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Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Anthony Hill, Animal heroes, 2005
Here are twenty-one fascinating stories about the forgotten heroes of war: animals who have served beside Australian forces. These are all animals that dazzle with their courage and loyalty - or sometimes just by being lovable. Whether it's a rooster guarding his battalion during the First World War or a mine-detecting dolphin in Iraq, they make the difficult lives of soldiers so much more bearable.Index, bib, ill, p.207.non-fictionHere are twenty-one fascinating stories about the forgotten heroes of war: animals who have served beside Australian forces. These are all animals that dazzle with their courage and loyalty - or sometimes just by being lovable. Whether it's a rooster guarding his battalion during the First World War or a mine-detecting dolphin in Iraq, they make the difficult lives of soldiers so much more bearable.animals - war use, animal heroes -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Allen and Unwin, Horrie the War Dog, 2013
In the harsh Libyan desert in the middle of the second world war, Private Jim Moody, a signaller with the First Australian Machine Gun Battalion, found a starving puppy on a sand dune. Moody called the dog Horrie. Much more than a mascot, Horrie's exceptional hearing picked up the whine of enemy aircraft two minutes before his human counterparts and repeatedly saved the lives of the thousand-strong contingent. The little Egyptian Terrier's ritual of sitting, barking, then dashing for the trenches, had the gunners running for cover before their camp was strafed and bombed. Where Moody went, Horrie went too, through the battle zones of the Middle East and far beyond. As the Japanese forces began their assault in Asia Moody and his soldier mates joined the fight, but not before they had smuggled Horrie onto a troop ship and a harrowing journey back to Australia where they thought their little friend would be safe. The war over, Moody brought Horrie out of hiding to raise money for the Red Cross, and the brave little dog's story became widely known. When quarantine officers pounced and demanded that the dog be put down there was a huge public outcry. Horrie had saved a thousand lives. How could a cruel bureaucracy heartlessly kill him? But defying the authorities would mean gaol for Moody and certain death for Horrie. Was Horrie, the gunner's hero, condemned to die or could Moody devise a scheme to save him?Ill, p.336.non-fictionIn the harsh Libyan desert in the middle of the second world war, Private Jim Moody, a signaller with the First Australian Machine Gun Battalion, found a starving puppy on a sand dune. Moody called the dog Horrie. Much more than a mascot, Horrie's exceptional hearing picked up the whine of enemy aircraft two minutes before his human counterparts and repeatedly saved the lives of the thousand-strong contingent. The little Egyptian Terrier's ritual of sitting, barking, then dashing for the trenches, had the gunners running for cover before their camp was strafed and bombed. Where Moody went, Horrie went too, through the battle zones of the Middle East and far beyond. As the Japanese forces began their assault in Asia Moody and his soldier mates joined the fight, but not before they had smuggled Horrie onto a troop ship and a harrowing journey back to Australia where they thought their little friend would be safe. The war over, Moody brought Horrie out of hiding to raise money for the Red Cross, and the brave little dog's story became widely known. When quarantine officers pounced and demanded that the dog be put down there was a huge public outcry. Horrie had saved a thousand lives. How could a cruel bureaucracy heartlessly kill him? But defying the authorities would mean gaol for Moody and certain death for Horrie. Was Horrie, the gunner's hero, condemned to die or could Moody devise a scheme to save him? animals - war use, australia - armed forces - mascots -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Quercus, Judy : a dog in a million, 2014
Shares the story of Judy, the first-ever animal to gain formal status as a prisoner of war, who during World War II saved countless lives and became a friend and protector to Allied soldiers in the Japanese prison camps in Indonesia.Index, ill, p.352.non-fictionShares the story of Judy, the first-ever animal to gain formal status as a prisoner of war, who during World War II saved countless lives and became a friend and protector to Allied soldiers in the Japanese prison camps in Indonesia.animals - war use, dogs - war use - great britain -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Cameron Forbes, Hellfire : The Story of Australia, Japan and the Prisoners of War, 2005
For months during 1943 there was no night in Hellfire Pass. By the light of flares, carbide lamps and bamboo fires, men near-naked and skeletal cut a passage through stone to make way for a railway. Among these men were some of the 22,000 Australian soldiers taken prisoner by the Japanese during World War II. In camps across Asia and the Pacific, they struggled, died, and survived with a little help from their mates. 'Hellfire' was researched in Australia, Japan and across South-East Asia. It draws on 50 first-person interviews, ranging from former prisoners to an old Mon villager deep in the Burmese jungle, and from Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew to veterans of the Imperial Japanese Army. The result is a tour de force, a powerful and searing history of the prisoners of the Japanese.Index, ill, bib, p.559.non-fictionFor months during 1943 there was no night in Hellfire Pass. By the light of flares, carbide lamps and bamboo fires, men near-naked and skeletal cut a passage through stone to make way for a railway. Among these men were some of the 22,000 Australian soldiers taken prisoner by the Japanese during World War II. In camps across Asia and the Pacific, they struggled, died, and survived with a little help from their mates. 'Hellfire' was researched in Australia, Japan and across South-East Asia. It draws on 50 first-person interviews, ranging from former prisoners to an old Mon villager deep in the Burmese jungle, and from Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew to veterans of the Imperial Japanese Army. The result is a tour de force, a powerful and searing history of the prisoners of the Japanese. world war 1939-1945 - prisoners and prisons - japan, burma - siam railway -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, McMillan et al, About Face : The Odyssey of an American Warrior, 1989
This national bestseller by Colonel David H. Hackworth presents a vivid and powerful portrait of a life of patriotism.From age fifteen to forty, David Hackworth devoted himself to the US Army and fast became a living legend. In 1971, however, he appeared on television to decry the doomed war effort in Vietnam. With About Face, he has written what many Vietnam veterans have called the most important book of their generation.From Korea to Berlin, from the Cuban missile crisis to Vietnam, Hackworth's story is that of an exemplary patriot, played out against the backdrop of the changing fortunes of America and the American military. It is also a stunning indictment of the Pentagon's fundamental misunderstanding of the Vietnam conflict and of the bureaucracy of self-interest that fueled the war.Index, ill, p.833.non-fictionThis national bestseller by Colonel David H. Hackworth presents a vivid and powerful portrait of a life of patriotism.From age fifteen to forty, David Hackworth devoted himself to the US Army and fast became a living legend. In 1971, however, he appeared on television to decry the doomed war effort in Vietnam. With About Face, he has written what many Vietnam veterans have called the most important book of their generation.From Korea to Berlin, from the Cuban missile crisis to Vietnam, Hackworth's story is that of an exemplary patriot, played out against the backdrop of the changing fortunes of America and the American military. It is also a stunning indictment of the Pentagon's fundamental misunderstanding of the Vietnam conflict and of the bureaucracy of self-interest that fueled the war. soldiers - united states - biography, united states - army - personal recollections -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Harper Collins, The secret war : spies, codes and guerillas 1939-45, 2026
... -and-the-dandenong-ranges World war 1939-1945 - Espionage World War 1914-1918 ...Packed with insight and terrific spy stories, this masterly book looks at the secret war on a global basis, bringing together the British, American, German, Russian and Japanese histories. In 'The Secret War', Max Hastings examines the espionage and intelligence machines of all sides in World War II, and the impact of spies, code-breakers and partisan operations on events. Written on a global scale, the book brings together accounts from British, American, German, Russian and Japanese sources to tell the story of a secret war waged unceasingly by men and women often far from the battlefields but whose actions profoundly influenced the outcome.Index, bib, ill, p.558.Packed with insight and terrific spy stories, this masterly book looks at the secret war on a global basis, bringing together the British, American, German, Russian and Japanese histories. In 'The Secret War', Max Hastings examines the espionage and intelligence machines of all sides in World War II, and the impact of spies, code-breakers and partisan operations on events. Written on a global scale, the book brings together accounts from British, American, German, Russian and Japanese sources to tell the story of a secret war waged unceasingly by men and women often far from the battlefields but whose actions profoundly influenced the outcome. world war 1939-1945 - espionage, world war 1914-1918 - secret service -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Pan, Defeat into victory, 2009
Field Marshall William Slim stands alongside Montgomery as the outstanding British Field commander of the Second World War. "Defeat into victory" is his classic account of the Burma campaign : a story of retreat, attrition and a final hard fought victory over the Japanese. Told by a commander always at the centre of events, this is a narrative that captures both the high drama and the harsh reality of war.Index, ill, maps, p.660.non-fictionField Marshall William Slim stands alongside Montgomery as the outstanding British Field commander of the Second World War. "Defeat into victory" is his classic account of the Burma campaign : a story of retreat, attrition and a final hard fought victory over the Japanese. Told by a commander always at the centre of events, this is a narrative that captures both the high drama and the harsh reality of war.world war 1939-1945 - campaigns - burma, viscount sir william slim 1891-1970 -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Big Sky Publishing et al, Aussie soldier prisoners of war, 2009
Almost 35,000 Australian service personnel were taken prisoner during the Boer War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Living as a POW demanded extremes of courage, defiance and mateship from our servicemen and women. Some lived to tell their tales about extreme suffering and hardship and many would carry with them forever the memories of those who died. AUSSIE SOLDIER: PRISONERS OF WAR is about the men and women who found themselves on the wrong side of the wire. The heartfelt stories will transport you on their very personal journeys. You will relive the capture, living conditions, escape attempts, punishments, humour, strength and morale -- and for some -- the eventual taste of freedom.Index, ill, bib, maps, p.308.non-fictionAlmost 35,000 Australian service personnel were taken prisoner during the Boer War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Living as a POW demanded extremes of courage, defiance and mateship from our servicemen and women. Some lived to tell their tales about extreme suffering and hardship and many would carry with them forever the memories of those who died. AUSSIE SOLDIER: PRISONERS OF WAR is about the men and women who found themselves on the wrong side of the wire. The heartfelt stories will transport you on their very personal journeys. You will relive the capture, living conditions, escape attempts, punishments, humour, strength and morale -- and for some -- the eventual taste of freedom.prisoners of war - australia, prisoners of war - australia - pictorial works -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, New Holland, Voices from the trenches : letters to home, 2002
The Carthew brothers participated in some of history's most legendary battles, but theirs is more than a story of guns and bullets - it is also a lovestory; of the love and devotion of three brothers for their womenfolk and their country.Ill, maps, p.244.non-fictionThe Carthew brothers participated in some of history's most legendary battles, but theirs is more than a story of guns and bullets - it is also a lovestory; of the love and devotion of three brothers for their womenfolk and their country.world war 1914-1918 - personal narratives, world war 1914-1918 - campaigns - gallipoli -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, William Heinemann, The Wolf : how one German raider terrorised Australia and the southern oceans in the first world war, 2010
The true story of an epic voyage of destruction in World War One. July 1917: the First World War is about to enter its fourth horrendous year and ships are mysteriously disappearing off Australia and New Zealand, as a young Australian woman named Mary Cameron sails with her husband and daughter across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Sydney. Less than a thousand miles from Sydney, a black-hulled freighter appears out of the vast blue emptiness, and Mary and her daughter rush to the deck to greet her. Suddenly, two hinged iron sections of the freighter's bulwarks drop down to reveal she is bristling with guns. She is in fact the German warship the Wolf, and the Cameron family are about to find themselves captive on one of the century's most extraordinary wartime sea voyages.Index, bib, ill, maps, p.384.non-fictionThe true story of an epic voyage of destruction in World War One. July 1917: the First World War is about to enter its fourth horrendous year and ships are mysteriously disappearing off Australia and New Zealand, as a young Australian woman named Mary Cameron sails with her husband and daughter across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Sydney. Less than a thousand miles from Sydney, a black-hulled freighter appears out of the vast blue emptiness, and Mary and her daughter rush to the deck to greet her. Suddenly, two hinged iron sections of the freighter's bulwarks drop down to reveal she is bristling with guns. She is in fact the German warship the Wolf, and the Cameron family are about to find themselves captive on one of the century's most extraordinary wartime sea voyages.naval warfare - germany, commerce raiders - germany -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Aurum Press Ltd, The secret listeners : The men and women posted across the world to intercept the secret german codes for Bletchley Park, 2012
Before Bletchley Park could break the German war machine's code, its daily military communications had to be monitored and recorded by 'the Listening Service', the wartime department whose bases moved with every theatre of war (Cairo, Malta, Gibraltar, Iraq, Cyprus) as well as having listening stations along the eastern coast of Britain to intercept radio traffic in the European theatre. This is the story of the - usually very young - men and women sent out to farflung outposts to listen in for Bletchley Park, an oral history of exotic locations and ordinary lives turned upside down by a sudden remote posting - the heady nightlife in Cairo, filing cabinets full of snakes in North Africa, and flights out to Delhi by luxurious flying boat.Index, ill, map, p.354.non-fictionBefore Bletchley Park could break the German war machine's code, its daily military communications had to be monitored and recorded by 'the Listening Service', the wartime department whose bases moved with every theatre of war (Cairo, Malta, Gibraltar, Iraq, Cyprus) as well as having listening stations along the eastern coast of Britain to intercept radio traffic in the European theatre. This is the story of the - usually very young - men and women sent out to farflung outposts to listen in for Bletchley Park, an oral history of exotic locations and ordinary lives turned upside down by a sudden remote posting - the heady nightlife in Cairo, filing cabinets full of snakes in North Africa, and flights out to Delhi by luxurious flying boat.world war 1939-1945 - great britain - intelligence, world war 1939-1945 - cryptography -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Signet, The eagle has flown, 1996
... generation The greatest World War Two story of all time - is not over ...The breathtaking sequel to the all-time classic, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED, reissued for a new generation The greatest World War Two story of all time - is not over...By the end of 1943, all evidence of the abortive German attempt to assassinate Winston Churchill has been carefully buried in an unmarked grave in the Norfolk village of Studley Constable. But two of the most wanted ringleaders are still alive...In the fourth hard winter of war, British Intelligence pick up disturbing reports from Heinrich Himmler's power base in Wewelsburg Castle. The mission is not yet accomplished. For the Fatherland, the Reichsfuhrer is demanding the Eagle's return...p.341.fictionThe breathtaking sequel to the all-time classic, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED, reissued for a new generation The greatest World War Two story of all time - is not over...By the end of 1943, all evidence of the abortive German attempt to assassinate Winston Churchill has been carefully buried in an unmarked grave in the Norfolk village of Studley Constable. But two of the most wanted ringleaders are still alive...In the fourth hard winter of war, British Intelligence pick up disturbing reports from Heinrich Himmler's power base in Wewelsburg Castle. The mission is not yet accomplished. For the Fatherland, the Reichsfuhrer is demanding the Eagle's return...world war- 1939-1945 - secret operations - germany - fiction., world war 1939 - 1945 - fiction -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Bentleigh RSL Sub Branch, Serving then, serving still : the story of the Bentleigh RSL Inc. & a record of service of this district in three war, 2000
A history of the Bentleigh RSL from the Boer war to the present.Bib, ill, p.180.non-fictionA history of the Bentleigh RSL from the Boer war to the present.returned services league - victorian branch, bentleigh rsl -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Fontana / Collins, Douglas Bader, fight for the sky : the story of the Spitfire and the Hurricane, 1975
Douglas Bader tells the inspiring story of the Battle of Britain from the viewpoint of 'The Few'. Using superb illustrations he traces the development of the Spitfire and Hurricane and describes the nail-biting actions of those who flew them against far superior numbers of enemy aircraft. As an added bonus, other well-known fighter aces including Johnnie Johnson, 'Laddie' Lucas and Max Aikten contribute to Douglas's book, no doubt out of affe.Index, ill, p.190.non-fictionDouglas Bader tells the inspiring story of the Battle of Britain from the viewpoint of 'The Few'. Using superb illustrations he traces the development of the Spitfire and Hurricane and describes the nail-biting actions of those who flew them against far superior numbers of enemy aircraft. As an added bonus, other well-known fighter aces including Johnnie Johnson, 'Laddie' Lucas and Max Aikten contribute to Douglas's book, no doubt out of affe.world war 1939-1945 - aerial operarions - britain, spitfire, hurricane -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Ross McMullin, Will Dyson : Australia's radical genius, 2006
Will Dyson (1880-1938) was a brilliant and versatile artist, and much more besides. His prodigious talents struggled to find a niche in Australia, but he burst into prominence with cartoons of extraordinary vigour and resource on the London Daily Herald. These whole-page cartoons with wordy, witty captions were revered by workers and intellectuals alike. Dyson was also a talented writer, a scintillating humourist and an arresting speaker. A stunning overnight success, he was described as the most famous Australian in the world. In 1916 Dyson became Australia's first official war artist. His drawings of profound empathy and sympathy remain a unique record of the Western Front experience. Once again he complemented his art with exquisite writing. Returning to Australia in 1925, he took up etching to international acclaim, confirming that whatever he did he did well. Absorbing, illuminating, and lavishly illustrated, this is a fascinating story of the life and times of a remarkable and under-recognised Australian.Index, bib, ill, p.348.non-fictionWill Dyson (1880-1938) was a brilliant and versatile artist, and much more besides. His prodigious talents struggled to find a niche in Australia, but he burst into prominence with cartoons of extraordinary vigour and resource on the London Daily Herald. These whole-page cartoons with wordy, witty captions were revered by workers and intellectuals alike. Dyson was also a talented writer, a scintillating humourist and an arresting speaker. A stunning overnight success, he was described as the most famous Australian in the world. In 1916 Dyson became Australia's first official war artist. His drawings of profound empathy and sympathy remain a unique record of the Western Front experience. Once again he complemented his art with exquisite writing. Returning to Australia in 1925, he took up etching to international acclaim, confirming that whatever he did he did well. Absorbing, illuminating, and lavishly illustrated, this is a fascinating story of the life and times of a remarkable and under-recognised Australian.will dyson 1880-1938, cartoonists - australia -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Wesley John Olson, HMAS Sydney (II) : in peace and war, 2016
No other warship in the history of the Royal Australian Navy has inspired and fired the public imagination like HMAS Sydney (II). This is the story of the ship and the men who served in her.Index, bib, ill, maps, p.610.non-fictionNo other warship in the history of the Royal Australian Navy has inspired and fired the public imagination like HMAS Sydney (II). This is the story of the ship and the men who served in her.hmas sydney, world war 1939-1945 - naval operations - australia -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Allen & Unwin, Bomber boys, 2017
Bomber Boys is the extraordinary and little known story of more than 100 Dutch airmen stranded in Australia with no country to return to who were joined by a contingent of Australians to make up the RAAF's No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies Squadron). Formed in Canberra in April 1942, the squadron flew operational coastal patrols before eventually being relocated to the secret MacDonald Airfield, north of Pine Creek in the Northern Territory and then Batchelor near Darwin.Bib, ill, maps, p.305.non-fictionBomber Boys is the extraordinary and little known story of more than 100 Dutch airmen stranded in Australia with no country to return to who were joined by a contingent of Australians to make up the RAAF's No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies Squadron). Formed in Canberra in April 1942, the squadron flew operational coastal patrols before eventually being relocated to the secret MacDonald Airfield, north of Pine Creek in the Northern Territory and then Batchelor near Darwin.royal australian air force - 18th squadron, world war two 1939-1945 - aerial operations - australia -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Melbourne University Publishing, Simpson and the donkey : the making of a legend, 2014
The simple tale of Simpson and his donkey is the pre-eminent legend of heroism. It is the story of a humble water-carrier, a rescuer of wounded men, a tale of compassion, stoic persistence, with a tragic end. His tale is an integral part of the Anzac story. Across time, a simple tale can acquire a complicated history. This is what happened to the man with the donkey and is the subject of this book, Simpson's 'afterlife', the legend.Index, bib, ill, maps, p.296.non-fictionThe simple tale of Simpson and his donkey is the pre-eminent legend of heroism. It is the story of a humble water-carrier, a rescuer of wounded men, a tale of compassion, stoic persistence, with a tragic end. His tale is an integral part of the Anzac story. Across time, a simple tale can acquire a complicated history. This is what happened to the man with the donkey and is the subject of this book, Simpson's 'afterlife', the legend.world war 1914-1918 - campaigns - gallipoli, gallipoli campaign - medical corps - history -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Odhams Press, The epic of Malta, 1946
The story of the rsistance of malta to the Axis forces in World War TwoIll, maps, p.128.non-fictionThe story of the rsistance of malta to the Axis forces in World War Twoworld war 1939-1945 - malta, malta - siege 1940-1943 -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Australian War memorial, Mud & dust : Australian Army vehicles & artillery in Vietnam, 2009
... and stories from their war record. Mud & Dust includes the stories ...In association with the Australian War Memorial, Mud & Dust showcases photographs of the vehicles in action, with detailed colour scheme notes, internal features and stories from their war record. Mud & Dust includes the stories of those who drove and serviced the vehicles and brings the wars they fought in into a new dimension. Their narratives record the tragedies of war as well as the adventures experienced by soldiers.Bib, ill, p.304.In association with the Australian War Memorial, Mud & Dust showcases photographs of the vehicles in action, with detailed colour scheme notes, internal features and stories from their war record. Mud & Dust includes the stories of those who drove and serviced the vehicles and brings the wars they fought in into a new dimension. Their narratives record the tragedies of war as well as the adventures experienced by soldiers.vietnam war - 1961-1975 - australian participation, vietnam - military equipment -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Harper Collins, Hell's heroes, 2009
Hell′s Heroes is the story of the POW camp that never was − so dubbed by one old soldier because the atrocities that occurred there went largely unreported at the time. For while the Burma−Thai railway‚ the Bataan death march and events at Changi and in many other parts of Asia became synonymous with Japanese brutality‚ most of the camps which were set up to provide slave labour for the enemy military machine at home were slowly forgotten in the aftermath of World War II.Ill, maps, p.359.non-fictionHell′s Heroes is the story of the POW camp that never was − so dubbed by one old soldier because the atrocities that occurred there went largely unreported at the time. For while the Burma−Thai railway‚ the Bataan death march and events at Changi and in many other parts of Asia became synonymous with Japanese brutality‚ most of the camps which were set up to provide slave labour for the enemy military machine at home were slowly forgotten in the aftermath of World War II.world war 1939 – 1945 - prisons and prisoners - japanese, atrocities - japan -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Bruce Davies, The battle at Ngok Tavak: A bloody defeat in South Vietnam 1968, 2008
In 1968, in the western jungle of Vietnam near Laos, a Special Forces Company, under the command of an Australian Army Captain, supported by a Marine artillery detachment, occupied an old French fort, on a hill known as Ngok Tavak. The circumstances of the battle that ensued, and the subsequent retreat from Ngok Tavak, left in their wake issues that cried out for resolution for decades after the event. A number of American bodies were left where they had fallen during the battle, and another American, the nephew of Katharine Hepburn, went missing. After speaking extensively to the battle survivors and loved ones of the American warriors, and searching through accounts from official reports that included Vietnamese documents, eyewitness statements and war diaries, Bruce Davies has pieced together the evidence that will bring resolution to the questions that still haunt many of those connected to the battle. A story that needed to be told for the veterans who survived and for those who did not, for their families and for the sake of history. Lieutenant Colonel Brian Cooper (Retd), Australian Infantry, South Vietnam 1971-72Index, bib, ill, p.241.non-fictionIn 1968, in the western jungle of Vietnam near Laos, a Special Forces Company, under the command of an Australian Army Captain, supported by a Marine artillery detachment, occupied an old French fort, on a hill known as Ngok Tavak. The circumstances of the battle that ensued, and the subsequent retreat from Ngok Tavak, left in their wake issues that cried out for resolution for decades after the event. A number of American bodies were left where they had fallen during the battle, and another American, the nephew of Katharine Hepburn, went missing. After speaking extensively to the battle survivors and loved ones of the American warriors, and searching through accounts from official reports that included Vietnamese documents, eyewitness statements and war diaries, Bruce Davies has pieced together the evidence that will bring resolution to the questions that still haunt many of those connected to the battle. A story that needed to be told for the veterans who survived and for those who did not, for their families and for the sake of history. Lieutenant Colonel Brian Cooper (Retd), Australian Infantry, South Vietnam 1971-72vietnam - history 1945-1975, vietnam - special forces -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Paul Ham, Kokoda, 2004
For the first time ever, the compelling story of the infamous Kokoda Track campaign has been told from both sides of the conflict. In a unique and balanced portrayal, renowned journalist Paul Ham recounts both the Australian and Japanese perspectives of the events on the hellish Papuan jungle trail where thousands fought and died during World War II. Based on extensive research in Australia and Japan, and including previously unpublished documents, Kokoda intimately relates the stories of ordinary soldiers in 'the world's worst killing field', and examines the role of commanders in sending ill-equipped, unqualified Australian troops into battles that resulted in near 100 per cent casualty rates. It was a war without mercy, fought back and forth along 90 miles (145 km) of river crossings, steep inclines and precipitous descents, with both sides wracked by hunger and disease, and terrified of falling into enemy hands. Defeat was unthinkable: the Australian soldier was fighting for his homeland against an unyielding aggressor; the Japanese ordered to fight to the death in a bid to conquer 'Greater East AsiaIndex, bib, ill, p.602.non-fictionFor the first time ever, the compelling story of the infamous Kokoda Track campaign has been told from both sides of the conflict. In a unique and balanced portrayal, renowned journalist Paul Ham recounts both the Australian and Japanese perspectives of the events on the hellish Papuan jungle trail where thousands fought and died during World War II. Based on extensive research in Australia and Japan, and including previously unpublished documents, Kokoda intimately relates the stories of ordinary soldiers in 'the world's worst killing field', and examines the role of commanders in sending ill-equipped, unqualified Australian troops into battles that resulted in near 100 per cent casualty rates. It was a war without mercy, fought back and forth along 90 miles (145 km) of river crossings, steep inclines and precipitous descents, with both sides wracked by hunger and disease, and terrified of falling into enemy hands. Defeat was unthinkable: the Australian soldier was fighting for his homeland against an unyielding aggressor; the Japanese ordered to fight to the death in a bid to conquer 'Greater East Asiaworld war 1939 – 1945 – campaigns – kokoda, world war 1939-1945 - campaigns - south west pacific -
Victorian Interpretive Projects Inc.
Photograph - Colour, Ann Gervasoni, Gravestone for F. Rawlings, Pheasant Wood Cemetery, Fromelles, 2014, 19/07/2015
The photographer, Ann Gervasoni, was in Frommelles for the reburial ceremony for 5 previously unidentified Australian soldiers. "AFTER almost 94 years, Ballarat soldier Private Frederick Rawlings, and a long-standing family mystery, can finally be laid to rest. Private Rawlings was one of 5533 Australian soldiers killed in the bloodiest conflict in Australian history, the World War I Battle of Fromelles, France. He was one of 250 men buried in a mass grave at Pheasant Wood after the battle of July 19 and 20 in 1916. In the past two years, a joint Australian and British project has aimed to positively identify the remains of those soldiers buried at the site. This week, the Federal Government announced Private Rawlings was one of 75 men who had been identified by name. Also on the list were Corporal Leslie Hart, born in Clunes, and Lance Corporal Allan Bennett, born in Ballarat, both of whom joined the army in Western Australia. All but one of the 75 soldiers have now been re-buried, with full military honours, at a specially constructed cemetery near the battle site. Private Rawlings' grand-niece, Maureen Holding, of Mannibadar, got a call to confirm the news on Tuesday night. 'It's just quite incredible after all these years and huge loss of life, they've actually identified him,' Mrs Holding said yesterday. Last year, Mrs Holding and her brother, Leo Rawlings, gave DNA samples to the Australian Army to help with the identification process. But until seeing a newspaper article more than 20 years ago, they did not know Private Rawlings or his younger brother, Corporal Sydney Rawlings, had even been in the war. On Anzac Day 1988, The Courier published a photo of Cpl Sydney Rawlings and excerpts from a letter from an army chaplain that informed Ballarat family members of Cpl Rawlings' death in Northern France in 1918. 'About two years later, my husband, Malcolm, found in a tin of rusty nails and shoe buckles belonging to my late dad, a set of war medals,' Mrs Holding said. They were inscribed with Sydney's Rawlings' name, and checks of family records and The Courier story confirmed the connection. In 1991, this newspaper published a list of soldiers who had memorial trees in Ballarat's Avenue of Honour. Next to Sydney's name was that of Frederick Rawlings.(http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/543125/remains-of-ballarat-soldier-killed-in-france-during-wwi-identified/, accessed 16/04/2014.)A number of colour digital images showing the grave of Frederick Rawlings of Ballarat in the Pheasant Wood Cemetery, Frommelles, France.world war one, fromelles, pheasant wood, frederick rawlings, allan bennett, leslie hart -
Stratford and District Historical Society
Bedspread, Bower, Archibald James, 1915-c.1920
Archibald James Bower enlisted in World War I in November 1915, and was killed in action in France in August 1916. Before he left Australia, he drew designs on linen for his mother, Harriet Bower nee Harper, to embroider a quilt - mainly flowers, butterflies and moths. Mrs Bower finished the quilt, which was then used for many years by her grandson, Archibald William Luxford. He went to sleep every night, knowing the designs were drawn by the uncle he had never known, after whom he had been named.This quilt has historic significance as a memorial to a soldier lost in World War I. It is important as a tangible reminder of loss in war, and an example of how memorials to those lost in war take many forms. It has aestetic significance as an example of needlework that is original in design, with an impressive range of different stitches used to execute the design. It has spiritual significance to the Luxford family and the Munro community (even though Archie Bower was from Sale and the quilt moved later to Munro), as the quilt that Arch Luxford, a prominent member of the community, often spoke about as one his most important possessions. He was born after the death of his uncle, and named in memory of him. He grew up sleeping under the quilt, and knowing the story of his loss in World War I.A bedspread made principally of three sections of white linen sewn together with panels of crochet, with a deep linen edging and crochet edging. There are moths, butterflies and flowers embroidered on all sections in white cotton, as a form of candlewicking.world war 1914-1918, craft, needlework -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Australian War Memorial, HMAS Mk IV, 1945
Anecdotal stories of life and action in the Australian Navy during World War TwoIll, p.200.non-fictionAnecdotal stories of life and action in the Australian Navy during World War Twoaustralia - royal australian navy - history, royal australian navy - pictorial works -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Australian War Memorial, HMAS Mk IV, 1944
Anecdotal stories of life and action in the Australian Navy during World War TwoIll, p.200.non-fictionAnecdotal stories of life and action in the Australian Navy during World War Twoaustralia - royal australian navy - history, royal australian navy - pictorial works -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Australian War Memorial, HMAS Mk II, 1943
Anecdotal stories of life and action in the Australian Navy during World War TwoIll, p.200.non-fictionAnecdotal stories of life and action in the Australian Navy during World War Twoaustralia - royal australian navy - history, royal australian navy - pictorial works -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Australian War Memorial, HMAS, 1942
Anecdotal stories of life and action in the Australian Navy during World War TwoIll, p.200.non-fictionAnecdotal stories of life and action in the Australian Navy during World War Twoaustralia - royal australian navy - history, royal australian navy - pictorial works -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Australian War Memorial, Victory roll: The RAAF at war, 1945
Anecdotal stories of life and action in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War TwoIll, p.200.non-fictionAnecdotal stories of life and action in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War Tworoyal australian air force - history, royal australian air force - airmen - biographies