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

Index, bib, ill, maps, p.416.non-fictionAfter Pearl Harbor, Japan swept unchecked through the Pacific. But a tiny band of brave men stayed behind the enemy lines. Aided by loyal islanders, they watched and they warned. They were the Coast Watchers. They saved countless lives - including that of future US President John F. Kennedy - and they changed the course of the Pacific War.world war 1939-1945 - australian involvement, coastwatchers

Ill, p.140.non-fictionAward-winning ABC-TV documentary maker, writer and Gallipoli historian, Harvey Broadbent has collected the haunting and often harrowing memories of the boys who came home...Australian and New Zealand soldiers who returned from the devastating campaign at Gallipoli in April 1915.world war 1914-1918 - campaigns - gallipoli, gallipoli campaign - personal recollections

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

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

Index, ill, p.541.non-fictionStories of ordinary Australians caught up by circumstances and by duty. Features their telling of how they answered war's ruthless questions. What are you worth? In what do you believe? Can you endure? Stories from winners of the VC, POWs, the patrols of Vietnam, peacekeepers in Rwanda, nurses from aid agencies and others.australia - history - military, australia - armed forces - history

Bib, maps, p.70.non-fictionHistorical account of the Balkan area - includes Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Macadonia - over the last 2000 years. Considers its geographical position as a corridor from central Europe and inner Asia to the Mediterranean and the ordeals suffered by the peoples of the Balkans in the light of European competetion for access. Includes a list of important dates, a glossary and bibliography and a fold-out map of the area. balkan peninsula - history, armed conflict - history and teaching

Ill, p.380.non-fictionBased on his diaries, this is a frank account of how Mason came first in French Foreign Legion basic training, trained other Legionnaires, went to Africa, did sniper, commando and medic's training and took part in two operations, both in the Republic of Djibouti, where a civil war nearly crippled the nation. It tells of his daily life in the Legion, in the training regiment, in Africa and with the Legion's Parachute Regiment. But more than this, David's gripping account reveals his disillusionment, frustration and disappointments, and how the Legion today is not what it seems.soldiers - australia - biography, france - military history

Index, ill, p.491.non-fictionThis story weaves through the paddy fields and the suburbs, from Vung Tau and Long Tan, to Bankstown and Broadmeadows, and tells of the long hard road Australia took that us travel from innocence to bitterness, and from despair to redemption.vietnam - history 1945-1975, vietnam conflict - australian involvement

Index, 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

The copy of this book is from the first publication and is rare. The book is set in the Yarra Ranges area with the characters based on local people. THe donors childhood pet dog "Chad" featured as a character in the book in chapter 12 p. 87. The daughter of the owner of Debbie, Patricia Reed (nee McKenzie) lives in South Belgrave. The story of Debbie mothering a kangaroo is based on a true story. The donor also advised that this remarkable dog also rescued and looked after a cat. 126 page hard covered children's fiction book titled "A Dog Called Debbie". Front cover depicts a black and white dog mothering a kangaroo, on a green background. The back cover features an excerpt from the forward by A. R. Chisholm, OBE Hon. D. Litt, Professor Emeritus and an illustration of the dog and Kangaroo playing. Inside front cover, first page, handwritten in ink:"from Nan" / Daughter of "Joan" and "Jason" / ( Mavis Jean and Pat McKenzie) / Patricia McKenzie Reed / And from Jim Johnson / owner of Chad. australian wildlife, 1970's

Article, Clipping from The Sun dated 29 April 1965Menzies to Tell parliament Today "Troops to Vietnam"newspapers, robert menzies

Khaki 2Lt Cap with Corps Badge of 1RARBadge of 1RAR "Duty first"officers cap, 2lt tim fischer

Laminated Document. The Australian Newspaper dated April 9 1965. Headline "Menzies says it - we fight in Vietnam"Multiplelaminated document, the australian, menzies

AArticle, Clipping of trooper Kerr with his sister Debbie sitting on a tractor as childred. The story in the clipping describes some of the feelings that Jimmy (James) Kerr had whilst serving in Vietnam. It also mentions that Jimmy (James) is one of the 500 war dead to be honoured in a 20 page tribute to the Australian who gave their lives in the Vietnam Wararticle, clippings, james kelly kerr

A typed two page letter address to Mr. Kerr from The Australian dated May 19, 1988. The Australian is asking to Mr. kerr's assistance in the compilation of an important supplement planned for The Australian newspaer in early July.letter, james kelly kerr

A typed letter from The Australian dated July 18, 1988 to Bill Kerr thanking him for his prompt response to their planned tribute of ur nation who died during Australia's long and unselfish military commitment in Vietnam.letter, james kelly kerr

A twenty page tribute to the 500 soldiers who died in Vietnam. Listed on the front page are the names of the soldiers. Inside the liftout are photos and stories about the soldiers. Included in this liftout is James Kelly Kerr.newspaper, james kelly kerr

Army Aviation Blue Beret with cap badge depicting Eagle, Crossed Swords and Crown and Motto "Vigilence"Army Aviation Cap Badgeberet, army aviation