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Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Readers Book Club, Cheshire V. C. : a story of war and peace, 1956
A biography of Leonard Chesire VC, commander of Squadron 617, observer of the A bomb attack on Nagasaki and later advocate for peace.Ill, p.254.non-fictionA biography of Leonard Chesire VC, commander of Squadron 617, observer of the A bomb attack on Nagasaki and later advocate for peace.world war 1939 – 1945 – aerial operations - britain, leonard chesire - biography -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Naval Institute, U-boat adventures : firsthand accounts from World War II, 2010
Twenty-two U-boat veterans tell their stories in this collection of their experiences, recorded by the author during several years of travel throughout Germany. While many books have been written about the U-boat war, this is one of the few that focuses on the lives of the submariners, and rarer still is its concentration on the crewmen rather than the officers. Melanie Wiggins interviewed seventeen men of the enlisted ranks, along with five commanders, to take readers into the terrifying world of underwater warfare, where every single crewman made a crucial difference in the fate of his boat. As she searched for and interviewed U-boat men, Wiggins also collected photographs from scrapbooks and archives, and consulted war-era personnel records and secret diaries. Her attendance at a reunion of the crew of U-682 netted a wealth of information as did her interviews with submarine veterans in Gؤrlitz, former East Germany. Her interviews with Admiral Otto Kretschmer just two months before his death and ninety-four-year-old Commander Jѓrgen Wattenberg in Hamburg add important dimensions to the work. Among the individual sagas included are Radioman Hans Bѓrck's description of his 1942 patrol to Aruba and the visit of Japanese submarine I-30 at Lorient; Fireman 2nd Class Josef Erben's explanation of how his boat, U-128, got stuck on a large rock and had to be hauled free; POW Ernst Gؤ:thling's memories of being wounded in a British prison camp when German planes mistakenly dropped bombs in the area.Index, bibliography, notes, ill, p.250.non-fictionTwenty-two U-boat veterans tell their stories in this collection of their experiences, recorded by the author during several years of travel throughout Germany. While many books have been written about the U-boat war, this is one of the few that focuses on the lives of the submariners, and rarer still is its concentration on the crewmen rather than the officers. Melanie Wiggins interviewed seventeen men of the enlisted ranks, along with five commanders, to take readers into the terrifying world of underwater warfare, where every single crewman made a crucial difference in the fate of his boat. As she searched for and interviewed U-boat men, Wiggins also collected photographs from scrapbooks and archives, and consulted war-era personnel records and secret diaries. Her attendance at a reunion of the crew of U-682 netted a wealth of information as did her interviews with submarine veterans in Gؤrlitz, former East Germany. Her interviews with Admiral Otto Kretschmer just two months before his death and ninety-four-year-old Commander Jѓrgen Wattenberg in Hamburg add important dimensions to the work. Among the individual sagas included are Radioman Hans Bѓrck's description of his 1942 patrol to Aruba and the visit of Japanese submarine I-30 at Lorient; Fireman 2nd Class Josef Erben's explanation of how his boat, U-128, got stuck on a large rock and had to be hauled free; POW Ernst Gؤ:thling's memories of being wounded in a British prison camp when German planes mistakenly dropped bombs in the area.world war 1939 – 1945 –naval operations - germany, germany - u-boats -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Brassey's, Wonju : the Gettysburg of the Korean War, 2000
Just as the Battle of Gettysburg was the high-water mark of the Confederacy's bid for secession, the Chinese offensive launched at Wonju was the high point from which China's hopes for victory soon faded. This is the first book to show that after fifteen days of combat at Wonju, Chinese leaders realized that they could not win the war and could possibly lose it. On this not particularly well-known battlefield, UN forces led by brave U.S. and South Korean fighting men ensured South Korean independence. These battles reinvigorated the UN war effort, thanks in no small part to the leadership of the U.S. Eighth Army's new commander, Lt. Gen. Matthew Ridgway. J. D. Coleman's comparison between the pivotal battles of Wonju and Gettysburg is original and thought provoking.Index, bibliography, notes, ill, maps, p.301.non-fictionJust as the Battle of Gettysburg was the high-water mark of the Confederacy's bid for secession, the Chinese offensive launched at Wonju was the high point from which China's hopes for victory soon faded. This is the first book to show that after fifteen days of combat at Wonju, Chinese leaders realized that they could not win the war and could possibly lose it. On this not particularly well-known battlefield, UN forces led by brave U.S. and South Korean fighting men ensured South Korean independence. These battles reinvigorated the UN war effort, thanks in no small part to the leadership of the U.S. Eighth Army's new commander, Lt. Gen. Matthew Ridgway. J. D. Coleman's comparison between the pivotal battles of Wonju and Gettysburg is original and thought provoking.korean war 1950-1953 - history, korean war - battle of wonju -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Allen & Unwin, The battle of Long Tan : as told by the commanders to Bob Grandin, 2004
This is the first time that those in direct command of Delta Company have shared their memories of the most significant battle fought by Australians in Vietnam, the Battle of Long Tan. Each of the commanders shares the experiences that brought them to Vietnam, and describes how the company commander, Harry Smith, drove Delta Company to become one of the most outstanding units in the Australian forces. Delta's superb military discipline, and its commanders' ability to think outside the square were decisive in holding a vastly superior number of enemies at bay. Each platoon played a crucial role in Delta Company's survival. The artillery's commitment in providing an unbroken wall of metal through which the enemy had to advance is told from the perspectives of both the forward controller and the gun positions. We fly with the RAAF helicopter pilots whose ammunition resupply was the turning point of the battle, and experience the carnage of the battlefield through the eyes of those in the relieving APCs. Delta Company's trauma on returning to the battlefield to claim their fallen was lightened only by the miraculous survival of two of their wounded. The trauma of the battle did not end with the action, however, as politics began to play their part in the drama. The valour of those directly involved in the battle has never been duly recognised - in some cases it has been belittled, in others denied. The ongoing efforts of the Long Tan commanders to right the many wrongs perpetrated in the wake of the battle, and their own journeys from the events of August 1966 draw the reader into a compelling dialogue on the aftermath of Vietnam. Collapse summaryIndex, ill, maps, p.332.non-fictionThis is the first time that those in direct command of Delta Company have shared their memories of the most significant battle fought by Australians in Vietnam, the Battle of Long Tan. Each of the commanders shares the experiences that brought them to Vietnam, and describes how the company commander, Harry Smith, drove Delta Company to become one of the most outstanding units in the Australian forces. Delta's superb military discipline, and its commanders' ability to think outside the square were decisive in holding a vastly superior number of enemies at bay. Each platoon played a crucial role in Delta Company's survival. The artillery's commitment in providing an unbroken wall of metal through which the enemy had to advance is told from the perspectives of both the forward controller and the gun positions. We fly with the RAAF helicopter pilots whose ammunition resupply was the turning point of the battle, and experience the carnage of the battlefield through the eyes of those in the relieving APCs. Delta Company's trauma on returning to the battlefield to claim their fallen was lightened only by the miraculous survival of two of their wounded. The trauma of the battle did not end with the action, however, as politics began to play their part in the drama. The valour of those directly involved in the battle has never been duly recognised - in some cases it has been belittled, in others denied. The ongoing efforts of the Long Tan commanders to right the many wrongs perpetrated in the wake of the battle, and their own journeys from the events of August 1966 draw the reader into a compelling dialogue on the aftermath of Vietnam. Collapse summary vietnam war 1961-1975 – australian involvement, vietnam war 1961-1975 – battles – long tan -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Transworld et al, We were soldiers once -and young : Ia Drang : the battle that changed the war in Vietnam, 2002
In November 1965, some 450 men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, under the command of Lt. Col. Hal Moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later, only two and half miles away, a sister battalion was chopped to pieces. Together, these actions at landing zones X-Ray and Albany constitute one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War. The Americans faced what seemed to be certain destruction. How these men persevered - sacrificed themselves for their comrades and never gave up - makes a vivid portrait of war at its most inspiring and devastating. General Moore and Joe Galloway, the only journalist on the ground throughout the fighting, have interviewed hundreds of men who fought there, including the North Vietnamese commanders. The result is a story of unparalleled human interest. We Were Soldiers Once... and Young also brings the war back home with unforgettable stories of those who lost family members to combat. This devastating account rises above the specific ordeal it chronicles to present a picture of men facing the ultimate challenge, dealing with it in ways they would have found unimaginable only a few hours earlier. It reveals to us, as rarely before, man's most heroic and horrendous endeavor. Collapse summaryIndex, bibliography, notes, ill, maps. p.483.non-fictionIn November 1965, some 450 men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, under the command of Lt. Col. Hal Moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later, only two and half miles away, a sister battalion was chopped to pieces. Together, these actions at landing zones X-Ray and Albany constitute one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War. The Americans faced what seemed to be certain destruction. How these men persevered - sacrificed themselves for their comrades and never gave up - makes a vivid portrait of war at its most inspiring and devastating. General Moore and Joe Galloway, the only journalist on the ground throughout the fighting, have interviewed hundreds of men who fought there, including the North Vietnamese commanders. The result is a story of unparalleled human interest. We Were Soldiers Once... and Young also brings the war back home with unforgettable stories of those who lost family members to combat. This devastating account rises above the specific ordeal it chronicles to present a picture of men facing the ultimate challenge, dealing with it in ways they would have found unimaginable only a few hours earlier. It reveals to us, as rarely before, man's most heroic and horrendous endeavor. Collapse summary vietnam war 1961-1975 – us involvement, vietnam war 1961-1975 – battles – ia drang valley -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hil, Lincoln on war, 2011
President Lincoln used his own weapons--his words--to fight the Civil War as brilliantly as any general who ever took the field. In Lincoln on War, historian Harold Holzer gathers and interprets Lincoln's speeches, letters, memoranda, orders, telegrams, and casual remarks, organizing them chronologically and allowing readers to experience Lincoln's growth from an eager young Indian War officer to a middle-aged dove congressman to a surprisingly hardened and determined hawk as the Union's commander-in-chief. We observe a man willing to sacrifice life and treasure in unprecedented quantities, to risk wounding the pride of vain generals, and even to mislead the public if it meant the preservation of an unbreakable union of states, the destruction of slavery, and the restoration of America as an example to inspire the world. This volume covers strategy; tactics; the endless hiring, sustaining, motivating, and dismissal of commanders; military discipline; and military technology. Modern commanders-in-chief have repeatedly quoted Lincoln to justify their own wars, so it behooves us as citizens to know Lincoln's record well. From masterpieces such as the Gettysburg Address to lesser-known meditations on God's purposes, Lincoln on War is the first book to highlight exclusively Lincoln's sublime and enduring words on warIndex, ill, p.296.President Lincoln used his own weapons--his words--to fight the Civil War as brilliantly as any general who ever took the field. In Lincoln on War, historian Harold Holzer gathers and interprets Lincoln's speeches, letters, memoranda, orders, telegrams, and casual remarks, organizing them chronologically and allowing readers to experience Lincoln's growth from an eager young Indian War officer to a middle-aged dove congressman to a surprisingly hardened and determined hawk as the Union's commander-in-chief. We observe a man willing to sacrifice life and treasure in unprecedented quantities, to risk wounding the pride of vain generals, and even to mislead the public if it meant the preservation of an unbreakable union of states, the destruction of slavery, and the restoration of America as an example to inspire the world. This volume covers strategy; tactics; the endless hiring, sustaining, motivating, and dismissal of commanders; military discipline; and military technology. Modern commanders-in-chief have repeatedly quoted Lincoln to justify their own wars, so it behooves us as citizens to know Lincoln's record well. From masterpieces such as the Gettysburg Address to lesser-known meditations on God's purposes, Lincoln on War is the first book to highlight exclusively Lincoln's sublime and enduring words on waramerican civil war 1861-1865 - history, abraham lincoln 1809-1865 - leadership -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Barnsley Pen & Sword Military, The Yompers : with 45 Commando in the Falklands War, 2012
Yomping was revealed by the journalist Charles Laurence in 1982 as the word which the Royal Marines used to describe carrying heavy loads long distances on foot. Given the intense public interest in the dramatic events then unfolding in the South Atlantic, it caught on and is now in common usage.The Yompers is the first account to be written by a company commander who fought in the Falklands War. Called to action from their beds early on 2 April 1982, the author along with the rest of 45 Commando Royal Marines, sailed 8,000 miles to play a key role in the recovery of the Falkland Islands from Argentine occupation. Lacking helicopters and short of food, they yomped in appalling weather carrying overloaded rucksacks, across ground which threatened to break legs and ankles at every step. Despite extreme hardship, their morale and training ensured they remained a cohesive fighting-fit body of men.Ill, maps, p.208.non-fictionYomping was revealed by the journalist Charles Laurence in 1982 as the word which the Royal Marines used to describe carrying heavy loads long distances on foot. Given the intense public interest in the dramatic events then unfolding in the South Atlantic, it caught on and is now in common usage.The Yompers is the first account to be written by a company commander who fought in the Falklands War. Called to action from their beds early on 2 April 1982, the author along with the rest of 45 Commando Royal Marines, sailed 8,000 miles to play a key role in the recovery of the Falkland Islands from Argentine occupation. Lacking helicopters and short of food, they yomped in appalling weather carrying overloaded rucksacks, across ground which threatened to break legs and ankles at every step. Despite extreme hardship, their morale and training ensured they remained a cohesive fighting-fit body of men.falklands war 1982, great britain - royal marines - commando 45 -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Carlton books, Battles that changed history: Fifty decisive battles from 2,500 years of warfare, 2006
Offers an account of 50 decisive battles that have had a long-term impact on the course of world history. Using maps and illustrations, this work not only examines the background and consequences of each battle, but also re-creates the intense fighting, analyses the tactics and profiles key commanders and weaponry used.Index, ill, p.224.non-fictionOffers an account of 50 decisive battles that have had a long-term impact on the course of world history. Using maps and illustrations, this work not only examines the background and consequences of each battle, but also re-creates the intense fighting, analyses the tactics and profiles key commanders and weaponry used.military history, warfare - history -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, McMillan, Great commanders and their battles, 1987
This book presents a visual analysis of twenty famous victories won by a broad cross-section of history's most outstanding commanders, from Alexander the Great's triumph against the Persians in 331 B.C. to Israeli general Moshe Dayan's Sinai campaign of 1956.Index, bibliography, ill, p.200.non-fictionThis book presents a visual analysis of twenty famous victories won by a broad cross-section of history's most outstanding commanders, from Alexander the Great's triumph against the Persians in 331 B.C. to Israeli general Moshe Dayan's Sinai campaign of 1956.generals - biography, battles - history -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, David Chandler, The Oxford illustrated history of the British Army, 1994
From longbow, pike, and musket to Challenger tanks, from the Napoleonic Wars to the Gulf campaign, the Duke of Marlborough to Field Marshal Montgomery, The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Army recounts the history of the British army from its medieval antecedents to the present day. Drawing on the latest scholarship, this survey shows how British fighting forces have evolved over the last five centuries. The continuities revealed are sometimes surprising: narrow recruitment patterns, friction between soldiers and civilians, financial constraints and recurrent political pressure for economies are constant themes. Commanders, campaigns, battles, organization, and weaponry are covered in detail within the wider context of the social, economic, and political environment in which armies exist and fight. The British army has been remarkably successful in fighting terms, losing only one major war (of American Independence 1775-83). As one of the engines of empire it has been active all over the world, as well as shaping the internal destiny of the nation in civil war and revolution. Its history is charted in a sequence of chronological chapters, each containing special feature articles, beginning with the medieval, Elizabethan, and Restoration army and moving on through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to the two world wars of the twentieth. The book concludes with accounts of the army of British India, the amateur military tradition, the British way in warfare, and an assessment of what the future may hold in the light of the Options for Change review. Extensively illustrated in black and white and colour, and with a detailed chronology and further reading lists, this is the definitive one-volume history of the British army for specialists and non-specialists alike.Bibliography, Index, Chronology, ill (plates, col, b/w) maps. p.452.non-fictionFrom longbow, pike, and musket to Challenger tanks, from the Napoleonic Wars to the Gulf campaign, the Duke of Marlborough to Field Marshal Montgomery, The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Army recounts the history of the British army from its medieval antecedents to the present day. Drawing on the latest scholarship, this survey shows how British fighting forces have evolved over the last five centuries. The continuities revealed are sometimes surprising: narrow recruitment patterns, friction between soldiers and civilians, financial constraints and recurrent political pressure for economies are constant themes. Commanders, campaigns, battles, organization, and weaponry are covered in detail within the wider context of the social, economic, and political environment in which armies exist and fight. The British army has been remarkably successful in fighting terms, losing only one major war (of American Independence 1775-83). As one of the engines of empire it has been active all over the world, as well as shaping the internal destiny of the nation in civil war and revolution. Its history is charted in a sequence of chronological chapters, each containing special feature articles, beginning with the medieval, Elizabethan, and Restoration army and moving on through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to the two world wars of the twentieth. The book concludes with accounts of the army of British India, the amateur military tradition, the British way in warfare, and an assessment of what the future may hold in the light of the Options for Change review. Extensively illustrated in black and white and colour, and with a detailed chronology and further reading lists, this is the definitive one-volume history of the British army for specialists and non-specialists alike.great britain - military history, great britain - military tradition -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Rick Parish, Beyond fear: Real life in the SAS and pararescue teams, 2009
This is the true story of a man who has taken on all the action he can get. Go behind the scenes with Rick Parish as he serves in the SAS Regiment then as Base Commander and Training Commander for Pararescue at the NSCA, Victorian Division. Every fight is a fight for survival, in a place that only lies Beyond Fear.p,205.non-fictionThis is the true story of a man who has taken on all the action he can get. Go behind the scenes with Rick Parish as he serves in the SAS Regiment then as Base Commander and Training Commander for Pararescue at the NSCA, Victorian Division. Every fight is a fight for survival, in a place that only lies Beyond Fear.sas - history, rick parish - biography -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Pierre Boulle, The bridge on the river Kwai, 1952
The Bridge on the River Kwai" tells the story of three POWs who endure the hell of the Japanese camps on the Burma-Siam railway - Colonel Nicholson, a man prepared to sacrifice his life but not his dignity; Major Warden, a modest hero, saboteur and deadly killer; Commander Shears, who escaped from hell but was ordered back. Ordered by the Japanese to build a bridge, the Colonel refuses, as it is against regulations for officers to work with other ranks.p.157.fictionThe Bridge on the River Kwai" tells the story of three POWs who endure the hell of the Japanese camps on the Burma-Siam railway - Colonel Nicholson, a man prepared to sacrifice his life but not his dignity; Major Warden, a modest hero, saboteur and deadly killer; Commander Shears, who escaped from hell but was ordered back. Ordered by the Japanese to build a bridge, the Colonel refuses, as it is against regulations for officers to work with other ranks. war stories - fiction, burma-siam railway - fiction -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Random House, Monash: The outsider who won a war, 2004
A biography of Australia's greatest military commander, Sir John Monash, who chnaged the way wars were fought and won.index, notes, ill, maps, p.586.non-fictionA biography of Australia's greatest military commander, Sir John Monash, who chnaged the way wars were fought and won.world war 1914-1918 - australia - campaigns, australia - generals - biography -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Joan Beaumont, Broken nation : Australians in the Great War, 2013
The Australian experience of war in all its complexity - from the homefront as well as the battlefront - as the men and women who experienced it chose to understand and remember it. The Great War is, for many Australians, the event that defined our nation. The larrikin diggers, trench warfare, and the landing at Gallipoli have become the stuff of the Anzac legend. But it was also a war fought by the families at home. Their resilience in the face of hardship, their stoic acceptance of enormous casualty lists and their belief that their cause was just, made the war effort possible. This book brings together all the dimensions of World War I. Combining deep scholarship with powerful storytelling, this book brings the war years to life: from the well-known battles at Gallipoli, Pozieres, Fromelles and Villers-Bretonneux, to the lesser known battles in Europe and the Middle East; from the ferocious debates over conscription to the disillusioning Paris peace conference and the devastating Spanish flu the soldiers brought home. We witness the fear and courage of tens of thousands of soldiers, grapple with the strategic nightmares confronting the commanders, and come to understand the impact on Australians at home and at the front of death on an unprecedented scale. A century after the Great War, this book brings lucid insight into the dramatic events, mass grief and political turmoil that makes the memory of this terrible war central to Australia's history.Index, bibliography, notes, ill, maps, p.628.non-fictionThe Australian experience of war in all its complexity - from the homefront as well as the battlefront - as the men and women who experienced it chose to understand and remember it. The Great War is, for many Australians, the event that defined our nation. The larrikin diggers, trench warfare, and the landing at Gallipoli have become the stuff of the Anzac legend. But it was also a war fought by the families at home. Their resilience in the face of hardship, their stoic acceptance of enormous casualty lists and their belief that their cause was just, made the war effort possible. This book brings together all the dimensions of World War I. Combining deep scholarship with powerful storytelling, this book brings the war years to life: from the well-known battles at Gallipoli, Pozieres, Fromelles and Villers-Bretonneux, to the lesser known battles in Europe and the Middle East; from the ferocious debates over conscription to the disillusioning Paris peace conference and the devastating Spanish flu the soldiers brought home. We witness the fear and courage of tens of thousands of soldiers, grapple with the strategic nightmares confronting the commanders, and come to understand the impact on Australians at home and at the front of death on an unprecedented scale. A century after the Great War, this book brings lucid insight into the dramatic events, mass grief and political turmoil that makes the memory of this terrible war central to Australia's history.world war 1914-1918- australia - history, world war 1914-1918 - social conditions -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, David W Cameron, The battle for Lone Pine: Four days of hell at the heart of Gallipoli, 2012
Surprisingly, as we near the 100th anniversary of the legendary Gallipoli campaign, this is the first book solely dedicated to one of its key battles - that at Lone Pine, where Australian and Turkish soldiers fought an ultimately futile battle that claimed thousands of lives in incredibly close quarters. Seven Victoria Crosses were earned by Australia's Anzacs in the intense four days of fighting, in pursuit of a flawed strategy to distract Turkish forces from larger incursions, which themselves failed. David W. Cameron has pulled together first-hand accounts from the men and women involved (including from the Turkish army) to detail what transpired and to follow some of their personal stories throughout the ordeal. By including the stories of non-combatants, such as engineers, nurses, sappers, commanders and more, he not only gives due credit to those who labored in support of the troops, but provides a wider understanding of the mammoth undertaking of such warfare. Many Australians travel to the Lone Pine Memorial and Cemetery each year to commemorate Anzac Day and remember the fallen - this work of popular history highlights the fate of those who fought on the very ground where they gather. Most Australian have heard of Lone Pine. Too few know why. Over four days in August 1915, Australians and Turks were thrown into some of the fiercest fighting of the war, on a small plateau in Gallipoli known as Lone Pine. Thousands of lives were lost. Seven of Australia's nine Gallipoli VCs were earned during brutal hand-to-hand combat in dark tunnels and in trenches just metres apart, bombarded by terrifying volleys of grenades. The Battle for Lone Pine is the first book devoted to this cornerstone of the Anzac legend, drawing on unforgettable first-hand accounts scratched into diaries and letters home. The stories of the diggers, as well as the engineers, nurses, sappers, commanders and more, provide an invaluable record of the battle and serve as moving testimony to their courage in appalling conditions. Today, pine trees are planted in remembrance around Australia. In Gallipoli, the Lone Pine Cemetery and Memorial attracts large crowds to commemorate Anzac Day. David W. Cameron's absorbing history reveals the fate of those who fought on the ground where they gather. 'David Cameron not only leads the way for the battalions of books on Australia in World War I to come in the next six years, he sets a standard for authors to emulate'Index, bibliography, notes, ill, p.349.non-fictionSurprisingly, as we near the 100th anniversary of the legendary Gallipoli campaign, this is the first book solely dedicated to one of its key battles - that at Lone Pine, where Australian and Turkish soldiers fought an ultimately futile battle that claimed thousands of lives in incredibly close quarters. Seven Victoria Crosses were earned by Australia's Anzacs in the intense four days of fighting, in pursuit of a flawed strategy to distract Turkish forces from larger incursions, which themselves failed. David W. Cameron has pulled together first-hand accounts from the men and women involved (including from the Turkish army) to detail what transpired and to follow some of their personal stories throughout the ordeal. By including the stories of non-combatants, such as engineers, nurses, sappers, commanders and more, he not only gives due credit to those who labored in support of the troops, but provides a wider understanding of the mammoth undertaking of such warfare. Many Australians travel to the Lone Pine Memorial and Cemetery each year to commemorate Anzac Day and remember the fallen - this work of popular history highlights the fate of those who fought on the very ground where they gather. Most Australian have heard of Lone Pine. Too few know why. Over four days in August 1915, Australians and Turks were thrown into some of the fiercest fighting of the war, on a small plateau in Gallipoli known as Lone Pine. Thousands of lives were lost. Seven of Australia's nine Gallipoli VCs were earned during brutal hand-to-hand combat in dark tunnels and in trenches just metres apart, bombarded by terrifying volleys of grenades. The Battle for Lone Pine is the first book devoted to this cornerstone of the Anzac legend, drawing on unforgettable first-hand accounts scratched into diaries and letters home. The stories of the diggers, as well as the engineers, nurses, sappers, commanders and more, provide an invaluable record of the battle and serve as moving testimony to their courage in appalling conditions. Today, pine trees are planted in remembrance around Australia. In Gallipoli, the Lone Pine Cemetery and Memorial attracts large crowds to commemorate Anzac Day. David W. Cameron's absorbing history reveals the fate of those who fought on the ground where they gather. 'David Cameron not only leads the way for the battalions of books on Australia in World War I to come in the next six years, he sets a standard for authors to emulate'world war 1914-1918 - campaigns - gallipoli, gallipoli campaign - battles - lone pine -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Arrow, Monty and Rommel : parallel lives, 2012
Two men came to personify generalship in the Second World War: Bernard Montgomery for the British and Erwin Rommel for the Germans. In the span of a few years, they fought a series of extraordinary duels across several theaters of war. Ever since, historians have assessed their leadership, personalities, and skill. Born four years apart, the two men followed a remarkably similar trajectory. Military historian Peter Caddick-Adams explores their lives, beginning with their provincial upbringing and the brutal trench fighting of World War I--where both nearly died. Obsessed with fitness and training, the future field marshals emerged with glowing records. They taught in staff colleges, wrote infantry textbooks, and fought each other as divisional commanders in 1940 before taking charge of their respective armies as the war raged on. This first comparative biography of these two soldiers explores how each was "made" by their war leaders, Churchill and Hitler, and how their strategies permeate down to today's armies.Index, ill, maps, p.614.non-fictionTwo men came to personify generalship in the Second World War: Bernard Montgomery for the British and Erwin Rommel for the Germans. In the span of a few years, they fought a series of extraordinary duels across several theaters of war. Ever since, historians have assessed their leadership, personalities, and skill. Born four years apart, the two men followed a remarkably similar trajectory. Military historian Peter Caddick-Adams explores their lives, beginning with their provincial upbringing and the brutal trench fighting of World War I--where both nearly died. Obsessed with fitness and training, the future field marshals emerged with glowing records. They taught in staff colleges, wrote infantry textbooks, and fought each other as divisional commanders in 1940 before taking charge of their respective armies as the war raged on. This first comparative biography of these two soldiers explores how each was "made" by their war leaders, Churchill and Hitler, and how their strategies permeate down to today's armies.generals - germany - biography, generals - great britain - biography -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Cambridge University Press, The proud 6th : an illustrated history of the 6th Australian Division, 1939-45, 2008
Following Mark Johnston's acclaimed illustrated histories of the 7th and 9th Australian Divisions, this is his long-awaited history of the 6th Australian Division: the first such history ever published. The 6th was a household name during World War II. It was the first division raised in the Second Australian Imperial Force, the first division to go overseas and the first to fight. Its success in that fight, in Libya in 1941, indicated that the standard established in the Great War would be continued. General Blamey and nearly every other officer who became wartime army, corps and divisional commanders were once members of the 6th Division. Through photographs and an authoritative text, this book tells their story and the story of the proud, independent and tough troops they commanded.Index, bib, ill, maps, p.269.non-fictionFollowing Mark Johnston's acclaimed illustrated histories of the 7th and 9th Australian Divisions, this is his long-awaited history of the 6th Australian Division: the first such history ever published. The 6th was a household name during World War II. It was the first division raised in the Second Australian Imperial Force, the first division to go overseas and the first to fight. Its success in that fight, in Libya in 1941, indicated that the standard established in the Great War would be continued. General Blamey and nearly every other officer who became wartime army, corps and divisional commanders were once members of the 6th Division. Through photographs and an authoritative text, this book tells their story and the story of the proud, independent and tough troops they commanded. australia - army - 6th division - history, divisional histories -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Berkley Calibre, Beyond band of brothers : the war memoirs of Major Dick Winters, 2006
In war, great commanders lead soldiers into hell to do the impossible. They were called Easy Company--but their mission was never easy. Immortalized as the Band of Brothers, they suffered 150 percent casualties while liberating Europe, an unparalleled record of bravery under fire. Dick Winters was their commander, "the best combat leader in World War II" to his men. This is his story, told in his own words for the first time. On D-Day, Dick Winters parachuted into France and assumed leadership of the Band of Brothers when their commander was killed. He led them through the Battle of the Bulge, the attack on Foy--where Easy Company reached its breaking point--and into Germany, by which time each member had been wounded. Neither a protest against war nor a glamorization of combat, this is a moving tribute to the human spirit by a man who earned the love and respect of the men of Easy Company and the adulation of new generations worldwide.Index, ill, p.292.non-fictionIn war, great commanders lead soldiers into hell to do the impossible. They were called Easy Company--but their mission was never easy. Immortalized as the Band of Brothers, they suffered 150 percent casualties while liberating Europe, an unparalleled record of bravery under fire. Dick Winters was their commander, "the best combat leader in World War II" to his men. This is his story, told in his own words for the first time. On D-Day, Dick Winters parachuted into France and assumed leadership of the Band of Brothers when their commander was killed. He led them through the Battle of the Bulge, the attack on Foy--where Easy Company reached its breaking point--and into Germany, by which time each member had been wounded. Neither a protest against war nor a glamorization of combat, this is a moving tribute to the human spirit by a man who earned the love and respect of the men of Easy Company and the adulation of new generations worldwide. world war 1939 – 1945 – personal narratives – united states, united states army - history -
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, Hart-Davis, MacGibbon, The Boer war, 1977
The Boer War was an epic both of heroism and of barbarism. Fought by the British against the Dutch inhabitants of South Aftrica, the Boer War had an extraordinary cast of characters including Commanders-in chief buller, Roberts and Kitchener, Winston Churchill, Arthur Conan Doyle, Emily Hobhouse, Rudyard Kipling, and Gandhi. The war revealed the ineptitude of the British military, and exposed the corrupt underside of British imperialism . For the first time, Judd and Surridge debunk several myths. There was not, for instance, a straightforward divide between the Boers and British. In fact, the overriding aim of both sides was to maintain European supremacy and to keep Africans and Indians "in their place." Giving us a sense of how the Apartheid era was born.Index, bibliography, ill, maps, p.190.non-fictionThe Boer War was an epic both of heroism and of barbarism. Fought by the British against the Dutch inhabitants of South Aftrica, the Boer War had an extraordinary cast of characters including Commanders-in chief buller, Roberts and Kitchener, Winston Churchill, Arthur Conan Doyle, Emily Hobhouse, Rudyard Kipling, and Gandhi. The war revealed the ineptitude of the British military, and exposed the corrupt underside of British imperialism . For the first time, Judd and Surridge debunk several myths. There was not, for instance, a straightforward divide between the Boers and British. In fact, the overriding aim of both sides was to maintain European supremacy and to keep Africans and Indians "in their place." Giving us a sense of how the Apartheid era was born.south african war 1899-1901, second boer war -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Edward Jablonski, America in the air war, 1982
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Army Air Forces had only 1,100 combat-ready planes. No one could have imagined then that within the next four years the AAF would become the mighty weapon commemorated in the paintings reproduced on the following pages, or that it would have to scope to engage in what its commander, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, described as a "global mission." Nevertheless, by 1944 the AAF had grown into 16 separate air forces stationed around the world, and its 1,100 planes had grown to nearly 80,000.Index, bib, ill, p.171.non-fictionWhen the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Army Air Forces had only 1,100 combat-ready planes. No one could have imagined then that within the next four years the AAF would become the mighty weapon commemorated in the paintings reproduced on the following pages, or that it would have to scope to engage in what its commander, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, described as a "global mission." Nevertheless, by 1944 the AAF had grown into 16 separate air forces stationed around the world, and its 1,100 planes had grown to nearly 80,000. world war 1939-1945 - aerial operations - united states, united states air force - history - 1939-1945 -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, Tigers in the mud, 1992
Description of the combat experiences of a German tank commander in WWIIIll, maps, p.343.non-fictionDescription of the combat experiences of a German tank commander in WWIIworld war 1939-1945 - tank warfare - germany, world war 1939-1945 - personal narratives - germany -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Andre Deutsch, Great military blunders, 2012
From ancient times to the Bay of Pigs and the Falklands War, military history has been marked as much by misjudgements and incompetence as by gallantry and glory. Such blunders have sometimes ended in tragedy, sometimes in farce - such as the English troops, supposedly marching on Cadiz in 1625, who instead got drunk in a salt marsh. And sometimes they have ended in triumph, despite all the odds. In this fascinating and entertaining collection, author Geoffrey Regan not only recounts some of the staggering stories, but also highlights the kinds of difficulties that can lead to military disaster. His anecdotes encompass every aspect of warfare from the insanity of commanders to the provision of inadequate supplies. This entertaining and instructive book will appeal to the military buff and general reader alike.Ill, p.272.non-fictionFrom ancient times to the Bay of Pigs and the Falklands War, military history has been marked as much by misjudgements and incompetence as by gallantry and glory. Such blunders have sometimes ended in tragedy, sometimes in farce - such as the English troops, supposedly marching on Cadiz in 1625, who instead got drunk in a salt marsh. And sometimes they have ended in triumph, despite all the odds. In this fascinating and entertaining collection, author Geoffrey Regan not only recounts some of the staggering stories, but also highlights the kinds of difficulties that can lead to military disaster. His anecdotes encompass every aspect of warfare from the insanity of commanders to the provision of inadequate supplies. This entertaining and instructive book will appeal to the military buff and general reader alike. military art and science - history, military history -
B-24 Liberator Memorial Restoration Australia Inc
Emergency Signalling Mirror, Circa 1940's
A.J.Abicair was C/O of 486 Maintenance Squadron from 22/08/1946 having been promoted to A/W.Cdr in May 1944 , then T/OT/W/Cdr. January 1945. .Part of the collection of Wing Commander A.J.Abicair issued equipment.Rectangular mirror with see through cross in centre on front. Instructions for use printed on rear. Cord threaded through corner hole. Contained in original cardboard container.One Emergency Signalling Mirror ESM/1. "Spec. 40653" Open this end and pull lanyard. This package contains 1 emergency signalling mirror with which the attention of persons in the distance (in ships, aircraft, etc) may be attracted by a beam of reflected sunlight. A positive means of aiming the reflected beam of light is provided.Instructions are printed on the other side of this package and on mirror. General Electric company. Instruction for use are written on the rear. From collection of Wing/Com A.J. Abicair -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Terence Robertson, The golden horseshoe, 1955
The exploits of a U-Boat commander in the Second World warIndex, ill, p.210.non-fictionThe exploits of a U-Boat commander in the Second World wargermany - u-boats, naval warfare - germany -
The Mrs Aeneas Gunn Memorial Library
Book, George Routledge and Sons, Homer's Iliad, 1890
Homer has been hailed as the father of all poetry, and The Iliad has survived as a masterpiece for all time!. Set against the backdrop of the final days of the Trojan War, the Iliad tells the story of Achilles, a model warrior and paragon of all qualities the Greeks prized most in a young hero. Retired from his commander and king, Agamemnon, Achilles is pulled back into the conflict by the death of his friend, Patroclus.p.320.fictionHomer has been hailed as the father of all poetry, and The Iliad has survived as a masterpiece for all time!. Set against the backdrop of the final days of the Trojan War, the Iliad tells the story of Achilles, a model warrior and paragon of all qualities the Greeks prized most in a young hero. Retired from his commander and king, Agamemnon, Achilles is pulled back into the conflict by the death of his friend, Patroclus. classical literature, homers iliad - translation - george chapman -
The Mrs Aeneas Gunn Memorial Library
Book, Field Marshal Viscount Slim, Defeat into victory, 1956
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, 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, sir william slim -
The Mrs Aeneas Gunn Memorial Library
Book, Michael Joseph Ltd, We fought them in gunboats, 1944
An account of the exploits of a British gun boat commander in World War TwoIll, p.151.non-fictionAn account of the exploits of a British gun boat commander in World War Twoworld war 1939-1945 - naval operations - britain, world war 1939-1945 - personal narratives - britain -
The Mrs Aeneas Gunn Memorial Library
Book, Oxford University Press et al, The price of admiralty, 1944
This book describes the life of a man, the late Commander J. H. Walker, and of his ship. HMAS Parramatta; both used to represent their service. Parramatta was one of the 'little ships' which made the great sacrifice in keeping the hard pressed garrison of Tobruk supplied. She went down fighting gallantly and in doing so added a glorious page to the naval history of our Empire.Ill, maps, p.328.This book describes the life of a man, the late Commander J. H. Walker, and of his ship. HMAS Parramatta; both used to represent their service. Parramatta was one of the 'little ships' which made the great sacrifice in keeping the hard pressed garrison of Tobruk supplied. She went down fighting gallantly and in doing so added a glorious page to the naval history of our Empire. world war 1939-1945 - naval operations - australia, royal australian navy - history -
Beechworth RSL Sub-Branch
Photograph - Photograph - unveiling of Cenotaph circa 1964, 12 April 1964
Cenotaph was construct in 1964 and unveiled that year Major General Sir Kingsley Norris was a leader in Victoria's medical community and a distinguished military officer. While serving in the Middle East during the Second World War Norris received the Distinguished Service Order. In 1943 he was honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his distinguished service in the South-West Pacific. Photograph in a wooden frame painted black with glass front, hanging eyelet brass with hanging heavy gauged wire on the reverse side. Picture depict Sir Kingsley Norris standing in front of the cenotaph following the unveiling of the Australia Flag to reveal the plaque. In the background are RSL members and guests. The Union Jack is attached to the flag pole behind the cenotaph.UNVEILING OF CENOTAPH, SUNDAY 12. April, 1964 / By SIR KINGSLEY NORRIS KGE. CB. CBE. DSO / Donated by Verna. I. Mosscenotaph built to honour the anzacs