The fog rolled down the river and engulf our house. The cold and damp penetrated the walls and windows. Our only view, an opaque whiteness. Through the stillness, the sound of a lone bugler playing the Last Post reached us from the nearby cemetery. Another old soldier had died. This was the house our family was living in when Patsy Adam-Smith published The Anzacs, her iconic … [Read more...] about Review: The Anzacs by Patsy Adam-Smith
Anzac
Anzac Day: Reflecting on Australia’s Diverse Experiences of War
I have written several posts over the years about the origins of Anzac Day from the Anzac Day celebration in South Australia in 1915 and the solemn commemoration in Brisbane on 25th April 1916 marking the first day that the Australian and New Zealand troops, together with large numbers of troops from other countries in the Allied forces attacked the Ottomans on the beaches of … [Read more...] about Anzac Day: Reflecting on Australia’s Diverse Experiences of War
Historical Research on Show in Sydney All This Week
This week we can get a peek at the themes and topics will be in the histories we will be reading over the next few years.It is the week for the annual festival of history, more soberly known as the conference of the Australian Historical Association. I have done a preliminary scan of the conference programs and the abstracts of papers to be presented at parallel sessions and … [Read more...] about Historical Research on Show in Sydney All This Week
Australians and the Great War at the National Library
With two daughters now living in Canberra and research required for my book, I am frequently visiting our national capital. On the weekend I attended a seminar about writing during World War One at the National Library of Australia. In the lunch break we had the opportunity to join a curator’s tour of the Library’s World War One exhibition, ‘Keepsakes: Australians and the Great … [Read more...] about Australians and the Great War at the National Library
Indian Soldiers Fought at Gallipoli
The Anzac Day that was bigger than ever has been and gone. Returned soldiers from Australia and New Zealand have marched for another year, remembering wars past and present. This year was the centenary of the event that started it all – the landing of British forces at Gallipoli. Australians and New Zealanders were there. And so were many Indians. New Zealand journalist, … [Read more...] about Indian Soldiers Fought at Gallipoli
