Historical information

The detailed account of Australian Commandos in China during World War Two.

This, the story of Australia’s first Commandos, is an epic of the war. Here is hardship and adventure, pathos and humour, suffering and excitement.

It tells of the men who went to Malaya with the 22nd Brigade, then sailed to Burma to train under Britain’s finest Commando leaders. Escaping from the Japanese, they journeyed the length of the tortuous Burma Road, crossing China almost to the coast. Here they trained the Surprising Battalions, some of China’s crack guerrillas, and operated with them in war torn provinces. The became famous as the “Lost Legion of the AIF” – the boys of Mission 204.

After almost a year of guerrilla existence, the survivors were withdrawn to Kunming and flew to India. They were allocated to Brigadier Orde Wingate’s force but were recalled whilst on leave and returned to Australia after two years in the tropics.

Physical description

Hard cover first edition