Dear Grandpa, Why?: Reflections from Kokoda to Hiroshima

‘Dear Grandpa, why?’ is a question that has been asked many times over, by descendants of those who have died in war. John L. Read, however, has placed his energy into actually seeking an answer to his own question. - Hon. Sir Eric Neal, AC, CVO

Edward Tompson Mobsby, father of twin baby girls, volunteered for war service and was shot down by the Japanese in New Guinea in 1942. John Read’s quest for an apology for the death of his grandfather took him and his family from suburban Australia to a startling discovery in the mighty Owen Stanley Ranges, and on to Hiroshima.

John learned about Miyuki, a Japanese woman who had also taken her mother to New Guinea to answer questions about her grandfather’s death. When they eventually met in Osaka, their long conversations brought understanding, reconciliation and, almost, forgiveness. And, critically, revealed the value of cross-cultural dialogue in helping spare future generations from the despair and waste of international conflict.

John L. Read’s odyssey provides a historical insight into the cause of the war against Japan and a graphic portrayal of the cultural grief experienced by families who lost loved ones. - Charlie Lynn, Kokoda Treks