Reg Chard

Reginald James Chard (31 October 1923 – 24 July 2026) was an Australian soldier who served in the Kokoda Track campaign in New Guinea during World War II. He joined the military in 1941, aged 18, and fought from 1942 until 1943. Chard was the last surviving veteran of the Kokoda Track campaign, and was awarded the Order of Australia in 2021.

Early life Chard was born on 31 October 1923. He grew up in Marrickville, in western Sydney, alongside five brothers and four sisters. In his teenage years he became an apprentice baker, and began dating a girl named Betty.

Military service Chard joined the military at the age of 18. His initial application on 17 November 1941 was rejected due to his job as a baker. He worked in a store for a week, and was accepted upon his next application.

Chard's first assignment in New Guinea was as part of the Australian and American forces constructing airstrips at Milne Bay. After being shipped back to Port Moresby, he was sent to reinforce forces battling in the Kokoda Track campaign, serving under General Arthur Allen. After catching malaria, Chard was taken for medical treatment before being sent back to the jungle. He caught both malaria and scrub typhus towards the end of the campaign, and "collapsed" on 21 January 1943, a day before Japanese defeat at Buna–Gona. He credited his survival to the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.

In 2000, he began to give tours at Sydney's Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway. As part of the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Chard was awarded the Order of Australia for "service to military history, and to veterans". In 2022, the 80th anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign, Chard released an official memoir entitled The Digger of Kokoda, authored by Daniel Lane. It was reported that he still felt survivor guilt.

Chard died on 24 July 2026, at the age of 102. He was the last surviving veteran of the Kokoda Track campaign.