Showing 3351 items
matching soldiers - australia
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Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Harper Collins Australia, Soldiers without borders: Beyond the SAS, a global network of brothers in arms, 2008
... -and-the-dandenong-ranges soldiers - retirement australian army - special air ..."What happens to the elite, close-knit soldiers of the SAS after they leave the tight world of the military? For some, there are highly paid jobs as trigger men with security companies in the worlds war zones and trouble spots. But for many, unexpected adventures unfold. Some go on to establish and lead major corporations or to advise multinational companies about risk where the commercial stakes are high. Some join foreign defence forces, training new elite special forces in unusual places. For others, life takes a different twist. They become top government advisers and even hardened criminals. Most sinister of all is the shadowy world of black ops - risky, rewarding and adrenaline-driven jobs that governments always deny. But wherever they are, the former elite soldiers are never far from each other, bound in an exclusive global network of brothers-in-arms."-Index, ill (plates col, b/w), maps, p.364.non-fiction"What happens to the elite, close-knit soldiers of the SAS after they leave the tight world of the military? For some, there are highly paid jobs as trigger men with security companies in the worlds war zones and trouble spots. But for many, unexpected adventures unfold. Some go on to establish and lead major corporations or to advise multinational companies about risk where the commercial stakes are high. Some join foreign defence forces, training new elite special forces in unusual places. For others, life takes a different twist. They become top government advisers and even hardened criminals. Most sinister of all is the shadowy world of black ops - risky, rewarding and adrenaline-driven jobs that governments always deny. But wherever they are, the former elite soldiers are never far from each other, bound in an exclusive global network of brothers-in-arms."-soldiers - retirement, australian army - special air regiment -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Robert Likeman, From law to war: The life of Brigadier - General Lachlan Wilson of the Light Horse
Brigadier Lachlan Wilson was one of Queensland's leading legal figures between the wars, he also was a long serving citizen soldier who served both in the Boer war and the campaigns in Palestine in World War I. This biography examines his achievements in both of those fieldsill (maps) (b/w), index, bibliography, p.302non-fictionBrigadier Lachlan Wilson was one of Queensland's leading legal figures between the wars, he also was a long serving citizen soldier who served both in the Boer war and the campaigns in Palestine in World War I. This biography examines his achievements in both of those fieldsbiography - generals - australia, south african war 1899-1902, world war i 1914 1918, campaigns - gallipoli, campaigns - palestine -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Jane Ross, The myth of the digger: The Australian soldier in two world wars
... : The Australian soldier in two world wars Book Jane Ross Hale ...The Australian digger represents all the virtues Australians hold dear - mateship, equality, bravery and irreverence. But before 1914 Australia had no military tradition. Jane Ross has analysed the nature and origins of the myth of the digger.Index, Notes, Bibliography, ill (b/w)non-fictionThe Australian digger represents all the virtues Australians hold dear - mateship, equality, bravery and irreverence. But before 1914 Australia had no military tradition. Jane Ross has analysed the nature and origins of the myth of the digger.australian army - history, australia - military culture -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Ian McPhedran, The amazing SAS: The inside story of Australia's special forces, 2005
The Amazing SAS provides a thrilling insight into the way this c0untry's SAS soldiers are selected and trained and reveals fascinating details about recent SAS deployments: East Timor, the 2000 Olympic Games, the Tampa, the Afghanistan campaign and hte regiment's action -packed mission to Iraq.Index, ill (plates, col), p.340.non-fictionThe Amazing SAS provides a thrilling insight into the way this c0untry's SAS soldiers are selected and trained and reveals fascinating details about recent SAS deployments: East Timor, the 2000 Olympic Games, the Tampa, the Afghanistan campaign and hte regiment's action -packed mission to Iraq.australia - army - special air service regiment, australia army - commando forces -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, CJ Dennis, Digger Smith, 1968
One of C. J. Dennis's most poignant books of verse, Digger Smith recalls a singing soldier from The Moods of Ginger Mick, who returns from Gallipoli to become the country neighbour of Doreen and the Bloke (The Sentimental Bloke). In true Dennis style it is told with wisdom, humour and pathos.ill, p.113.One of C. J. Dennis's most poignant books of verse, Digger Smith recalls a singing soldier from The Moods of Ginger Mick, who returns from Gallipoli to become the country neighbour of Doreen and the Bloke (The Sentimental Bloke). In true Dennis style it is told with wisdom, humour and pathos. australia - military - history - poetry, australia - poetry -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Scribe, Pompey Elliot, 2008
Pompey Elliott was a remarkable Australian. During the Great War he was a charismatic, controversial, and outstandingly successful military leader. An accomplished tactician and the bravest of the brave, he was renowned for never sending anyone anywhere he was not prepared to go himself. As a result, no Australian general was more revered by those he led or more famous outside his own command. An officer on his staff even concluded that no greater soldier or gentleman ever lived.ill, notes, index, p.666non-fictionPompey Elliott was a remarkable Australian. During the Great War he was a charismatic, controversial, and outstandingly successful military leader. An accomplished tactician and the bravest of the brave, he was renowned for never sending anyone anywhere he was not prepared to go himself. As a result, no Australian general was more revered by those he led or more famous outside his own command. An officer on his staff even concluded that no greater soldier or gentleman ever lived.generals - australia - biography, world war 1914-1918 - history -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Brolga Publishing, Venturing into no man's land: The charmed life of Joseph Maxwell VC World War I hero, 2012
... decorated Australian soldier of the First World War."A flash blinds ...The the compelling story of Lieutenant Joseph "Darkie" Maxwell DCM, MC and Bar, VC – the second highest decorated Australian soldier of the First World War."A flash blinds me... We are lost in a chaos of flying mud... Smoke, filth,confusion, racket! I spit and splutter and swear... Oh Christ! I think I'm flamin' well dead." This is the compelling story of Lieutenant Joseph "Darkie" Maxwell DCM, MC and Bar, VC – the second highest decorated Australian soldier of the First World War. Meticulously researched by historian John Ramsland, Maxwell's colourful life is traced from his childhood on the Hunter coalfields until his death at age 71 in a soldier's settlement home in Matraville Sydney. Maxwell was a vivid storyteller who wrote Hells Bells and Mademoiselles, telling of his experiences in the war. In telling Maxwell's story, Ramsland has uncovered many forgotten documents to piece together an extraordinary life of an extraordinary man.index, ill, maps, p.343.non-fictionThe the compelling story of Lieutenant Joseph "Darkie" Maxwell DCM, MC and Bar, VC – the second highest decorated Australian soldier of the First World War."A flash blinds me... We are lost in a chaos of flying mud... Smoke, filth,confusion, racket! I spit and splutter and swear... Oh Christ! I think I'm flamin' well dead." This is the compelling story of Lieutenant Joseph "Darkie" Maxwell DCM, MC and Bar, VC – the second highest decorated Australian soldier of the First World War. Meticulously researched by historian John Ramsland, Maxwell's colourful life is traced from his childhood on the Hunter coalfields until his death at age 71 in a soldier's settlement home in Matraville Sydney. Maxwell was a vivid storyteller who wrote Hells Bells and Mademoiselles, telling of his experiences in the war. In telling Maxwell's story, Ramsland has uncovered many forgotten documents to piece together an extraordinary life of an extraordinary man.wold war 1914-1918 - campaigns - western front, joseph maxwell - biography -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Anchor books, Anzac Cove to Hollywood : the story of Tom Skeyhill, master of deception, 2010
... returned to Australia as the 'blind soldier-poet'... Spinning ...Tom Skeyhill wasn't what he appeared to be. Landing at Anzac Cover on the morning of 25 April 1915, Tom feigned blindness to escape. Wearing smoked-glass goggles he returned to Australia as the 'blind soldier-poet'... Spinning exaggerated and often erroneous tales, Tom's public lectures proved to be excellent theatre but truthfulness was a casualty of Tom's restless ambition; an ambition which eventually brought him down.index, bibliography, notes, ill, p.238.Tom Skeyhill wasn't what he appeared to be. Landing at Anzac Cover on the morning of 25 April 1915, Tom feigned blindness to escape. Wearing smoked-glass goggles he returned to Australia as the 'blind soldier-poet'... Spinning exaggerated and often erroneous tales, Tom's public lectures proved to be excellent theatre but truthfulness was a casualty of Tom's restless ambition; an ambition which eventually brought him down. world war 1914-1918 - biography, world war 1914-1918 - campaigns - gallipoli -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Albert Palazzo, Defenders of Australia : the Third Australian Division, 1916-1991, 2002
The 3rd division was the longest serving citizen soldier formation. This book is the history of the 3rd division from 1916 to 1991index, bibliography, ill, maps, tables, p.245.non-fictionThe 3rd division was the longest serving citizen soldier formation. This book is the history of the 3rd division from 1916 to 1991citizen military forces, australian army - 3rd division -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, george Franki et al, Mad Harry : Harry Murray, Australia's most decorated soldier, 2003
... is Australia's most decorated soldier. Index, bibliography, notes, ill ...To each character of Australian war history is attached a story inevitably of bravery, courage, and humour, and Mad Harry is no exception. Yet there is to his story a distinguishing significance, for Mad Harry is Australia's most decorated soldier.Index, bibliography, notes, ill, maps, p.276.non-fictionTo each character of Australian war history is attached a story inevitably of bravery, courage, and humour, and Mad Harry is no exception. Yet there is to his story a distinguishing significance, for Mad Harry is Australia's most decorated soldier. australian armt - imperial force - 1914-1921, australian army - harry murray - 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
... - that at Lone Pine, where Australian and Turkish soldiers fought ...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, Tom Curran, Across the bar : the story of 'Simpson', the man with the donkey: Australia and Tyneside's great military hero, 1994
Simpson made between 12 to 15 trips each day rescuing wounded soldiers in the face of Turkish fire. This is his story.Index, notes, ill, maps, p.395.non-fictionSimpson made between 12 to 15 trips each day rescuing wounded soldiers in the face of Turkish fire. This is his story.gallipoli campaign - history, gallipoli campaign - medical corps - history -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Anthony Hill, Soldier boy : the true story of Jim Martin the youngest Anzac, 2001
On 28 June 1915, young James Martin sailed from Melbourne aboard the troopship Berrima - bound, ultimately, for Gallipoli. He was just fourteen years old. "Soldier Boy" is Jim's extraordinary true story, the story of a young and enthusiastic school boy who became Australia's youngest known Anzac. Four months after leaving his home country he would be numbered among the dead, just one of so many soldier boys who travelled halfway around the world for the chance of adventure. This is, however, just as much the story of Jim's mother, Amelia Martin. It is the heartbreaking tale of the mother who had to let him go, of his family who lost a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend. It is about Amelia's boy who, like so many others, just wanted to be in on the action.ill, maps, p.166.non-fictionOn 28 June 1915, young James Martin sailed from Melbourne aboard the troopship Berrima - bound, ultimately, for Gallipoli. He was just fourteen years old. "Soldier Boy" is Jim's extraordinary true story, the story of a young and enthusiastic school boy who became Australia's youngest known Anzac. Four months after leaving his home country he would be numbered among the dead, just one of so many soldier boys who travelled halfway around the world for the chance of adventure. This is, however, just as much the story of Jim's mother, Amelia Martin. It is the heartbreaking tale of the mother who had to let him go, of his family who lost a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend. It is about Amelia's boy who, like so many others, just wanted to be in on the action.world war 1914-1918 - campaigns - gallipoli, gallipoli campaign - child soldiers - biography -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Susan Jennison et al, Keilor's Anzac memory, 2015
... -and-the-dandenong-ranges world war 1914-1918 - australian participation ...An exhibition catalogue. A history of Keilor's contribution to the 1914-18 war effort. Included are sections dealing with the local effort as well as details of the campaigns fought in. A roll of honour concludes the work. Includes illustrations, maps and photographs and bibliography.Bibliography, ill, p.233.non-fictionAn exhibition catalogue. A history of Keilor's contribution to the 1914-18 war effort. Included are sections dealing with the local effort as well as details of the campaigns fought in. A roll of honour concludes the work. Includes illustrations, maps and photographs and bibliography. world war 1914-1918 - australian participation, soldiers - victoria - keilor -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, John Masefield, Gallipoli, 1978
The Gallipoli campaign began one fateful Sunday morning in April 1915. It was to be Australia's test of nationhood. The Allied soldiers landed in the dark, crossing beaches tangled with barbed wire, passing mines and scaled the precipitous cliffs under machine-gun fire. An intense five-month campaign ensued, the lines so close that there was no respite from battle. With access to military documents, the poet John Masefield published this moving account of the Allied efforts in the Dardanelles less than a year after the defeat. The book was a huge success, as it gave glory to the bravery and determination of the young men who endured heat, toil, thirst, disease and pestilence but were always ready and willing to die in exultation for their cause.. Moving account of the Allied efforts in Dardanelles after the defeat.Ill, map, p.183non-fictionThe Gallipoli campaign began one fateful Sunday morning in April 1915. It was to be Australia's test of nationhood. The Allied soldiers landed in the dark, crossing beaches tangled with barbed wire, passing mines and scaled the precipitous cliffs under machine-gun fire. An intense five-month campaign ensued, the lines so close that there was no respite from battle. With access to military documents, the poet John Masefield published this moving account of the Allied efforts in the Dardanelles less than a year after the defeat. The book was a huge success, as it gave glory to the bravery and determination of the young men who endured heat, toil, thirst, disease and pestilence but were always ready and willing to die in exultation for their cause.. Moving account of the Allied efforts in Dardanelles after the defeat. world war 1914-1918 - campaigns - gallipoli, anzac corps -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Penguin, We were there : Australian soldiers of World War II tell their stories, 1988
... there : Australian soldiers of World War II tell their stories. Penguin John ...Aborigines and army service - Australian women's Army - Burma-Thailand railway - Prisoners of war (POW's).Index, ill, p.470.non-fictionAborigines and army service - Australian women's Army - Burma-Thailand railway - Prisoners of war (POW's).world war 1939 – 1945 – personal narratives – australia, world war 1939 – 1945 – campaigns – australia -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Big Sky Publishing, Combat medic : an eyewitness account of the Kibeho massacre, 2008
... Medic is a personal account of one Australian soldier who found ...On 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 summaryIll, 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 -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Bolinda Press, The soldier's story, 1986
The controversial Battle at Xa Long Tan was not only a critical episode in Australias Vietnam involvement, it was also a textbook nightmare in the history of jungle warfare. Reconstructing this dramatic action from secret documents and the vivid recollections of many diggers who fought at Long Tan, Terry Burstall challenges the official army version.Index, bibliography, ill, maps, p.253.non-fictionThe controversial Battle at Xa Long Tan was not only a critical episode in Australias Vietnam involvement, it was also a textbook nightmare in the history of jungle warfare. Reconstructing this dramatic action from secret documents and the vivid recollections of many diggers who fought at Long Tan, Terry Burstall challenges the official army version. vietnam war 1961-1975 – australian involvement, vietnam war 1961-1975 – battles – long tan -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Indra Publishing, Best we forget, 1998
Donkey Simpson, a typically naive young Australian, thrust into uniform by his country, sets out on the adventure of a lifetime -- or so he thinks. But Vietnam is not what he expected. It's a horror story. It's a story over which he has no control, at first a 'typical Army stuff-up' which wrenches him this way and that, like a puppet soldier on a string, and then something far more dangerous and sinister threatens to destroy him -- but who's pulling the strings? This is the story of Simpson and his mates, caught in a war between powerful ideologies which none of them understood. They walk the fine line of sanity, swinging wildly between love and hate, pathos and humour, patriotism and treason, life and pointless death. Donkey Simpson's story is centred around the Public Relations Office of the Australian contingent, and a spy in the nearby Intelligence Office -- a spy of unclear loyalties, working for the South Vietnamese allies, working for the enemy, or working only for survival? The novel has its ugly aspects -- most soldiers' lack of respect for the Vietnamese, whether ally or enemy, the callous disregard for human life, and the treachery practised on both sides. Collapse summaryp.390.fictionDonkey Simpson, a typically naive young Australian, thrust into uniform by his country, sets out on the adventure of a lifetime -- or so he thinks. But Vietnam is not what he expected. It's a horror story. It's a story over which he has no control, at first a 'typical Army stuff-up' which wrenches him this way and that, like a puppet soldier on a string, and then something far more dangerous and sinister threatens to destroy him -- but who's pulling the strings? This is the story of Simpson and his mates, caught in a war between powerful ideologies which none of them understood. They walk the fine line of sanity, swinging wildly between love and hate, pathos and humour, patriotism and treason, life and pointless death. Donkey Simpson's story is centred around the Public Relations Office of the Australian contingent, and a spy in the nearby Intelligence Office -- a spy of unclear loyalties, working for the South Vietnamese allies, working for the enemy, or working only for survival? The novel has its ugly aspects -- most soldiers' lack of respect for the Vietnamese, whether ally or enemy, the callous disregard for human life, and the treachery practised on both sides. Collapse summary vietnam war 1961-1975 - fiction, vietnam war 1961-1975 – personal recollections – australia -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, NewSouth Publishing, Australia's Vietnam : myth vs history, 2019
Why everything you think you know about Australia's Vietnam War is wrong. When Mark Dapin first interviewed Vietnam veterans and wrote about the war, he swallowed (and regurgitated) every misconception. He wasn't alone. In Australia's Vietnam, Dapin reveals that every stage of Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War has been misunderstood, misinterpreted and shrouded in myth. From army claims that every national serviceman was a volunteer; and the level of atrocities committed by Australian troops; to the belief there were no welcome home parades until the late 1980s and returned soldiers were met by angry protesters. Australia's Vietnam is a major contribution to the understanding of Australia's experience of the war and will change the way we think about memory and military history.Index, notes, p.231.non-fictionWhy everything you think you know about Australia's Vietnam War is wrong. When Mark Dapin first interviewed Vietnam veterans and wrote about the war, he swallowed (and regurgitated) every misconception. He wasn't alone. In Australia's Vietnam, Dapin reveals that every stage of Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War has been misunderstood, misinterpreted and shrouded in myth. From army claims that every national serviceman was a volunteer; and the level of atrocities committed by Australian troops; to the belief there were no welcome home parades until the late 1980s and returned soldiers were met by angry protesters. Australia's Vietnam is a major contribution to the understanding of Australia's experience of the war and will change the way we think about memory and military history.vietnam war 1961-1975 – australian involvement, vietnam war 1961-1975 – history -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Allen & Unwin, Vietnam : the complete story of the Australian War, 2012
... the experience of Australian soldiers as never before. Index, notes, ill ...Take a journey back to the front line with two Australian veterans as they retrace the footsteps of soldiers and politicians, villagers and the enemy in a meticulously researched new history of the Vietnam War. Thirty years after the end of the Vietnam war comes an objective analysis of Australia's involvement. The book shows the extent of Australia's engagement in the Vietnam war and its contribution compared to its allies. "For Australians, Vietnam remains one of the most difficult-and controversial-wars we have fought. On the fiftieth anniversary of Australia's first involvement comes Vietnam: the complete story of the Australian war, for anyone who wishes to understand why Australia went to war, and who wants to make sense of the intensely unrelenting warfare. For Bruce Davies and Gary McKay, the history of Vietnam-its wars, colonial domination, its search for freedom and its subsequent loss-speaks to an Australian anxiety of a very small population far away from the centre of an empire to which it was firmly committed. The rise of Japan, the war in the Pacific and the postcolonial independence of the peoples of southeast Asia, coupled with the mercurial influence of Ho Chi Minh and the rise of communism, form the background to the commitment of Australian forces. Vietnam takes the reader to the front line, describing the experiences of soldier, politician, villager, enemy; and into the war room to unpick the military and political strategies. We see the challenges the Australians faced against not only a dogged enemy, but also those by the allies in the quest to defeat a powerful counterinsurgency. ... Meticulously researched and marked with acute critical analysis and a deep understanding of the place and the war, Vietnam shows the experience of Australian soldiers as never before.Index, notes, ill, p.601.non-fictionTake a journey back to the front line with two Australian veterans as they retrace the footsteps of soldiers and politicians, villagers and the enemy in a meticulously researched new history of the Vietnam War. Thirty years after the end of the Vietnam war comes an objective analysis of Australia's involvement. The book shows the extent of Australia's engagement in the Vietnam war and its contribution compared to its allies. "For Australians, Vietnam remains one of the most difficult-and controversial-wars we have fought. On the fiftieth anniversary of Australia's first involvement comes Vietnam: the complete story of the Australian war, for anyone who wishes to understand why Australia went to war, and who wants to make sense of the intensely unrelenting warfare. For Bruce Davies and Gary McKay, the history of Vietnam-its wars, colonial domination, its search for freedom and its subsequent loss-speaks to an Australian anxiety of a very small population far away from the centre of an empire to which it was firmly committed. The rise of Japan, the war in the Pacific and the postcolonial independence of the peoples of southeast Asia, coupled with the mercurial influence of Ho Chi Minh and the rise of communism, form the background to the commitment of Australian forces. Vietnam takes the reader to the front line, describing the experiences of soldier, politician, villager, enemy; and into the war room to unpick the military and political strategies. We see the challenges the Australians faced against not only a dogged enemy, but also those by the allies in the quest to defeat a powerful counterinsurgency. ... Meticulously researched and marked with acute critical analysis and a deep understanding of the place and the war, Vietnam shows the experience of Australian soldiers as never before.vietnam war 1961-1975 – history, vietnam war 1961-1975 – australian involvement -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, HarperCollins, Vietnam : the Australian war, 2007
... -1975 – Australian involvement The participation by Australian ...The participation by Australian soldiers in the Vietnam conflict (1962-1975), including political background, accounts of battles and operations in Vietnam, soldiers' personal histories, and with reference to the anti-war movement.Index,bibliography, notes, ill, maps, p.814.non-fictionThe participation by Australian soldiers in the Vietnam conflict (1962-1975), including political background, accounts of battles and operations in Vietnam, soldiers' personal histories, and with reference to the anti-war movement.vietnam war 1961-1975 – history, vietnam war 1961-1975 – australian involvement -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Random House, Write home for me : a red cross women in Vietnam, 2006
Working 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.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 -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Allen and Unwin, In good company : one man's war in Vietnam, 1998
... . It is an action-packed, very readable account of an Australian soldier's ...This is Gary McKay's story of how he was conscripted into the Australian army and his experiences in the Vietnam War. It is an action-packed, very readable account of an Australian soldier's war experience in Vietnam, developing strongly the Australian soldiers' great sense of mateshipIll, map, p.192.non-fictionThis is Gary McKay's story of how he was conscripted into the Australian army and his experiences in the Vietnam War. It is an action-packed, very readable account of an Australian soldier's war experience in Vietnam, developing strongly the Australian soldiers' great sense of mateshipvietnam war 1961-1975 – australian involvement, vietnam war 1961-1975 – personal recollections – australia -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Winston Oliver Parry, Battles, Heroes and Humour in the RAR, 2007
This book concentrates on the battles of the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Borneo and Vietnam. I have once again endeavored to have the stories written by the real soldiers who were there. A number of the stories have been published before in books (ie) "Korea Remembered" and other military publications.Ill, maps, p.302.non-fictionThis book concentrates on the battles of the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Borneo and Vietnam. I have once again endeavored to have the stories written by the real soldiers who were there. A number of the stories have been published before in books (ie) "Korea Remembered" and other military publications.australia - army - royal australian regiment, vietnam war 1961-1975 – personal recollections – australia -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Brolga Publishing, A Vietnam vet's remarkable life : the true meaning of mateship, 2012
It's 1967 and Jethro is a 20-year-old Aussie lad who is about to take up his new posting in Vietnam. Five months later Jethro is on his way home in a medic chopper with a third of his body blown away: one leg is amputated, his right hand and half of his left hand - gone. And so begins Jethro's journey back to a whole life. This is the story of a wounded soldier and what happens to survivors.Ill, p.267.non-fictionIt's 1967 and Jethro is a 20-year-old Aussie lad who is about to take up his new posting in Vietnam. Five months later Jethro is on his way home in a medic chopper with a third of his body blown away: one leg is amputated, his right hand and half of his left hand - gone. And so begins Jethro's journey back to a whole life. This is the story of a wounded soldier and what happens to survivors.vietnam war 1961-1975 – australian involvement, vietnam war 1961-1975 – personal recollections – australia -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Miegunyah Press, Trusty and well beloved : a life of Keith Officer, Australia's first diplomat, 2009
A biography of Keith Officer, soldier, conservative politician and diplomatIndex, bibliography, notes, ill, p.488.non-fictionA biography of Keith Officer, soldier, conservative politician and diplomataustralian - foreign relations - 20th century, diplomatic service - australia - 20th century -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Australian Scholarly, Hard to go bung : World War two soldiers settlement in Victoria 1945-1962, 2011
This book contains the story of Australia's most successful scheme for settling returned soldiers on their own farms. The book includes the recollections of many of the 6000 families who gained a livelihood on farms across the state.Index, notes, ill, maps, p.258.non-fictionThis book contains the story of Australia's most successful scheme for settling returned soldiers on their own farms. The book includes the recollections of many of the 6000 families who gained a livelihood on farms across the state.soldier settlements - victoria - history, land settlement - victoria - history -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, UWA Pub, On dangerous ground : a Gallipoli story, 2012
It is 1915, during World War I at Gallipoli, and Lt. Roy Irwin is missing. The young woman who loves him, and the men who fought beside him, begin their search for Lt. Irwin. Later, in 1919, historian C.E.W. Bean returns to Anzac Cove with artist George Lambert and soldier Harry Vickers to solve the greatest mystery of the campaign, to discover Gallipoli's secret. Forward to 2015, and Dr. Mark Troy's quest to preserve the peninsula from roadworks is sidetracked by political intervention and diplomatic intrigue. But a flirtation with a dynamic young woman from Army Intelligence uncovers long-forgotten documents protecting Gallipoli's graves. In this eagerly awaited book, one of Australia's leading historians uses a playful hybrid of history and fiction - moving between the historical realm and the world of the imagination - to recreate the most dramatic moments of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I.Bibliography, ill, p.223.fictionIt is 1915, during World War I at Gallipoli, and Lt. Roy Irwin is missing. The young woman who loves him, and the men who fought beside him, begin their search for Lt. Irwin. Later, in 1919, historian C.E.W. Bean returns to Anzac Cove with artist George Lambert and soldier Harry Vickers to solve the greatest mystery of the campaign, to discover Gallipoli's secret. Forward to 2015, and Dr. Mark Troy's quest to preserve the peninsula from roadworks is sidetracked by political intervention and diplomatic intrigue. But a flirtation with a dynamic young woman from Army Intelligence uncovers long-forgotten documents protecting Gallipoli's graves. In this eagerly awaited book, one of Australia's leading historians uses a playful hybrid of history and fiction - moving between the historical realm and the world of the imagination - to recreate the most dramatic moments of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I.gallipoli campaign - fiction, war stories