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Library Chit Chat - 3 NovemberLast modified: November 4, 2008 - 11:14 AM
Jan Hellstrom (one of Yass Library’s frequent borrowers) enjoyed the book ‘Diggers in France – Australian Soldiers on the Western Front’ so much that she was compelled to write a review of it.
As next week marks the 90th anniversary of the Armistice of the Great War I thought that it would be appropriate to include this review in today’s chit chat. The following is by Jan. A query from my cousin during a discussion led me to read this title that examines Australian involvement in WWI. More of that query later… Richard Travers has written this excellent book from a solid base of research and I suspect personal knowledge. All sources are recorded in 'End Notes' and this alone leaves the reader with a compelling feeling to 'follow up' on the same knowledge by reading the source literature. In fact Travers book is a compelling read in itself for all who want or need to know or simply understand Australian involvement in this action. It is indeed good to read a book that presses a reader to seek more and yet itself teaches so much. After retreating from Gallipoli the Australian soldiers traveled to Egypt not knowing what action they would next see. The reader is taken through the reorganisation of the Australian army undertaken by Generals Birdwood and White. Concern about the 'larrikin image' of the Australians held back the move to the Western Front. The troops were seen as slack while the men themselves 'loved their larrikin image'. To the Western Front our men went - and so fell to the tragedies of injury and death. Actions in which the Australians fought through to the end of the war are covered with again, compelling detail and interest. The sadness and horror of trench and attrition warfare at times is lightened for the reader by the humour derived often from diaries or letters home from soldiers to their loved ones. And so the work is very authentic - useful for casual curious reader and scholar alike. Trials and suffering are there to read about and wonder how it was humanly possible at times to endure such action. Listed and useful addenda are Chronology, Short Biographies, Major Battles fought and End notes. And the query from my cousin - "Just why did our Grandfather sign up for service in 1916?” and his action puzzles us to this day as no written statement about that action or mention from our grandmother of the decision remains. Our Grandfather's age was against him hardly the youthful volunteer at 33, he was an electrical engineer and at the same time optician - surely he was earning enough to support his family. But was he? On his demise in Northern France in October 1917 he left behind his wife of 9 years and 5 children aged 18 months twins - 7 years. His already large family might well have been part the reason as here was the opportunity of gaining a regular income for 'the duration of the war + 3 months'. It was often considered that 'the war could be over by Christmas' as the troops set off for Gallipoli. Surely it must end soon. The call to 'help the Motherland' was strong in Australia - to defend King and Country was often the cry. Loyalty to the 'Motherland was strongly felt in Australia whose voters faced 2 referenda on Conscription - both supported by many of those in action in Europe but defeated by the Australian voting public. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read this book and although I could not expect it to answer my query neither would I expect it so to do.Yass Valley Library has dated this acquisition May 2008 - the book having been published April 2008! In the same Genre: Les Carlyon "The Great War"; " Voices from the Trenches letters to home" Noel Carthew; "All quiet on the Western Front" Eric Maria Remarch 1929; E.F.P. Lynch "Somme Mud: the war experiences of an infantryman in France 1916 - 1919 Edited by Will Davies" 2006 are all available through STRL. Faces from a War Cheryl Mongan will be giving a presentation for local and family historians on researching World War One service personnel at the Yass Library on Tuesday 11th November at 9.30am. Following the commemorative service the Yass & District Historical Society and the Friends of Yass Library invite you to attend the official launch of ‘Faces from a war’ to be held at the Yass Library at 11.15am. A collection of portraits of local servicemen and women from the archive of the Yass & District Historical Society will be officially launched on the Society’s website. Morning tea will be served and bookings can be made for both Cheryl’s presentation and/or the website launch by calling the Yass Library on 6226 1305. Contact details |
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