Welcome to the 32nd GC cache by "Keeper of Time".
Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, a poem by Sapper H “Bert” Beros
NX 69, 7th Div, RAE AIF
Many a mother in Australia when the busy day is done
Sends a prayer to the Almighty for the keeping of her son
Asking that an angel guide him and bring him safely back
Now we see those prayers are answered on the Owen Stanley
Track.
For they haven't any halos only holes slashed in their
ears
And their faces worked by tattoos with scratch pins in their
hair
Bringing back the badly wounded just as steady as a horse
Using leaves to keep the rain off and as gentle as a
nurse
Slow and careful in the bad places on the awful mountain
track
The look upon their faces would make you think Christ was
black
Not a move to hurt the wounded as they treat him like a saint
It's a picture worth recording that an artist's yet to
paint
Many a lad will see his mother and husbands see their
wives
Just because the fuzzy wuzzy carried them to save their lives
From mortar bombs and machine gun fire or chance surprise
attacks
To the safety and the care of doctors at the bottom of the
track
May the mothers of Australia when they offer up a prayer
Mention those impromptu angels with their fuzzy wuzzy
hair.
Bert Beros served in both WW1 and WW2. He wrote this poem at 4
am one morning on the Kokoda Track after having been on stand-to.
It may never have been printed but for the fact that an officer
sent a copy home to his mother and she was so impressed that she
had it published in the Brisbane Courier-Mail.
Those dark days of WW11 are well and truly over but today, a
younger, modern ‘fuzzy wuzzy angel’ is continuing the
great tradition of thier grandfathers. These are the guides and
porters of the Kokoda Trail, who bring overseas trekkers over this
famous wartime icon. Young men from all villages along the trail -
Vesulogo, Girinumu, Nauro, Manari, Efogi, Naduri, Kagi, Alola, Hoi,
Kovelo, and then Kokoda Station – are engaged as guides and
porters. It gives them a chance to earn an income and also helps to
curb the law and order problem. It has given them a new lease on
life.
At the above coordinates you will see why the above poem would
mean so much to the loved ones of Private K L Lacey.
The year he was born = ABCD
The year he died = EFGH
The cache is located nearby at S37 07.(A+E)DG E144 20.(H-C)04
and is an ammo can with a 2 Litre sistema container inside with a
variety of swaps.
I would ask that you show this area the respect it deserves.
Please ensure that the cache is well hidden before you leave and I
would ask that you help maintain the standard of the cache by
placing quality swaps only. As always, be mindful of the local
wildlife both good and bad.