30/08/2026
On this day in 1942, one of the most heartbreaking and enduring stories of rugby, mateship, and sacrifice took place on the Kokoda Track.
Lieutenant Thomas Harold "Butch" Bisset, of the 2/14th Battalion 2nd AIF, was mortally wounded by Japanese machine-gun fire at Isurava. Hours later, his younger brother Wallaby rugby international Lieutenant Stan Bisset rushed to his side.
Stan held Butch in his arms at the edge of the track for six hours into the early morning of August 30th. To bring his dying brother comfort, Stan softly sang Butch’s favorite song, "Danny Boy," into the dark jungle night until Butch passed away just 32 years old.
Before the war, the Bisset brothers shared a profound love for rugby union at Power House Rugby Union Melbourne Club. They spent countless weekends running out onto the pitch at Albert Park, proudly wearing the green and black for Power House Rugby Club. They simply loved the game, the camaraderie, the physical contest, and the joy of playing side-by-side.
While Stan’s incredible talent ultimately earned him selection for the 1939 Wallabies tour of Great Britain, it was those grassroots days, playing alongside his brother, that forged the unbreakable bond that carried them through the horrors of New Guinea.
Butch was buried by his brother right beside the track he gave his life to defend. Stan carried the memory of his brother for the rest of his life, ensuring the legacy of the men of Kokoda was never forgotten.
Today, we pause to remember Lieutenant Hal "Butch" Bisset. A fierce competitor on the Albert Park fields, and a hero on the Kokoda Track.
Lest We Forget.
