Book excerpt: "Kokoda Commander is the story of a remarkable man. Arthur 'Tubby' Allen commanded 1,000 men in battle at the age of 23 in the First World War. A generation later, he took the first Australian troops to the Second World War, and with them won two great battles in Libya in January 1941. In the next six months, he led his troops in battle against three different enemies in three different continents: Africa, Europe, and Asia. In New Guinea in October 1942, he led the successful fightback along the Kokoda Trail that led to the defeat of the Japanese." "Major-General Allen became a legendary figure to thousands of Australian troops. However, by the end of 1942, despite his victories, his army career was virtually over. Within another two years, he was out of the army." "Based on extensive research, and written in an engaging style, this book tells how an able leader was pushed aside and his good name systematically destroyed by jealous rivals."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved