The Great War by Les Carlyon

I am currently reading Les Carlyon's book about the ANZACs on the Western Front, 1916-1918, WW1.
It is a fantastic piece of work that moves easily between diary entries from the men in the trenches, the officers running the campaign to the political aspects. It doesn’t get bogged down in technical details and describes the various military strategies in layman’s terms. What has stuck me most is the massive loss of life on all sides, campaign casualties are measured in their thousands or tens of thousands. I always have had great respect for all members of the armed forces and this book just makes that respect more profound.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, even if you are vaguely interested in Australian history - combined with his work on Gallipoli, which is also exceptional, it will give you a good appreciation of what our Diggers went through, as well as all the political high jinks that went on at the time.

I haven't read this book yet although I plan to.

My wife gave me the book Somme Mud for Christmas which is a firsthand account of the fighting in France and Belgium from 1916 to 1918 by an Australian digger.

If you have an interest in WWI and particularly the Australian involvement, it is well worth a read.

Yes I agree Craig, Somme Mud is a fantastic read. I would have loved to read a less edited version of his journals though, even if its a lofty enough tome as it is.
I will keep an eye out for Les Carlyons book.

I was given 'The Great War' at Christmas. It is nearing the top of my reading 'to do's and am looking forward to it as it received good reviews.

I was given a copy of Carlyons book for Christmas and think its a great read, how the Aussies did what they did is amazing.
I also have most of the returned servicemans books published by the Australian War Memorial. These are written by servicemen & women, often the humour reminds me of Australia as it was when I was growing up, a very different time & place.
I dont have any of these from WW1, although I keep an eye out for them I have never seen a copy of the 4 titles published.
Grateful if someone can put me on to them.
Regards, Bill.

Another two great reads in the same genre are Tobruk and Kokoda by Peter Fitzsimons. I found both very hard to put down.
Cheers
Graeme

Haven't read Fitzsimmons offerings but WRT the New Guinea campaign, try reading "A Bastard of a Place". It's a pretty good insight into the campaign I reckon.

Read it and you'll ask yourself why you don't know the name of General Potts.

You'll also ask yourself why you weren't ever taught at school about Milne Bay. The first ever land defeat of Japanese forces in WWII.

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Originally Posted by craigb

You'll also ask yourself why you weren't ever taught at school about Milne Bay. The first ever land defeat of Japanese forces in WWII.

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Or any other Australian History since 1890 ( the lead up to Federation ) or any of our war's history.
All the Aussie history I learnt was after I left school, its a shame but most Australial kids can name more US presidents than they can Australian Prime Ministers, and god forbid if you ask them the first Prime Ministers name:;

Such was our school system not only when I was there in the dark ages but when my Daughters were there as well.:no:

Rgds

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Originally Posted by craigb

Haven't read Fitzsimmons offerings but WRT the New Guinea campaign, try reading "A Bastard of a Place". It's a pretty good insight into the campaign I reckon.

Read it and you'll ask yourself why you don't know the name of General Potts.

You'll also ask yourself why you weren't ever taught at school about Milne Bay. The first ever land defeat of Japanese forces in WWII.

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You mean General Macarthurs great victory don't you?:roll: :o :C

The mother of an ex of mine had her great uncle's diary from WWI. He was sent to France, was only 16 or 17 when he enlisted. It's just mind blowing to read the matter of fact way he describes the things that went on. Watching his mates getting wiped out left right and centre and just commenting on it like he's watching cars go by: "John killed this morning by a grenade. Bill lost a leg. Bit unlucky. Got a letter from Mum. No biscuits this time."

He ended up getting gassed. Put him in the hospital for a few months. The treatment sounded pretty horrific. Something about putting a wire in the corner of his eye for some reason, didn't really understand that. Then they sent him back. He got gassed again, worse this time, so they sent him home.

After the war he made a name for himself in weapons development. Think he avoided action in WWII as a result.

Wish I had the time to read some of these books. I read a fictional one about a guy in the engineers. Digging tunnels under no man's land to place bombs. Pretty hairy stuff if it's what really went on.

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Originally Posted by silentC

I read a fictional one about a guy in the engineers. Digging tunnels under no man's land to place bombs. Pretty hairy stuff if it's what really went on.

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That actually happened, the Brits dug tunnels under the German frontline, placed about 1,000,000lb of fireworks and lit the fuse. they reckon they heard the bang in London. It was the Battle of Messines

OK. Yeah the book is called Birdsong but it's set around the Battle of the Somme. Similar tactics applied but not as big an explosion I don't think.

Good book is Birdsong.
Well worth a read. Although I thought that the first 100 pages were a bit slow.

Yeah we could've done without all the lovey dovey stuff too :p

You mean when they were in the collapsed tunnel? :p

Yeah, shocking metaphore that...

I have my great Uncles journal from Tobruk and also PNG - harrowing but so interesting!

During my 9 years in the Airforce I had the opportunity to copy and transcribe many entries about Victoria Cross winners. Some of the stories are beyond comprehension. One such entry I recall was about an Australian tail gunner in a flying fortress or something over Europe, being hammered by the Luftwaffe he's taken down quite a few different Messerschmidt fighters. He was wounded several times from machine gun fire (.30cal from memory), one entering his abdomen and lodging against his spine rendering him paralysed from the waist down. He was also hit with .50cal machine gun fire (big) and still proceeded to fire back. His turret then jammed from inhaling too much enemy fire, but he fought on even after receiving a wound to his head that rendered him blind in one eye. I can't remember the number of planes he brought down, but he was directly credited with saving the plane and crew from the 'normal' fate of such missions.

When they finally made it home, it took hours to cut him out of the tail, a quick trip to the quacks and back to duty a few weeks later.

Jeeez, don't make em like that anymore.....

And back to the original point... the Carlyon books are amazing, hope someone remembers his Great War book for my B'day??