Hardcover book on the customs and traditions of the Australian ArmyISBN: 9780980325164 (hbk)army traditions, army history, customs of the service, army traditions, army history, customs of the service

Index, bibliography, ill (col), p.172.non-fictionOn 7 June 1917, the British Second Army launched its attack on Messines Ridge, detonating 19 giant mines beneath the German front-line positions. By the end of the day, one of the strongest positions on the Western Front had fallen, a place of such importance that the Germans had pledged to hold it at any cost. It was the greatest British victory in three years of war. The first two years of the First World War had represented an almost unending catalogue of disaster for the Australians. Messines was not only their first real victory, it was also the first test in senior command for Major General John Monash who commanded the newly formed 3rd Division and would later be hailed as Australia's greatest soldier. Messines was a baptism of fire for the 3rd Division which came into the line alongside the battle-scarred 4th Australian Division, badly mauled at Bullecourt just six weeks earlier in one of the worst defeats of the war. The fighting at Messines would descend into unimaginable savagery, a lethal and sometimes hand-to-hand affair of bayonets, clubs, bombs and incessant machine-gun fire, described by one Australian as '72 hours of Hell'. After their string of bloody defeats over 1915 and 1916, Messines would be the ultimate test for the Australians. Collapse summary world war 1914-1918- campaigns - western front, battles of messines - australian participation - 1917

Bibliography, index, glossary, ill (b/w)non-fictionA collection of anecdotes and excerpts from diaries that have never been published.australia - history - military - personal narratives, australia - military culture

Ill, maps, p.345.non-fictionKay Danes is no stranger to danger, having survived a terrifying 11-month hostage ordeal in communist Laos. In 2008, she faced her fears and embarked on a humanitarian aid mission to people devastated in war-torn Afghanistan. This powerful story will have you enthralled as you travel with Kay through Taliban strongholds and the remote wastelands of Al Qaeda terrorists. Her story provides a rare glimpse of places we may never visit and the courageous Afghan people determined to persevere against overwhelming odds.afghanistan - social conditions, afghanistan - personal recollections - kay danes

Ill, maps, plans, p.181.non-fictionOn the 22nd of April 1995 more than 4,000 Rwandans were massacred and thousands more injured in a place called Kibeho. Terry Pickard, a seasoned soldier and medic, was one of a 32-strong force of Australian UN peacekeepers in Kibeho on that terrible Saturday. While the United Nations’ presence prevented the death toll from being even worse than it was, the massacre continues to haunt him. The rules of engagement that stopped him from intervening in the senseless slaughter, and the life and death decisions he was forced to make when dealing with the injured condemned him to more than a decade of recurring nightmares and debilitating flashbacks. The horror and unimaginable tragedy of the Kibeho Massacre still looms large in the lives of Rwandans and the people sent to help the African country. No one who walked away from that day was ever the same again. Combat Medic is a personal account of one Australian soldier who found himself at the centre of events that shocked the world, and the personal toll that he paid. Terry Pickard’s army career spanned nearly 20 years. More than 25 years after Rwanda he continues to struggle with post traumatic stress triggered by his experiences. Collapse summary united nations - peacekeeping forces - rwanda, rwanda - civil war - atrocities

Index, bib, ill, maps, p.254.non-fictionTraining for War encapsulates one hundred years of the history of Headquarters 1st Division and the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters. During that time the Headquarters has commanded subordinate formations and units; soldiers; and assets. They all have a place in this story as do many distinguished Australians who have had a close association with the Division, either commanding it or holding senior positions there. This study looks at the organisation's high water mark in World War One as well as quieter times between the world wars, before the tempo picks up again in the period closer to our own time. As with any military formation it cannot be studied in isolation from politics and policy and so reference is made to wider events in the Australian political and Defence environment. For those wanting new insights into one of the Australian Army's most historic divisions this work should satisfy their needs.australian army - organisation, australian army - 1st division

Ill, maps, p.165.non-fictionThe Australian army and from its inception to the present day including the settlement conflictsaustralia - armed forces, australia - armed forces - history

Bib, ill, p.429.Haunting and poignant, this collection of portraits from renowned Melbourne artist, George Petrou portrays a spirit like no other — the Anzac spirit. Australians from all walks of life have served our great nation with gallantry and sacrifice — ordinary people who displayed mateship, resilience and devotion to duty. The Art of Sacrifice captures the spirit of service in a fitting tribute to all Anzacs of every generation. Using images of the past and the stories of today, the artist travels Australia and overseas to connect the past and the present in a unique, powerful and evocative collection of outstanding portraits. The Art of Sacrifice is a stunning contribution to the understanding and commemoration of all those who have served our great country.australia - military - personal narratives, soldiers - australia - pictorial works

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

Ill, maps, p.336.non-fictionOn the afternoon of 18 August 1966, just five kilometres from the main Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat, a group of Viet Cong soldiers walked into the right flank of Delta Company, 6 RAR. Under a blanket of mist and heavy monsoon rain, amid the mud and shattered rubber trees, a dispersed Company of 108 men held its ground with courage and grim determination against a three-sided attack from a force of 2,500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army troops. When the battle subsided, 18 Australian soldiers lay dead and 24 had been wounded. Battlefield clearance revealed 245 enemy bodies with captured documents later confirming the count at over 500 enemy killed and 800 wounded. These men were led by a gruff and gusty perfectionist, Major Harry Smith. Now, some 47 years after the battle, Harry tells his story for the first time. But Long Tan is more than just an account of a historic battle. Harry Smith takes his readers on an extraordinary journey - one that ultimately reveals a remarkable cover-up at the highest military and political echelons. Long Tan is also Harry's life story and portrays his many personal battles, from failed marriages to commando-style killing; from a horrific parachute accident through to his modern-day struggles with bureaucracy for recognition for his soldiers. Harry's battles are tempered by his love of sailing, where he has at last found some peace. Long Tan portrays the wrenching, visceral experience of a man who has fought lifelong battles, in a story that he is only now able to tell. Harry can still hear the gunfire and smell the blood spilt at Long Tan. For him, the fight continues. Collapse summary vietnam conflict - australian involvement, vietnam war 1961-1975 – battles – long tan

Book

Soft cover book. Cover - cardboard. White and blue colour print on front, spine and back. Illustration - front cover -, black and white photograph of a soldier in uniform superimposed over background blue and white photograph of a trench scene. Back cover - blue and black photograph of Gallipoli - sea, beach and hills. 358 pages - cut, plain, white paper. Illustrated black and white photographs and maps. publications, book, gallipoli, battles and evacuation

Phillip Bellingham skied for Australia in the 2014 and the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. He studied Sports Science at the University of Ballarat (later Federation University)Colour photograph of a snow skier competing in the Sochi Winter Olympic Gamesphillip bellingham, olympian, winter olympian, skier, alumni, winter olympics

This medallion was donated by Hayley Martin. Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s the six members of the Martin Family generally spent at least a week each year at Falls Creek, staying at Spargo's Lodge. The Martins then bought a share in Diana Lodge and stayed there frequently until the late 1970s. Medallions such as this one purchased at Cuming's Ski Hire, were commonly worn by skiers attached to an item of their ski apparel with the leather strap. The reverse side features an image from Nordic mythology. Ullr was the God of Snow, Patron Saint of Skiers, the son of Sif and stepson of Thor, the God of Thunder. Ullr was said to be an expert skater, skier and hunter who would glide around the world and cover the land with snow. Skiers hoped Ullr would ensure them of a good snow season and also protect them from injury.This item is significant because variations of medallions such as this were worn by many skiers and also advertised Falls Creek.A metal medallion decorated with wildflowers on one side and the image of Ullr, Patron Saint of Skiers on the reverse side.ullr patron saint of skiers, cuming's ski hire, spargo lodge, diana alpine lodge

Photograph taken by a staff member of the rear view of the Kooyong building, of 4 hot air balloons in the early morning and the moon still in the sky.vision australia, buildings

Born: Mount Duneed, Victoria, Australia 1867; Lived and worked: England 1897-1919; Died: Olinda, Victoria, Australia 1943Heidelberg SchoolLedger Gift, 1977Harbour scene with large ships, buildings, water and a grey sky. Timber frame.Recto: Signed "A Streeton" in dark grey oil in l.l.c of composition; Date obscured by framing; Not titledpainting, seascape, maritime, ships, dock, clouds, sky, industrial

Prior to 1948 the RAAF used the British RAF flag . In December 1948 King George V1 proclaimed the new, uniquely Australian design to be used by the RAAF. It featured a smaller roundel with a slightly tilted southern cross and 7 pointer star, similar to the Australian Flag, on a sky blue background. This ensign was used until 1982 when the red dot in the roundelwas replaced by the image of a kangaroo. This flag was stored in the Nhill RSL Australian flag with sky blue background, with roundel in bottom RH corner.