While the North African campaign has been studied in detail over the years, much of this study has been dedicated to the battles between the British 8th Army and Rommel's Afrika Korps. There has been little serious study of Wavell's campaign against Italian forces in 1940- 41, nor of the role played by the Australian 6th Division in the eventual Italian defeat. Part of this can be attributed to wartime propaganda that labeled the Italian Army dilettantes and mocked their courage. The truth is much different. Many Italian units showed incredible bravery, and the Australian assaults on fortress towns such as Bardia were far from a walkover. Today's aspiring military commanders need look no further than the early Western Desert campaign for historical examples of brilliant leadership, detailed planning, deception, surprise, maneuver warfare and relentless pursuit, all against overwhelming odds.

Western Desert Campaign 1940-41 (Australian Army Campaigns Series)

History

Wahlert, Glenn

Africa

Big Sky Publishing

Between 20 May and 1 June 1941 the Second World War came to the Greek island of Crete. The Commonwealth defenders consisted of Australian, New Zealand and British refugees from the doomed Greek Campaign who had not recovered from defeat.

Battle of Crete (Australian Army Campaigns S)

Palazzo, Albert

Military

A collection of stories that are entertaining, emotional and humorous, Soldiers’ Tale is a wonderful tribute to the Aussie digger. Australian soldiers share their stories and anecdotes from World War One to the modern day conflict, the stories that are usually saved for Anzac Day or a catch-up with mates over a cup of tea or an icy cold beer. In their own words they provide a fascinating glimpse of the many funny and touching moments that our diggers often hold tight to their chest. The collection of stories featured in Soldiers’ Tale vividly provide a taste of what a soldiers life is like in both war and peace. From the pyramids of Egypt where a pint-sized captain used lateral thinking to gain respect, Anzac day on the porch with Banjo Patterson or a scorpion in the pants in Vietnam, their stories showcase the laconic sense of humour of the Aussie digger – that wonderful ability to get the job done with a sense of fun and a helping hand for a mate.

Soldiers' Tales: A Collection of True Stories from Aussie Soldiers

Biographies & Memoirs

Neave, Denny

Leaders & Notable People

The second book in the Aussie Soldier series, Aussie Soldier: Prisoners of War by Denny Neave and Craig Smith, details the lives of the men and women who found themselves on the wrong side of the wire. This collection of heartfelt stories and anecdotes from Australian POWs will take you on their very personal journeys. Surviving as a prisoner of war required as much strength of character as any hard fought battle. Some lived to tell their tales about extreme suffering, mateship and hardship and many would carry with them forever the memories of those who died. Almost 35,000 Australian service personnel were taken prisoner during the Boer War, World War 1, World War 2 and the Korean War. As POWs are relatively few in number, their stories often take a back seat when it comes to tales about battles and conflict situations. Like most soldiers, former prisoners do not like reliving the horrors of war and their time in captivity. This is a collection of the stories of our Australian POWs. Interviews, questionnaires, written records, images and letters provide an insight into captivity and the joy and fears that came with their release. These vivid and compelling stories highlight the contradictions of war: the compassion and generosity on the one hand and the cruelty, hate and indifference on the other.

Aussie Soldier Prisoners of War

Smith,Craig

Historical

Looking Forward, Looking Back explores the Australian Army's rich and proud history. The Australian Army boasts a broad variety of traditions, some of which belong the the Service as a whole, others to a particular corps, regiment or rank. Some are solemn, some are humorous, and others incorporate the rules of social etiquette, manners and style. Many of the Army's customs and traditions are derived from the battle tactics and fighting attire of old. Some of the drill movements seen on today's parade grounds were originally practiced by soldiers in battle.

Looking Forward Looking Back: Customs and Traditions of the Australian Army

Jobson, Christopher

Australia & Oceania

"The Great Aussie Cook Off - Family Favourites" features 105 fabulously simple recipes gathered from the entrants and contestants in the Great Aussie Cook Off TV series.

Great Aussie Cook Off, Family Favourites

Vince Sorrenti

From 1962 to 1972 Australia joined the United States in fighting a communist inspired insurgency war in the jungles of South Vietnam against infiltrators who sought to overthrow the local government. Over 50,000 Australians served in Vietnam, 519 lost their lives, and the conflict ended ignominiously in the insurgents’ victory. Although now in the past, the Vietnam War resonates with lessons for the Australian Army as it strives to defeat not Communism but Terrorism. Australian Military Operations in Vietnam highlights some of the successes and failures of an earlier generation of officers for the benefit of today’s leaders.

Australian Military Operations in Vietnam (Australian Army Campaigns)

Asia

When Imperial Japan unleashed the Pacific War in December 1941, Australian forces went into action, as part of a larger British Empire force, to defend Malaya and Singapore. Australia's principal contribution to defending Malaya and Singapore was the 8th Division. Originally raised for service in the Mediterranean, the division was committed piecemeal to Malaya and its performance was bedevilled by poor command decisions in the face of an enemy better prepared on all counts for the campaign at hand. The 8th Division, however, also reflected some strengths of the AIF at large: stubbornness in positional defense, effective and flexible small unit tactics and leadership, and skill and determination in close quarter combat. Singapore was lost more in spite than because of Australian efforts, but its loss underlined Australia's strategic dependence on 'great and powerful friends' during the Second World War.

Malaya: 1941-42 (Australian Army Campaigns Series)

Farrell, Brian

Pratten, Garth

Americas

Below the shattered ground that separated the British and German infantry on the Western Front in the First World War, an unseen and largely unknown war was raging, fought by miners, ‘tunnelers’ as they were known. They knew that, at any moment, their lives could be extinguished without warning by hundreds of tons of collapsed earth and debris. Australian tunneling companies took part in the battles of Fromelles, Arras, Messines, Passchendaele, Cambrai, the defense of Amiens, Lys, and the famous last 100 days. Crumps and Camouflets, is the first complete history of Australia’s role in the tunneling war of 1914-1919, of the men and units in which they served, and of life in the tomblike tunnels of the war underground.

Crumps and Camouflets: Australian Companies Tunnelling on the Western Front (Australian Army History Collection)

Finlayson, Damien

In November 1941, about 100 university students began their short-term compulsory military training with the 15th Infantry Battalion. Most were aged 19-22, had daytime jobs and were evening or external students from the arts, commerce and law faculties. They were ambitious, hard-working young men anxious to make their way in the world. Their compulsory military training was due to end on 4 February 1942 and the students would then be released to return to their jobs and continue their part-time studies. The outbreak of the Pacific War on 7 December changed everything. In April 1942, the 15th Battalion was given 24 hours' notice to move from Caloundra to Townsville. In January 1943 the Battalion went to New Guinea to take part in the Salamaua and Lae campaigns and did not return to Brisbane until July 1944. In November it was sent to fight in Bougainville. The Battalion finally returned home in January 1946 and most returned to resume their studies and jobs within the community. This book tells the story of those Queensland University students of `U' Company, 15th Battalion during its brief existence. It covers their wartime service in all its tragedy and triumph and how they resumed their lives, studies and careers once the war was over. Most regard themselves as being very fortunate - to have survived the war, to have learned to cope with adversity, to have learned the importance of getting on with life in spite of insurmountable obstacles and in having been able to make the most of opportunities that arose. They have been fortunate to find a life beyond adversity.

Beyond Adversity: 'U' Company, 15th Battalion 1941-1942

Park, William

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