war – Page 6 – Aussie Reviews

The Red Poppy, by David Hill &Fifi Colston

The two soldiers come from opposite sides of the conflict but, in spite of language difficulties, realise they have more in common than they could have imagined, and help each other to stay alive.

The night before the battle,
Jim McLeod wrote to his mother and his sister Edith.
He said nothign about the day to come, nor the mud’and the rats> he didn’t mention the piles of stretchers
waiting for the dead and wounded…

Jim McLeod waits in the trenches waiting for the order to attack the enemy. As he waits, he spies a patch of red poppies that the battle has left untouched. Later, as he scurries across no-man’s land, he takes refuge in a crater right where the poppies were. As he lies wounded he realises he is sharing his hole with an enemy soldier, also wounded. Forging an unlikely alliance, the pair figure a way to seek help, with the aid of a rescue dog and one of those red poppies.

The Red Poppy is a beautiful picture book offering about war and humanity. The two soldiers come from opposite sides of the conflict but, in spite of language difficulties, realise they have more in common than they could have imagined, and help each other to stay alive. The story doesn’t hold back on the horrors of war and its impact. The sepia toned illustrations, brightened with the reds of the poppies, reflect the time period and the serious nature of the subject matter, as well as helping readers to understand why the red poppy is used as a symbol of remembrance. At the back of the books are the lyrics for a song, ‘Little Red Poppy’, by Rob Kennedy, and a CD recording of the song is included.

Released in plenty of time for Anzac Day, this is an excellent educational resource which is also suitable for private reading.

The Red Poppy, by David Hill, illustrated by Fifi Colston
Scholastic NZ
ISBN 9781869439989

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Harry's War, by John Heffernan

Harry loves spending time with his Grandpa, especially when Grandpa shares his stories of the war. Grandpa is a war hero, and his stories are amazing. Harry’s dad was a soldier, too, but he died when Harry was little, so Harry never heard his stories. Harry’s War is a moving tale of one boy’s quest for the truth about his father and grandfather as he learns about truth, family and friendship…

What’s war? – you ask.

That’s a really hard question. I’m not even sure I can answer it. I’ll try, but, and I’ll do it by telling you about my war. Whether that’s enough you’ll have to figure out for myself.

Harry loves spending time with his Grandpa, especially when Grandpa shares his stories of the war. Grandpa is a war hero, and his stories are amazing. Harry’s dad was a soldier, too, but he died when Harry was little, so Harry never heard his stories. In fact, Harry doesn’t know much about his dad at all, because no one will tell him about Dad’s years in the army, or about his death. When he starts to unravel the truth, Harry realises why Mum has kept her secret. But it is another secret which has the power to really change Harry’s life.

Harry’s War is a moving tale of one boy’s quest for the truth about his father and grandfather as he learns about truth, family and friendship. With the reader he also learns about he realities of war and its effects on soldiers and those left behind. There is a lot being explored here – as well as the issues already mentioned, there is Harry’s struggle with reading and writing, his friendship with his bet mate Will, and his sometimes careless attitude towards himself and others. Mostly, though is just an absorbing story.

Harry’s War, by John Heffernan
Omnibus, 2011
ISBN 978186291927

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My Father's War, by Sophie Masson

It scares me a lot, thinking of Dad out there, far away in that dangerous, terrible place, wondering how it will be when he comes back – if he comes back, that is…

Annie’s dad has been away fighting in the Great War for two years leaving Annie and her mum at home in Australia. But Dad’s letters have stopped coming, ad Annie’s mother is sick with worry, so she’s decided to do something about it. She will travel to France to find him. Soon Annie and her Mother, who is French, are in France trying to find out what has happened to Dad. As she pieces together the clues to her father’s disappearance, Annie finds out for herself what war is like.

My Father’s War , part of the My Australian Story series, presents a fictional first person account of the events and impact of the first world war on a twelve year old girl. Told using diary format, Annie’s mixed parentage and feisty nature enable the reader to experience the war first hand as she travels through the war zone in search of her father.

Excellent historical fiction for primary aged readers.

My Father’s War , by Sophie Masson
Scholastic, 2011
ISBN 9781741698282

This book can be purchased in good bookstores, or online from Fishpond .

The Heroes of the Kokoda Track, by Nicolas Brasch

The 1942 Kokoda campaign lasted only four months, but has become a key part of Australia’s story. Lacking equipment and supplies, and unprepared for the harsh tropical conditions, the troops who fought along the track were outnumbered, battling disease, mud and rain…

Try this
Put six bricks into a backpack, and climb the steepest hill you can find. But don’t do it until it’s been raining for days, so you keep slipping. Now don’t make a sound because in the bushes around you, there might be enemy troops, armed with rifles and bayonets, poised to pounce at the slightest sign of activity. Then imagine this is no game, this is reality, this is war – this is Kokoda.

The Heroes of the Kokoda Track, part of Black Dog Books’ Our Stories Series packs a lot into just 32 pages. In language which primary aged students will understand, author Nicolas Brasch explains the significance of the Kokoda campaign, its progress and the roles played by Australians and by Papuan locals. Historic photos support the text, and the design, with text boxes providing easily digestible slices of information, will appeal to even reluctant readers.

Excellent for classroom and school library collections, but also suitable for private reading.

The Heroes of the Kokoda Track, by Nicolas Brasch
Black Dog Books, 2011
ISBN 9781742031347

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The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles, by Chris Coulthard-Clark

More than just a record of the battles in which Australia and Australians have been involved, The Encycopaedia of Australia’s Battles, provides an intresting insight into Australia’s history as a whole.

As well as detailing the many battles Australians have joined on war fields overseas, the book details the many battles fought on Australian soil in the two hundred years since white settlement. These include battles fought between European settlers and Aboriginals resisting colonization and battles such as those on the goldfields, including the Eureka Stockade.

The book includes chronological entries of over 300 battles in which Australians or Australian troops have been involved – at sea, in the air and on the ground. Each entry provides the date and location, the main units and commanders involved and an account of the course of the battle. ENtries are illustrated with maps, drawings and photographs.

The author, historian Chris Coulthard-Clark is an expert in Australian defence history. A graduate of Duntroon and the Australian Dfence Force Academy, he has worked as a government policy analyst, historical consultant and a research editor.

The Encyclopaedia of Australia’s Battles is an outstanding resource for historians, writers, teachers, an anyone with an interest in Australian history. First published in 2001, it has been rereleased in 2010.

The Encyclopaedia of Australia’s Battles, by Chris Coulthard-Clark
Allen & Unwin, 2010

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Anzac Heroes, edited by George Low

From the shores of Gallipoli, to the outback of Australia, to the muddied battle fields of France, the ANZAC legend spreads far and wide. This book is a collection of the best ANZAC stories from Commando magazine. For years the magazine has played host to many exciting stories from World War I and II, but rarely do they publish stories of the ANZACs, so this book exists to collect these stories of the Aussies and the Kiwis together in one volume. The stories are presented in comic form, with great black and white artwork telling the stories of the ANZACs in a way no written work alone could.

This collection is great for ages 10 and older, but anyone can enjoy these timeless stories of the ANZAC legend. The fact files between and during stories make this an informative and entertaining read. This is perfect for a long period of reading, with each of the twelve stories being completely self-sustained.

A thrilling collection.

Anzac Heroes: The Best 10 Anzac War Stories Ever!, by George Low (ed)
Crows Nest, 2009

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Bluey's War, by Herb Hamlet

The officer barked a command and the escort began beating the prisoners with the bamboo canes. Bluey fell to the floor. Digger lasted a little longer before he too collapsed from the brutal onslaught. Bluey closed his eyes.
I can’t survive this.

Since he stood up for her in primary school, Bluey and Ellen have been friends, but in the years following school their friendship blossoms into romance. When war is declared, and Bluey knows he must answer the call, Ellen is left behind, waiting for the day Bluey will return. He does come home, and his feelings for Ellen are unchanged, but the war has left him scarred, and there are some battles that Ellen can’t help Bluey fight.

Bluey’s War is the tale of one man’s war – both his experiences of wartime, as well as his battle afterwards to deal with the memories of those terrible experiences. It is also the story of his wife Ellen’s own war – to overcome a troubled childhood and the trauma of seeing her husband changed by the war.

Bluey’s War is a moving tale which will resonate with Australian readers.

Bluey’s War, by Herb Hamlet
Penguin Books, 2009

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Captain Bullen's War, edited by Paul Ham

We need to send our survey party there!’ (pointing to map)
‘But Colonel, we cain’t do it. That’s the most insecure area of the whole country!’
“Insecure? Goddam it! The greatest concentration of American troops in the country is there!’
‘Yes Colonel, and have you considered why the greatest concentration of American troops is right there?’

Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War has not been as well-explored in accessible literature as involvement in earlier wars, perhaps because of the public sentiment towards the war at the time. But in this diary offering, here is an attempt to redress that. Offering just one man’s perspective of the war, this is not an analysis of the war, nor a timeline of the whole course of the war. It is simply one man’s diary of the time that he was in Vietnam – in 1968.

Because it is a diary, the book offers detailed insight into day to day life of one man’s war. And because Bullen is honest, intelligent and forthright, the diary is entertaining and insightful. At times it is easy to forget that this is an actual diary rather than a fictionalised account – but this is a true tale, told in the diarist’s words, with occasional editorial input – at the start of each month’s entries and scattered footnotes for clarity.

A treasure.

Captain Bullen’s War: The Vietnam War Diary of Captain John Bullen, edited by Paul Ham
Harper Collins, 2009

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The Other Anzacs, by Peter Rees

‘I had my right arm under a leg, which I thought was [the patient’s], but when I lifted it I found to my horror that it was a loose leg with a boot and a puttee on it. It was one of the orderly’s legs which had been blown off and had landed on the patient’s bed. The next day they found the trunk about 20 yards away.’

When Australian and New Zealand men went to fight in the Great War, they entered the pages of Australia’s history, rightly earning the tag of heroes. But wherever the men fought, there were also women, bravely risking their lives to tend the wounded, the ill and the dying. Few modern day Australians are aware of the extraordinary courage and compassion shown by these women, who have been largely forgotten.

The Other Anzacs is an in depth account of the lives and contribution of the nurses who volunteered to go to war and provide nursing support to not just Australian and New Zealand troops, but also to the wounded from other Allied nations, and even enemy soldiers. Using the unpublished diaries, letters and photographs of these women, as well as carefully researched facts, author Peter Rees provides not just a history of these women, but an insight into their emotions and sacrifices as he provides their firsthand accounts of the war. With approximately 3000 Australian and New Zealand women having served during the war, and forty-five killed and over two hundred decorated for their service, this is an important piece of our history which must be preserved. Rees is ensuring this by not only documenting it, but also making it accessible.

An important, informing and engrossing book.

The Other Anzacs, by Peter Rees
Allen & Unwin, 2008

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Battle Order 205, by Christobel Mattingley

David was also a casualty. Wounded in five places by flying metal. Right knee, thigh and shoulder hit. Tendons and artery in right hand severed. Ad shrapnel ripped through his thick leather helmet, fracturing his skull.
David lost consciousness.
Dog went into a dive.

As he grew up in Tasmania, young David Mattingley wanted just one thing – to learn to fly. By the time he left school, Australia was about to become involved in World War 11, and his chance to follow his dream was to sign up to join the Australian air force. He did this, and after extensive training, found himself a pilot on bombing missions out of England.

Battle Order 204 is the true story of David Mattingley’s life, especially his years in the air force, written by his wife, acclaimed Australian author Christobel Mattingley. This is a gripping story, told in straightforward language and with the focus on the human elements of the war. Readers are invited to witness David’s friendships, his emotions and his struggles, as well as his courage and the highpoints of his service time.

Mattingley offers insight into war which will intrigue both teen and adult readers.

Battle Order 204, by Christobel Mattingley
Allen & Unwin, 2007

This book can be purchased online at Fishpond.