Captain Herbert Thomson "Bert" Kienzle CBE (19 May 1905 – 7 January 1988) was an Australian soldier and plantation owner from the Territory of Papua.

He is notable for his contribution as officer in charge of native labour supporting Australian forces fighting along the Kokoda Track.

He identified and named the dry lake beds, Myola, that were to become an important supply dropping area and staging point during the Kokoda Track campaign.

[7] On 4 June 1936, Kienzle was wed to Meryl Holliday, a former opera singer and nurse he had courted while on leave in Sydney the previous year.

[9] Kienzle was an adept manager but his success derives from what appears to be a gift with language, cultural awareness and an empathy for his workers by which he was able to obtain much greater productivity from his labour force than many of his contemporaries.

[10] With the outbreak of war with Japan in December 1941, Kienzle evacuated his family and reported to Brigadier Basil Morris but was advised to "return to Yodda and carry on operations awaiting further orders.

[17] Author, Peter Fitzsimons, reports that Morris, now Major General, commander of New Guinea Force, "just didn't want to hear" that the task exceeded reasonable expectations, "So after a little argy-bargy the senior man had pulled rank and ordered Kienzle, as a bare minimum, to evaluate it.

[20][21][Note 1] Kienzle arrived at Illolo, to take charge of the 600 or so natives that had been conscripted for the task from indentured plantation labour in the local area.

[27] Captain "Doc" Vernon[Note 2] handed him a letter he had already passed through the chain of command expressing deep concern for health and hygiene at the camp.

His first actions were to explain the task before them in their own language and then address the issues of accommodation and hygiene, after which morale of the force was greatly improved.

[31] This was in compliance with orders for the forward defence of Port Moresby centred on the Kokoda area under the code name "Maroubra".

[38] Additional deployments were made to meet the threat of the advancing Japanese force and with this, the supply situation became increasingly critical.

The rough and mountainous nature of the country made the work of the natives difficult and exhausting and only the skill, patience and perseverance of this officer were responsible for them continuing their tasks.

He constantly cared for them and looked after them, and his efforts and ability are largely responsible for reducing the number of desertions to an absolute minimum.

[49] During the Australian advance, Kienzle worked to improve the supply situation by developing an air strip at Myola 2.

[48] Analysing the campaign, historian, Karl James, states, "The Australians also had the benefit of a better organised carrier and supply system.

[58] Author, Peter Fitzsimons observed that: "Kienzle's facility with the natives was crucial because they were indeed particular and they would provide the key manpower" for the campaign.

He goes on to reiterate the sentiment of fellow historian, Alan Powell, who considered that, "no man on the Kokoda Track did more to ensure the Australian victory than Kienzle.

"[61][Note 5] Following the war, Kienzle rebuilt his home and worked to re-establish his agricultural holdings, introducing Angus cattle in 1952 to diversify his operation.

[70] He was survived by his wife and four of their five children: Katherine "Mary" Hardy, Diane Moloney, Jokn ("JK"), and Wallace ("Soc").

[71] In 1995, the Australian Prime Minister, Paul Keating, opened the Herbert Kienzle Memorial Museum at Kokoda, as part of a set of facilities jointly funded by the government and Rotary International.