AN AUSTRALIAN who has made Angus his home is set to retrace the wartime footsteps of his grandfather in the challenge of his life.

Darren Hill will take on the fearsome Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, scene of bitter fighting between Australian and Japanese troops during the second world war.

It is his latest salute to the personnel who fought, and died, for the allies during the two world wars.

He revealed his adventure plans as he prepares for his sombre duties during this weekend’s Anzac Day commemorations in Angus.

For some years, Darren has helped to organise the ceremony at Arbroath’s Western Cemetery in memory of Australians and New Zealanders who have died in conflicts across the globe, with this year’s event taking place tomorrow.

The cemetery is where four New Zealand second world war airmen—Brian Patterson, William Drake, Richard Chettle and Frederick Batten—are buried.

Starting at 11am, around 300 people are set to attend and include serving New Zealand airmen and women, veterans, ex-pats, the New Zealand High Commissioner, senior figures from the Royal British Legion Scotland and civic dignitaries.

Darren’s own way of remembering servicemen will take a huge step this year when he gets a taste of what the veterans endured.

In November he will walk the Kokoda Track, a 66-mile single-file trail through inhospitable, rugged and isolated terrain in 10 days—wearing a kilt.

“It doesn’t seem like a great distance, but it’s jungle, it’s steep, there are river crossings, swampland and it’s in the rainy season when the humidity will be at its worst,” Darren said.

“It really is a case of walking in the footsteps of heroes and it’ll give me a glimpse of the hardships they faced.

“It’s about respect and it’s about not forgetting.”

Darren, who owns Kookaburra’s Restaurant, near Forfar, has been aware of the significance of the Kokoda Track for years, but only became aware of its family importance recently.

His grandfather, Ted Hill, who lives in Perth, Western Australia, fought there with the Australian infantry and was shot in the knee, requiring evacuation and hospital treatment, in 1942.

He nearly did not make it to Papua New Guinea in the first place as the boat he should have been on from Queensland to the fighting was torpedoed and sunk.

Darren said, “My grandfather never spoke about the war for years and years, but he’s 86 now and is beginning to tell me stories about it.

“I find it fascinating and with him getting on, I decided I had to go there.

“From what I know, when the Japanese landed, it was a fighting withdrawal as the Australians were outnumbered four to one.

“Conscripts were then brought in as reinforcements and they stopped the Japanese. But the fighting was terrible.”

Darren is funding the £3000 cost of his trip, but is also raising cash for Forfar Rotary Club and Erskine Hospital.

He has organised a ceilidh at Reid Hall, Forfar, in August as part of his drive to boost the coffers.