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| Location Lat 9° 7' 53S Long 147° 40' 22E Templeton's Crossing No. 1 is located along the Kokoda Trail and the Eora Creek in the Owen Stanley Range in New Guinea. Also known as "No. 1 Dump". This area has the steepest and highest elevation of the trail. To the north is is Templeton's Crossing No. 2 (No. 2 Dump). To the south is Gap Lookout and beyond Myola. Today located in Oro Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Wartime History During the Kokoda campaign, the stretch of the Kokoda Trail near this area was regarded as "an abomination" due to the terrible condition. This area was named "Templeton's Crossing" by Bert Kienzle in honor of Australian Army Captain Samuel "Sam" Templeton who was killed July 26, 1942. In early September 1942 surveyed by the 2/6th Field Company Engineers that regarded this location as "very bad track... track in bad condition, sideling [sic] out and covered in 6" mud". This area was a dump for rations and ammunition. Due to the poor terrain, Brigadier Potts elected not to defend the area and instead withdraw to Myola. On September 3, 1942, the Australian Army 2/16th Battalion established ambush positions at Templeton's Crossing No. 1 and suffered five dead defending against the advancing Japanese. After the Japanese defeat and withdrawal northward, by October 15, 1942 the Australian Army 2/33rd Battalion reached Templeton's Crossing No. 1 crossing the Eora Creek and encountered Japanese ambushes and defensive positions to the north and took three days to clear northward to Templeton's Crossing No. 2. By October 22, 1942 the area was secured at the cost of 46 killed at both Templeton's Crossing No. 1 and Templeton's Crossing No. 2. By October 27, 1942 General Vasey advanced to this location and was an aid station for wounded from the battles. During October 1942 Templeton's Crossing No. 1 became a dump area known as "No. 1 Dump" and Templeton's Crossing No. 2 known as "No. 2 Dump" for supplies from Myola. References WW2 Nominal Roll - Samuel Victor Templeton, V50190 Field Guide to the Kokoda Track by Bill James (2006) pages 279 (Myola track report 9/42), 280 (map Myola to Templeton's Crossing No. 2), 281 (map profile Myola to Templeton's Crossing No. 2), 383-384 (Templeton's Crossing No. 2), 284 (Templeton's Crossing No. 1), 285 (map Templeton's Crossing 10/42), 286 (Templeton's Crossing KIA 9/4/42), 291-292 (casualty list Templeton's Crossing No. 1 and No. 2), 294 (map Templeton's Crossing No. 2 to Eora Creek village), 295 (map profile Templeton's Crossing No. 2 to Eora Creek village), 504 (coordinates, Templeton's Crossing No. 1) Contribute
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