Larrikins in khaki : tales of irreverence and courage from World War II diggers
Bowden, Tim, 1937-2019
Books, Manuscripts
Find it!
With a reputation for being hard to discipline, generosity to their comrades, frankness and sticking it up any sign of pomposity, Australian soldiers were a wild and irreverent lot, even in the worst of circumstances during World War II. In Larrikins in Khaki, Tim Bowden has collected compelling and vivid stories of individual soldiers whose memoirs were mostly self-published and who told of their experiences with scant regard for literary pretensions and military niceties. Most of these men had little tolerance for military order and discipline, and NCOs and officers who were hopeless at their jobs were made aware of it. They laughed their way through the worst of it by taking the mickey out of one another and their superiors. From recruitment and training to the battlegrounds of Palestine, North Africa, Thailand, New Guinea, Borneo and beyond, here are the highly individual stories of Australia's World War II Diggers told in their own voices - warts and all.
Main title:
Author:
Imprint:
Crows Nest, NSW : Allen & Unwin, 2019.©2019.
Collation:
x, 436 pages ; 24 cm.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 422-424) and index.
Contents:
Introduction -- Military units -- 1 Joining up -- 2 Very basic training -- 3 Sailing to war -- 4 Desert Diggers prepare for war -- 5 High junks in Egypt -- 6 Fighting in the desert -- 7 Ill-fated Greek adventure -- 8 Out of the frying pan into the fire -- 9 The Allied invasion of Lebanon and Syria -- 10 The tide turns -- 11 Return to Australia -- 12 Prisoners of war of the Japanese -- 13 The railway of death -- 14 Service at home -- 15 The saga of the flying footsloggers -- 16 The Kokoda Track and the bloody beachheads -- 17 The battle for New Guinea -- 18 An unnecessary campaign -- 19 Savagery in Bougainville -- 20 Bloody Borneo - Tarakan and Balikpapan -- 21 The lost years and damaged lives -- 22 Retain all prisoners of war indefinitely -- 23 Final thoughts -- Acknowledgements -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.
Biography/History:
Tim Bowden is an acclaimed oral historian, broadcaster, and radio and television documentary maker for the ABC. He is author of many books including the much acclaimed One Crowded Hour: Neil Davis, combat cameraman, The Changi Camera: A unique record of Changi and the Thai-Burma Railway, and Stubborn Buggers: Survivors of the infamous POW gaol that made Changi look like heaven.
ISBN:
9781760528546 (paperback)
Dewey class:
940.5412
Language:
English
Index terms:
Australian
BRN:
370455
More Information:
| Location | Collection | Call number | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penrith | Nonfiction | 940.5412 LAR | Available |
| St Clair | Nonfiction | 940.5412 LAR | Available |
| St Marys | Nonfiction | 940.5412 LAR | Available |