the swift-flowing Kumusi River at Wairopi on the northern section of the Kokoda Trail. As no steel hawser of sufficient length was available, the bridge had to be suspended between the banks of the river on a single strand of manilla rope. The soldiers are part of an Australian force advancing on the strong Japanese defences in the Buna-Gona area.