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Book Crossing the Wire

    Book Details:
  • Author : David Coombes
  • Publisher : ReadHowYouWant
  • Release : 2016-04-21
  • ISBN : 9781458738523
  • Pages : 728 pages

Download or read book Crossing the Wire written by David Coombes and published by ReadHowYouWant. This book was released on 2016-04-21 with total page 728 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: So wrote an Australian prisoner - of - war, Corporal Lancelot Davies, only recently taken prisoner at the first battle of Bullecourt, on 11 April 1917. For him - like another 1,200 Australians captured at Bullecourt - the future was indeed 'blank' and unpredictable. The experiences of Australian prisoners of war (POWs) or Kriegsgefangeners held captive in Germany has been largely forgotten or ignored - overshadowed by the horrid stories of Australians imprisoned by the Japanese during World War II. Yet, as David Coombes makes known, the stories are interesting and significant - not only providing an account of what those young Australian soldiers experienced, and the spirit they showed in responding to captivity - but also for the insight it provides into Germany in the last eighteen months of the war.

Book Crossing the Wire

Download or read book Crossing the Wire written by David Coombes and published by Big Sky Publishing. This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The experiences of Australian prisoners of war (POWs) or Kriegsgefangeners held captive in Germany has been largely forgotten. This is an account of what young Australian soldiers experienced, and the spirit they showed in responding to captivity.

Book War Behind the Wire

Download or read book War Behind the Wire written by Michael Caulfield and published by Hachette Australia. This book was released on 2010-12-01 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Michael Caulfield presents accounts of Australian prisoners of war, capturing the Aussie spirit that manages to endure through all.

Book Stolen Years

Download or read book Stolen Years written by and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Crossing the Wire

    Book Details:
  • Author : David Coombes
  • Publisher : Simon and Schuster
  • Release : 2011-03-07
  • ISBN : 1921941278
  • Pages : 432 pages

Download or read book Crossing the Wire written by David Coombes and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-03-07 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Truly we are objects of interest to the Jerries we meet on the road, and especially in the villages. Taunts are hurled at us; epithets are numerous, and souvenir hunters molest us, but so far not violently. After passing through the village of Villers, we come across some British prisoners who are clearing the road, and they present a sorry spectacle, unshaven and dirty looking... Some offered some appeal for food, but we have none to give. In fact we are ourselves hungry... Their predicament does not create in us a very favourable impression, although I like others, do not realise the seriousness of what is in store for us. The future is a blank, as no-one knows what it holds." So wrote an Australian prisoner-of-war, Corporal Lancelot Davies, only recently taken prisoner at the first battle of Bullecourt, on 11 April 1917. For him - like another 1,200 Australians captured at Bullecourt - the future was indeed `blank' and unpredictable. The experiences of Australian prisoners of war (POWs) or Kriegsgefangeners held captive in Germany has been largely forgotten or ignored- overshadowed by the terrible stories of Australians imprisoned by the Japanese during World War II. Yet, as David Coombes makes known, the stories are interesting and significant - not only providing an account of what those young Australian soldiers experienced, and the spirit they showed in responding to captivity - but also for the insight it provides into Germany in the last eighteen months of the war. Drawing on previous inaccessible records, Coombes focuses on one Australian brigade, the 4th Infantry, from its formation in 1914, through Gallipoli to its baptism of fire on the Western Front, culminating in the first battle of Bullecourt - which, in turn, leads to the prisoner of war experience.

Book Captive Anzacs

    Book Details:
  • Author : Kate Ariotti
  • Publisher : Cambridge University Press
  • Release : 2018-05-01
  • ISBN : 1108187609
  • Pages : 241 pages

Download or read book Captive Anzacs written by Kate Ariotti and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2018-05-01 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: During the First World War, 198 Australians became prisoners of the Ottomans. Overshadowed by the grief and hardship that characterised the post-war period, and by the enduring myth of the fighting Anzac, these POWs have long been neglected in the national memory of the war. Captive Anzacs explores how the prisoners felt about their capture and how they dealt with the physical and psychological strain of imprisonment, as well as the legacy of their time as POWs. More broadly, it explores public perceptions of the prisoners, the effects of their captivity on their families, and how military, government and charitable organisations responded to the POWs both during and after the War. Intertwining rich detail from letters, diaries and other personal papers with official records, Kate Ariotti offers a comprehensive, nuanced account of this aspect of Australian war history.

Book Australian POWs

    Book Details:
  • Author : David Coombes
  • Publisher : Simon and Schuster
  • Release : 2021-02-03
  • ISBN : 1922387789
  • Pages : 560 pages

Download or read book Australian POWs written by David Coombes and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2021-02-03 with total page 560 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Comrades in distress we were, and it was now that one felt the existence of a brotherhood that establishes itself in circumstances of this kind … A few of the men are very dejected, and appear to be losing all interest in themselves, their habits and practices not being approved by the majority. In some cases, for the most miserable reward, they cringe to the Germans for the chance of being of some service; others also, despite the fact their bodies can ill-afford the sacrifice, trade their boots and other clothing in exchange for food and smokes … This is regrettable, but censure has no effect on the few. Most of us have resolved to maintain some sort of dignity, though ’tis difficult.” So wrote Australian prisoner of war (POW) Corporal Lancelot Davies who was captured at the First Battle of Bullecourt on 11 April 1917 where Allied forces were ‘badly smashed up’. Davies was one of almost 1,200 Australians captured that day, facing an uncertain future at the hands of their German captors. – he described the future as ‘blank’ and unpredictable. The experiences of Australian prisoners of war (POWs) or Kriegsgefangeners held captive in Germany has been largely forgotten or ignored – overshadowed by the horrid stories of Australians imprisoned by the Japanese during World War Two. Yet, as David Coombes makes known, the stories are interesting and significant – not only providing an account of what those young Australian soldiers experienced, and the spirit they showed in responding to captivity – but also for the insight it provides into Germany in the last eighteen months of the war. Coombes draws upon previous inaccessible records – including the interviews conducted many years before by Chalk – as well as private papers and unpublished manuscripts. He paints a vivid picture of young soldiers who survived the trauma of battle, only to find themselves facing an unknown fate at the hands of an often vindictive and cruel enemy. These ‘comrades in distress’, many wounded and traumatised by trench warfare, quickly discovered the bond of brotherhood, often the key to survival in a harsh environment with little food, poor medical treatment, back-breaking work and the anguish of confinement. What emerges in the pages of this amazingly detailed account is the typical Australian sense of humour and the sheer will to live that marked these men. Above all, it was their determination to be free and to return once more to their families that ensured their survival; often against overwhelming odds. Crossing the Wire is a fitting tribute to the World War One soldiers and POWs. David Coombes highlights the ordeals these men went through, their stoicism in enduring their mistreatment, and the fearlessness of a few in launching ingenious attempts to escape. He proves beyond doubt that their stories are by no means less compelling than those of their World War II brothers.

Book Australian POWs

    Book Details:
  • Author : David Coombes
  • Publisher :
  • Release : 2021-04-16
  • ISBN : 9780369387288
  • Pages : 0 pages

Download or read book Australian POWs written by David Coombes and published by . This book was released on 2021-04-16 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ''Comrades in distress we were, and it was now that one felt the existence of a brotherhood that establishes itself in circumstances of this kind â ] A few of the men are very dejected, and appear to be losing all interest in themselves, their habits and practices not being approved by the majority. In some cases, for the most miserable reward, they cringe to the Germans for the chance of being of some service; others also, despite the fact their bodies can ill-afford the sacrifice, trade their boots and other clothing in exchange for food and smokes â ] This is regrettable, but censure has no effect on the few. Most of us have resolved to maintain some sort of dignity, though 'tis difficult.'' So wrote Australian prisoner of war (POW) Corporal Lancelot Davies who was captured at the First Battle of Bullecourt on 11 April 1917 where Allied forces were 'badly smashed up'. Davies was one of almost 1,200 Australians captured that day, facing an uncertain future at the hands of their German captors. - he described the future as 'blank' and unpredictable. The experiences of Australian prisoners of war (POWs) or Kriegsgefangeners held captive in Germany has been largely forgotten or ignored - overshadowed by the horrid stories of Australians imprisoned by the Japanese during World War Two. Yet, as David Coombes makes known, the stories are interesting and significant - not only providing an account of what those young Australian soldiers experienced, and the spirit they showed in responding to captivity - but also for the insight it provides into Germany in the last eighteen months of the war. Coombes draws upon previous inaccessible records - including the interviews conducted many years before by Chalk - as well as private papers and unpublished manuscripts. He paints a vivid picture of young soldiers who survived the trauma of battle, only to find themselves facing an unknown fate at the hands of an often vindictive and cruel enemy. These 'comrades in distress', many wounded and traumatised by trench warfare, quickly discovered the bond of brotherhood, often the key to survival in a harsh environment with little food, poor medical treatment, back-breaking work and the anguish of confinement. What emerges in the pages of this amazingly detailed account is the typical Australian sense of humour and the sheer will to live that marked these men. Above all, it was their determination to be free and to return once more to their families that ensured their survival; often against overwhelming odds. Crossing the Wire is a fitting tribute to the World War One soldiers and POWs. David Coombes highlights the ordeals these men went through, their stoicism in enduring their mistreatment, and the fearlessness of a few in launching ingenious attempts to escape. He proves beyond doubt that their stories are by no means less compelling than those of their World War II brothers.

Book Aussie Soldier

Download or read book Aussie Soldier written by Denny Neave and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2009-03-01 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Book The Battle Within

    Book Details:
  • Author : Christina Twomey
  • Publisher : NewSouth
  • Release : 2018-02-01
  • ISBN : 1742244092
  • Pages : 320 pages

Download or read book The Battle Within written by Christina Twomey and published by NewSouth. This book was released on 2018-02-01 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Keep the Men Alive

Download or read book Keep the Men Alive written by Rosalind Hearder and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-07-22 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'The thing that haunts me most to this day is that blokes were dying and I could do bugger all about it - do you look after the bloke who you know is going to die or the bloke who's got a chance?' - Australian ex-POW doctor, 1999 During World War II, 22 000 Australian military personnel became prisoners of war under the Japanese military. Over three and a half years, 8000 died in captivity, in desperate conditions of forced labour, disease and starvation. Many of those who returned home after the war attributed their survival to the 106 Australian medical officers imprisoned alongside them. These doctors varied in age, background and experience, but they were united in their unfailing dedication to keeping as many of the men alive as possible. This is the story of those 106 doctors - their compassion, bravery and ingenuity - and their efforts in bringing back the 14 000 survivors. 'You are unfortunate in being prisoners of a country whose living standards are much lower than yours. You will often consider yourselves mistreated, while we think of you as being treated well.' - Japanese officer to Australian POWs, 1943

Book Beyond Surrender

    Book Details:
  • Author : Joan Beaumont
  • Publisher : Melbourne Univ. Publishing
  • Release : 2015-06-01
  • ISBN : 0522866212
  • Pages : 310 pages

Download or read book Beyond Surrender written by Joan Beaumont and published by Melbourne Univ. Publishing. This book was released on 2015-06-01 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the twentieth century 35,000 Australians suffered as prisoners of war in conflicts ranging from World War I to Korea. What was the reality of their captivity? Beyond Surrender presents for the first time the diversity of the Australian 'behind-the-wire' experience, dissecting fact from fiction and myth from reality. Beyond Surrender examines the impact that different types of camps, commandants and locations had on surrender, survival, prison life and the prospects of escape. It considers the attitudes of Australian governments to those who had surrendered, the work of relief agencies and the agony of families waiting at home for their husbands, brothers and fathers to be freed. Covering several conflicts and diverse sites of captivity, Beyond Surrender showcases new research from Kate Ariotti, Joan Beaumont, Lachlan Grant, Jeffrey Grey, Karl James, Jennifer Lawless, Peter Monteath, Melanie Oppenheimer, Aaron Pegram, Lucy Robertson, Seumas Spark and Christina Twomey.

Book Prisoners of the Empire

    Book Details:
  • Author : Sarah Kovner
  • Publisher :
  • Release : 2020-09-15
  • ISBN : 067473761X
  • Pages : 337 pages

Download or read book Prisoners of the Empire written by Sarah Kovner and published by . This book was released on 2020-09-15 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many Allied POWs in the Pacific theater of World War II suffered terribly. But abuse wasn't a matter of Japanese policy, as is commonly assumed. Sarah Kovner shows poorly trained guards and rogue commanders inflicted the most horrific damage. Camps close to centers of imperial power tended to be less violent, and many POWs died from friendly fire.

Book Hellfire

    Book Details:
  • Author : Cameron Forbes
  • Publisher : ReadHowYouWant.com
  • Release : 2011-05-27
  • ISBN : 1459622103
  • Pages : 754 pages

Download or read book Hellfire written by Cameron Forbes and published by ReadHowYouWant.com. This book was released on 2011-05-27 with total page 754 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For months during 1943 there was no night in Hellfire Pass. By the light of flares, carbide lamps and bamboo fires, men near-naked and skeletal cut a passage through stone to make way for a railway. Among these men were some of the 22,000 Australian soldiers taken prisoner by the Japanese during World War II. In camps across Asia and the Pacific, they struggled, died, and survived with a little help from their mates. 'Hellfire' was researched in Australia, Japan and across South-East Asia. It draws on 50 first-person interviews, ranging from former prisoners to an old Mon villager deep in the Burmese jungle, and from Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew to veterans of the Imperial Japanese Army. The result is a tour de force, a powerful and searing history of the prisoners of the Japanese.

Book Surviving the Great War

    Book Details:
  • Author : Aaron Pegram
  • Publisher : Cambridge University Press
  • Release : 2019-11-12
  • ISBN : 1108486193
  • Pages : 285 pages

Download or read book Surviving the Great War written by Aaron Pegram and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2019-11-12 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Surviving the Great War is the first detailed analysis of Australians in German captivity in WW1. By placing the hardships of prisoners of war in a broader social and military content, this book adds a new dimension to the national wartime experience and challenges popular representations of Australia's involvement in the First World War.

Book P O W  Prisoner of War

    Book Details:
  • Author : Hank Nelson
  • Publisher : Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  • Release : 1985
  • ISBN :
  • Pages : 232 pages

Download or read book P O W Prisoner of War written by Hank Nelson and published by Australian Broadcasting Corporation. This book was released on 1985 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The experiences of Australian prisoners-of-war in Japanese prison camps - Changi prison.

Book Australians and the First World War

Download or read book Australians and the First World War written by Kate Ariotti and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-08-11 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book contributes to the global turn in First World War studies by exploring Australians’ engagements with the conflict across varied boundaries and by situating Australian voices and perspectives within broader, more complex contexts. This diverse and multifaceted collection includes chapters on the composition and contribution of the Australian Imperial Force, the experiences of prisoners of war, nurses and Red Cross workers, the resonances of overseas events for Australians at home, and the cultural legacies of the war through remembrance and representation. The local-global framework provides a fresh lens through which to view Australian connections with the Great War, demonstrating that there is still much to be said about this cataclysmic event in modern history.