Index, ill (b/w plates), p.362.non-fictionAt 11:28 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, 2000, high in the Arctic Circle under the roiling surface of the unforgiving Barents Sea, Captain Gennady Lyachin was taking the Kursk, the pride of Russia's elite Northern Fleet, through the last steps of firing a practice torpedo, part of an elaborate naval exercise. Suddenly, the torpedo exploded in a massive fireball, instantly incinerating all seven men in the submarine's forward compartment. The horror, however, was just beginning. The full, gripping story of the remarkable drama inside the Kursk and of the desperate rescue efforts has never been told - until now.russian submarine kursk explosion, submarine disasters - russia

p.426fictionThe year young Australians sailed off to war in high hopes of adventure, only to find themselves faced with disaster. The tragedy and violence of Gallipoli provide the climax to this very personal, moving and surprisingly romantic story. With remarkable skill and in achingly beautiful prose, Roger McDonald takes the reader on an archetypal Australian journey which parallels the nation's progress from its country childhood, through the adolescent exuberance of its young cities, to initiation on one of the world's ancient battlefields. It is a vital journey, haunted by menace and disillusionment, one embedded in our national mythology. This astonishing first novel, published to great critical acclaim in 1979 and since then selling over 100,000 copies, tells the story of two boys from the bush, the thoughtful and awkward Walter and his knowing friend Billy Mackenzie, and their girls Frances and Diana. Together they discover a future which seems full of promise, drawing them into the exciting turmoil of passion and war. But theirs is a fateful alliance, in a world all too quickly passing, with an outcome they never could have foreseen.gallipoli campaign - fiction, world war 1914-1918 - fiction

Index, bibliography, ill, maps, p.302.non-fictionWorking as a journalist at the Adelaide Advertiser in 1966, Jean Debelle yearned to be involved in the biggest story of the decade - the Vietnam War. But only male journalists in Australia were being sent to cover the escalating conflict. Instead, she volunteered to work in Vietnam for the Red Cross to tend to the non-medical welfare of the sick and wounded ANZAC forces. Jean had planned to report on the war in spare moments - but there were none. For one year she lived in the spotlight: a young Australian woman among 5,000 men. This intimate personal account is told from the rare and compassionate perspective of a young woman living close to the battlefront. Jean tells of the resilience of the soldiers in the face of daily atrocities and of the international medical personnel fighting to save lives and to rebuild shattered bodies and minds. It is also the story of the Vietnamese, struggling to maintain not just their traditions but their very lives in the face of brutal hardship. With infectious humour, Jean tells of striving to be like a sister to the men when sex was in the very air they breathed. But she experienced stark terror when she faced a crazed gunman, had a close call in a minefield and was caught in the midst of a Vietnamese skirmish. Jean also offers an unvarnished look at the Australians' worst battle in Vietnam, Long Tan, and their worst landmine disaster. With unblinking candour, she writes of the harsh realisation that after nine months in Vietnam she had grown cold to the unrelenting horror of war. From diaries, letters and Red Cross reports, Jean Debelle Lamensdorf has researched and written a story not only of tragedy but also of hope and humour. It is a compelling adventure story - and one of love. vietnam war 1961-1975 – australian involvement, vietnam war 1961-1975 - red cross - women

Ill, p.159.non-fictionThe victory of the Russian army on the Eastern front in 1916world war 1914-1918 - military history, world war 1914 - campaigns - eastern front

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

Bib, ill, p.303.The cold war was nearly over by 1986, yet under the sea the deadly game of hide-and-seek played by Soviet and American submarines continued unabated. Off the east coast of America, an aging Soviet ballistic missile sub, a "boomer," suffered a crippling accident, coming within moments of a nuclear meltdown. Had her reactors exploded, the radioactivity released into the Gulf Stream would have dwarfed the Chernobyl disaster. This is the gripping, true story of the young Soviet sailors who fought to save their submarine, risking fire, smoke, poison gas, and intense radioactivity. Their secret struggle and sacrifice saved the American coast from nuclear catastrophe. Told in the words of the survivors, it is a story never before revealed outside the submarine community. nuclear submarines - soviet union, nuclear submarines - accidents

Index, maps, ill, p.431.non-fictionWhat did happen just off the Western Australian coast on 19 November, 1941? Certainly a tragedy: 600 men were killed when the HMAS Sydney was torpedoed by a German cruiser; but why? Olsen sets out to answer these questions, and in doing so, pulls apart the accepted theories about the causes of Australia's greatest maritime disaster. Title Bitter victory : the death of H.M.A.S. Sydney / Wesley Olson.world war 1939-1945 - naval operations - australia, hmas sydney

This meticulously researched book gives us remarkalbe insight into one of the most critical foreign policy decisions in U.S. history. Anyone aspiring to a leadership position in American politics or public policy should carefully examine this perceptive work and its many valuable lessons.united states - foreign relations - vietnam, vietnam war, 1961-1975 - causes, united states - foreign relations - 1961-1963

A tragedy this day stunned our nation - Australia's worst peace-time military disaster - the sinking of the destroyer HMAS VOYAGER.voyager (destroyer 1952-1964), sailors - australia - biography, marine accidents - australian capital territory - jervis bay

Colour photograph damaged during floods at Carsibrook, Victoria. carisbrook flood, disaster recovery

emergency bus.Black and white photo of ambulance bus.982 AMBULANCE THE METdisaster

This accident occurred at Devil's Elbow where now the Old Coach Road and Jasper Road meet at a cliff face. John Lundy-Clarke wrote a ballad about the mishap, probably combining fact and fancy. The wagonette was returning from an excursion to the Brooklyn Guest House in Montrose. Apparently only the horses were killed in the accident. See 'The Brooklyn Dray". The photograph shows local men inspecting the wreckage. (Not passengers as they were injured).devil's elbow, kalorama, john lundy-clarke, wagonette

A brassard is a fabric armband holding any fabric badges, unit logos or rank insignia and is worn over fatigues or army tunics.Similar to ones worn by commandos involved in Rip disaster of 1960Army commando jungle green brassard with badge, unit logo and stripes"Commando" in white on red background badge; White parachute on blue wings on green base paratrooper badge; 2 khaki chevrons corporal stripes brassard, commando

On the evening of February 17, 1960, 74 peacetime commandos in army boats set off on a training exercise from Point Lonsdale to Point Nepean, simulating a raid. The weather was calm at Point Lonsdale on a midweek evening 50 years ago, but 50 years ago weather forecasts were not yet reliable. By nightfall a massive storm came through and all hell broke loose. Soon, three young Victorians were dead and more than 70 others were rescued from huge seas in Bass Strait.Green commando beret similar to ones worn by commandos involved in Rip Disaster of 1960Commando beret (green) with unit insigniaUnit insignia: "Strike Swiftly"commandos, beret

In 1960 seventy-four commandos from 2 Commando Company left Point Lonsdale at 6pm on February 17 to cross The Rip in an exercise raid on the Portsea officer school. Shortly after departing, a strong tide caught the raiding party and pushed them out to sea through The Rip, where 10-metre waves capsized many of the kayaks and amphibious vehicles. Many of the men were picked up by larger rescue boats, only to be overturned once again in the heavy seas. Warrant Officer George Drakopolous and the driver of his amphibious DUKW, Private Eddie Meyer, both drowned as their vehicle sank. Eight of the commandos were rescued in Bass Strait after being picked up by an Italian ship, the Toscana. Commando Roger Wood helped others board the Toscana safely but was washed off a rope ladder by a monster wave and into the sea. His body was never found. It remains one of Australia's least-known peacetime military tragedies.One of the later disasters around the Rip between Points Nepean and Lonsdale. The 'Queenscliffe' lifeboat turned out to search for survivors without success Paddles from a Mk3 foldaboat used in ill fated commando training exercise in 1960the rip disaster, kayaks, oars

The remarkable story when 74 soldiers fought in vain to save the lives of their mates off Portsea as 3 soldiers died. Tragically, Privates Roger Wood and Edward Meyer, and Warrant Officer George "Taffy" Drakopoulos, died. Please Note: "The Rip" is also known as "The Heads", which is a dangerous stretch of water connecting Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait. This is the only entrance for all shipping into Port Phillip Bay and to and from the Port of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Kayak of a similar type as those used during the ill-fated army exercise with loss of life in the rip.rip disaster, commandos, kayak, military history - army

North Kew, now divided between Kew and Kew East, bordered the Yarra River. As such, it was a region subject to flooding in the Yarra Valley. Development beyond this point (ie Kellett Grove) was limited by the City of Kew's planning regulations. Prior to urban development, the area since European settlement and the first land sales in the district in the 1840s, had been used for dairy farming. Small sepia snapshot taken from the river ramp of a house at 8 Kellett Grove, in what was then known as North Kew. The point of view is from a backyard looking towards Fairfield. Beyond the fence line are two almost submerged houses. A number of people are in a motor driven boat midstream. Fairfield at this period, (ie 1934) was noted for its limited river side development. Verso: 2/12/34 / TAKEN FROM OUR RAMPyarra river -- north kew, floods -- yarra valley, floods -- north kew, floods -- 1929, floods -- 1934, natural disasters -- kew

North Kew, now divided between Kew and Kew East, bordered the Yarra River. As such, it was a region subject to flooding in the Yarra Valley. Development beyond this point (ie Kellett Grove) was limited by the City of Kew's planning regulations. Prior to urban development, the area since European settlement and the first land sales in the district in the 1840s, had been used for dairy farming. Small sepia snapshot taken from the back yard of a house at 8 Kellett Grove, in what was then known as North Kew. The point of view is from a backyard looking towards Fairfield. Floodwaters have submerged the fence and a clothes line. Verso: BACKYARD NTH. KEWyarra river -- north kew, floods -- yarra valley, floods -- north kew, floods -- 1934, natural disasters -- kew