This week, Jeff Popple reviews two new accounts of Australian soldiers at war. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
Where The Flaming Hell Are We? By Craig Collie
Allen & Unwin, $34.99
After years of relative neglect, the efforts of ANZAC soldiers during World War II in Greece and Crete is finally receiving the attention it deserves from modern history writers. Peter Monteath’s Battle on 42nd Street from 2020 gave a good analysis of the battle for Crete, and now Craig Collie’s Where The Flaming Hell Are We? provides an engaging ‘soldier eye view’ of the ANZAC involvement there and in Greece. In 1941 40,000 ANZACs were rushed to Greece in an attempt to stop the German advance. Despite some desperate fighting, the outnumbered ANZACs withdrew to Crete, where they faced a superior invading force of German airborne troops and aerial bombing. The fighting on Crete was particularly brutal and featured a series of fearsome bayonet charges led by Māori soldiers. Using a range of firsthand accounts, Collie tells an engaging story of the battles and the aftermath of evacuation, and capture for some.
The Chipilly Six by Lucas Jordan
NewSouth, $34.99
Lucas Jordan’s The Chipilly Six is an outstanding piece of Australian military history. In August 1918 six Australian soldiers played a key, and often overlooked, role in taking what was known as the Chipilly Spur from the German troops holding it, paving the way for victory in the Battle of Amiens. In clear prose, Jordan tells the well-substantiated story of the activities of the six Australians and analyses the impact of their actions. It is a fascinating and evocative account that brings to life the reality of trench warfare. Jordan then goes on to chronicle the experiences of the six men through their return to Australia and their lives during the Spanish Flu pandemic and the Depression, and their involvement in World War II and their local communities. It is a remarkable piece of recovered history that offers great insight into the impact of war on Australian society. Highly recommended.
