Gripping tales of real-life horror and heroism from the history of human conflict.war - press coverage, desert storm, killing fields of vietnam

"THE TIGER MAN OF VIETNAM/ THE HILL TRIBES MADE HIM A DEMI-GOD/ THE CIA WANTED TO KILL HIM/ THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF/ AUSTRALIAN WAR HERO BARRY PETERSEN"Soft cover book. Soft cover - cardboard, gold and black print on front, spine and back. Illustrated, front montage photo of sepia toned soldier with jungle scene behind. Back - sepia toned photograph - portrait of a man with an animal skin. 356 pages, paper, cut, plain, white. Illustrated - black and white photographs.books, history, biography, vietnam conflict

ANZAC 100 Years On - An intimate insight into the impact war has on Our Family's Journey. A true story based on war diaries, war records, recollections & personal experiences by Betty Brooks.Hard cardboard cover. Black white & gold print on front, spine & back. Beige coloured with faint writing background & front cover illustration of two books & a poppy in colour. 125 pages, cut plain white paper. Illustrated with sepia, black & white & coloured photos. Front fly leaf inscription Biography of a family. Handwritten in black ink on front fly leaf: "Donated by Julie Bennett"books, anzac journey, 100 years

From the book cover: Reids Raid is a true story with all the qualities of a good Aussie yarn. It occurred in the 1899 - 1902 Boer War in South Africa.Soft cardboard cover, white print on glossy black background on front, spine & back. 107 pages cut, plain, white, illustrated with black & white & sepia photos, maps & illustrated.books-military-history, boer war

An anthology of true life stories as told by Australians who served in New Zealand, South Africa, World War I & II.Hard, green, buckram cover embossed with gold shield surrounded by laurel wreath. Dust jacket with colour illustration on front. Title in white print on green background. Title in gold print on spine. End papers illustrated in green with maps & figure of soldiers. 265 pages with cut edges & black & white photos & drawings.books-biography, military history, photography, illustrations

Black and white cardboard cover with red, white print and black and white photos front and back. Illustrated with black and white photos.books- military history, military history-air force

Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith is a famous Australian, well known in civil aviation history for his courageous endeavours in flight. He broken many flight records for long distance and time travelled and he was also a war hero in World War 1. He has been referred to as being “known to millions of Australians as “Smithy” … he was one of Australia’s true twentieth-century legends”. In honour of his place amongst the world’s famous pioneers his image is featured on Australia’s $20 note, Sydney airport is named after him, there is a memorial to Kingsford Smith, Taylor and Ulm at the Anderson Park, also in Sydney and his plane “Southern Cross” is on view at Brisbane Airport. Kingsford Smith wrote ‘The Old Bus’ (1932) and he and Ulm were co-authors of ‘Story of 'Southern Cross' Trans-Pacific Flight’ (1928). His also wrote a book about his own life ‘My Flying Life’ which was published after his death in 1937. and the story of his life was filmed in Australia in 1946. A BRIEF HISTORY OF SIR CHARLES EDWARD KINGSFORD SMITH (1897 – 1935) … Kingsford Smith was born 9th February 1897 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His parents were William Charles Smith and Catherine Mary, nee Kingsford. His mother’s maiden name of “Kingsford” was added to the family name when they spent time in Canada from around 1903 to 1907, after which they returned to Sydney, Australia. In 1915 Kingsford Smith enlisted in Australian Imperial Force. He served in 4th Signal Troop, 2nd Division Signal Company at Gallipoli Peninsular as a ‘sapper’ or combat engineer and later in Egypt and in France as a dispatch rider. In 1916 Kingsford Smith was transferred to the Australian Flying Corps as a sergeant. He was discharged after training in England and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps. He was appointed fling officer and soon joined the 23rd Squadron in France. He brought down four machines in his first month there and also did invaluable work attacking enemy targets. He was wounded and shot down and later awarded the Military Cross ‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty’. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1918 and served as a Flying Instructor with the R.F.C. Kingsford Smith was not allowed to participate in the 1919 England to Australia air race because of assumed lack of navigational experience. He and his pilot friend Cyril Maddocks formed a business and flew joy-flights in both England and America. In America he did some stunt flying with a Flying Circus. Kingsford Smith returned to Australia in 1921 and found employment as a pilot. He soon realised the value of air transport in such a vast country. He formed a partnership with pilot Keith Anderson in 1924 and they purchased two Bristol Tourer biplanes. Their business broadened to include Charles Ulm and became the Interstate Flying services in Sydney. Together they performed important ‘demonstration’ flights including a flight around Australia in 10 days and 5 hours using very limited navigational equipment. Kingsford Smith immediately started to search for support to do a trans-Pacific flight. This support came from the New South Wales government, Sidney Myer and G. Allan Hancock, an American oil magnate. On 31st May 1928 Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm and two American crewmen, Harry Lyan and Jim Warner, took off from Oakland, California and flew to Brisbane via Hawaii and Suva. This historic flight took 83 hours and 38 minutes. Their Fokker plane had three engines and was named the “Southern Cross”. This amazing achievement resulted in huge financial subscriptions. Kingsford Smith was awarded the Air Force Cross and appointed as honorary squadron leader, Royal Australian Air Force. Kingsford Smith flew his Southern Cross plane from Point Cook in Victoria to Perth nonstop. Then in September – October 1928, with Charles Ulm and an Australian crew, he piloted the Southern Cross from Sidney to Christchurch New Zealand. This flight showed that was possible for regular passenger and mail services across the Tasman Sea. Kingsford Smith flew his plane to England to an order for four aircraft, planning to use them for an inter-capital air service in Australia. Sadly on 1st April 1929 he was forced to land, having lost radio contact with the ground and having run into bad weather over north – west Australia. Keith Anderson and Robert Hitchcock both perished before the search party reached them. Once official enquiries were completed the flight to England continued in June and was completed in record time of 12 days and 18 hours. In January 1930 Kingsford Smith piloted the “Southern Cloud”, one of the new Avro Ten planes, on the first flight of his airline, the Australian National Airways, from Sydney to Melbourne. The “Southern Cross” was overhauled in Holland by the Fokker Aircraft Co. and in June 1930 Kingsford Smith achieved an east-west crossing of the Atlantic from Ireland to Newfoundland in 31.5 hours. Kingsford Smith returned to England and took delivery of an Avro Avian biplane that he named the “Southern Cross Junior” and flew solo from England to Darwin, Australia. This record breaking flight took less than 10 days. He beat four other planes that had left England before him and he was 5.5 days faster than Hinkler. Sadly Kingsford Smith’s “Southern Cloud” was lost during a flight from Sydney to Melbourne in 1931 with no surviving crew or passengers; in 1958 the wreckage was discovered in the Snowy Mountains. Later that year Kingsford Smith flew his “Southern Cloud” from Australia to Timor, collecting mail from a damaged Imperial Airways plane in Timor. Other flights followed. Kingsford Smith was knighted in 1932 for his services in Aviation. He returned to selling joy flights then established the Kingsford Smith Air Service, a flying training school in Sydney. In 1933 Kingsford Smith flew the amazing record flight in “Miss Southern Cross” – a Percival Gull - from London to Wyndham in Western Australia in just over ten days. The Australian Commonwealth then gave Kingsford Smith a large grant and he was also appointed as aviation consultant to Vacuum Oil Co. Another flying record was made when Kingsford Smith and Sir P.G. Taylor flow “Lady Southern Cross” from Brisbane to San Francisco in order to sell her there; the west-east-trans-Pacific flight made aviation history. They returned to Australia to make an attempt at the trans-Tasman flight but their attempt failed due to engine failure; they managed to get back to Sydney safely, minus most of their cargo. Kingsford Smith had his unsold “Lady Southern Cross” shipped back to England, from where he and J. T. Pethybridge in the “Lady Southern Cross” attempted another record breaking flight from England The Old Bus Author: Charles Kingsford Smith Publisher: Distibuted by Herald Feature Service Date; 1932Label on spine cover with typed text RA 629.1309 KIN flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the old bus, charles kingsford smith

The story of Jim Martin, the youngest ANZAC during World War 1.173p., illus.world war 1, anzac legend, jim martin

July 1945. Eighteen young British, Australian and New Zealand special forces from a top-secret underwater warfare unit prepare to undertake three audacious missions against the Japanese. Using XE-craft midget submarines, the raiders will creep deep behind Japanese lines to sink two huge warships off Singapore and sever two vitally important undersea communications cables. Success will hasten ultimate victory over Japan; but if any of the men are captured they can expect a gruesome execution. Can the Sea Devils overcome Japanese defences, mechanical failures, oxygen poisoning and submarine disasters to fulfill their missions? Mark Felton tells the true story of a band of young men living on raw courage, nerves and Adrenalin as they attempt to pull off what could be the last great raid of World War Two.ww2, special operations, submarine operations

Deadly Secrets tells the engrossing true story of the Allied raids launched on Singapore in World War II. Laying many myths to rest, military historian Lynette Ramsay Silver, the author of The Bridge At Parit Sulong, outlines Operation Jaywick, which used a stolen Japanese fishing boat, renamed Krait, to attack Singapore Harbour. It also discusses the more ambitious raid; Operation Rimau.Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 464 pagesworld war ii, ww2, australian commandos, australian special operations, operation jaywick, operation rimau

SOE Singapore 1941 - 1942... --... Richard Gough... Richard Gough, a veteran of World War II in Singapore follows the story of Singapore's collapse and the resistance before and after from the perspective of Colonel Alan Warren, with Special Operations Executive (SOE). A true story from the 1940s. 245 pages with conclusion...Includes references to Australian WW2 Special OperationsSoft cover 238 pagesww2, world war 2, specila operations, soe, singapore

Digitised video (2.50GB). Duration: 46 minutes. Recorded May, 2024. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Guest Speaker, Alli Parker, accomplished scriptwriter, talks about her Ringwood family and her book based on the incredible true story of her Grandparents, Gordon and Cherry - Australia's first Japanese war bride - spanning seven years and two countries reeling from the aftermath of WWII.

Index, ill, p.445.non-fictionA collection of more than 150 true stories that bring to life the triumph and tragedy of teh second world war. Serving as a window into the lives of thsoe who experienced the war - soldiers and sailors, heroes and villains, leaders adn ordinary people - the book recounts in human terms the reality of a war that gripped the entire world. These inspiring, poignant, ironic and sometimes tragic stories and anecdotes make World War II come alive with the thoughts and feelings of those who were there.world war 1939-1945 - anecdotes, world war 1939-1945

Index, ill, maps, p.274.non-fictionSixty years ago, specially trained men were parachuted onto a Norwegian glacier, carrying only the most basic equipment. Their mission was to prevent the Nazi regime from building an atomic bomb. Now wilderness expert Ray Mears tells the true story of this gruelling campaign, showing how these men's ability to survive in extreme conditions influenced the outcome of the Second World War. Using crucial military information which has only recently been declassified, shows how a highly secretive operation came into being. Titleworldwar 1939-1945 - special operations, norwegian heavy water sabotage

Bibliography, ill, map, p.305.non-fictionThe riveting true story account of a young WW2 pilot's heroic journey, illustrated throughout with fascinating photographs, maps and excerpts from his log books.world war 1939 – 1945 – aerial operations - britain, world war 1939 – 1945 – personal narratives – australia

Ill, p.303.non-fictionAll over the world during World War II, thousands of young men who had never so much as been near an aeroplane left offices, farms and classrooms to learn to fly and fight in the greatest conflict the world has ever seen. They fought over deserts, cities and jungles, in-single-engine fighter aircraft, heavy bombers, transport planes and flying boats. How do they feel about their dramatic days in the air? What is it they remember, and what do they choose to forget? In these candid and moving stories, Michael Veitch, writer, broadcaster and aeroplane fanatic, uncovers some of the untold stories of World War II: Australian, British and even German. He captures the events that defined a generation of men before these stories are lost forever. world war 1939 – 1945 – aerial operations - australia, world war 1939 – 1945 – personal narratives – australia

Ill, maps, p.223.non-fictionWith sixteen other POWs, author Charles McCormac broke out from his POW camp in Japanese-occupied Singapore and began a two-thousand-mile escape from Singapore, through the jungles of Indonesia to Australia. The POWs' escape took a staggering five months and only two out of the original seventeen men survived. This is McCormac's compelling true account of one of the most horrifying and amazing escapes in World War Two. It is a story of courage, endurance and compassion, and makes for a very gripping read.world war 1939 – 1945 - prisons and prisoners – japanese, prisoner of war escapes - singapore

ill (plates) (b/w)non-fictionAn anthology of true life stories from many wars, told by Australians who served in New Zealand, the Sudan, South Arica, China, Mesopotamia, Gallipoli, Palestine, France, North Africa, Crete, Malaya and New Guinea.australia - military history, australia - military - personal narratives

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

Ill, p.192.non-fictionA Vietnam Soldier K.I.A. and His True Love... is the unique true story of a Vietnam soldier who was killed in action on his first wedding anniversary. Based on the life of Pte C W Roost, the book tackles the horrors of war and in particular the loss of a loved one in the duty of service to his country. An exceptional love story written from a woman's perspective, this book puts a human face to the controversial war in Vietnam. At just 20 years of age Chris, like so many Australian young men, was conscripted into the army as a National Serviceman. After marrying his childhood sweetheart, Mary, Chris was posted to Vietnam in June 1968. This book follows Chris' adventures through training, marriage and war. It shares his thoughts through his precious letters to his family, and tells the incredible story of the impact of war on our young Aussies. Chris was killed in action on December 23rd 1968 - his first wedding anniversary. He lives on in this book. Collapse summary vietnam war 1961-1975 – personal recollections – australia, soldiers - australia - biography

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

Index, bib,ill, p.239.A thrilling true-life WWII adventure story of Jewish soldiers who volunteer to undertake a dangerous undercover spy mission within the Third Reichworld war 1939-1945 - espionage, anti nazi movement - germany

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

Ill, maps, p.337.non-fictionReveals the war within the war: the battle not only for the hearts and minds of Afghanis but between soldiers and spies , between allies sharply divided by purpose.afghan war 2001-2021 - military operations - britain, afghan war 2001-2021 - political aspects

Bib, ill, maps, p.393.non-fictionThis is the true, dramatic account of a small band of Special Forces soldiers who entered Afghanistan immediately following 9/11 and, riding to war on horses, defeated the Taliban. Outnumbered 40 to 1, they capture the strategic Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif and thereby effectively defeat the Taliban throughout the rest of the country.afghan war 2001-2012, afghan war 2001-2021 - us participation

Index, ill, p.331.During World War II, the U.S. Navy's submarine service suffered the highest percentage of casualties of any branch of the American armed forces. One in five submariners was lost. But despite the odds, these underwater warriors accounted for almost sixty percent of Japanese shipping losses and were a major factor in winning the war.submarine warfare - world war ii, world war 1939-1945 - naval operations - united states