Recommended Reading:
The following books are on our recommended reading list
in no particular order. Most are
available from the Australian War Memorial bookshop, www.amazon.com, or
scrounging in old bookshops.
The Broken Years By Bill Gammage.
Essential reading for understanding
the Australian soldier of the Great War.
The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918.
Fifteen volumes by various
authors including C.E.W Bean, covering Gallipoli, France, Palestine, RAN, and
RAFC. Currently out of print, prices can range from $20-$50 per volume
depending on the source.
Anzac to Amiens By C.E.W. Bean
Condensed version of the first 5
volumes of the Official Histories.
The Australian Victories in France in 1918 By Sir John Monash
Account of the AIF in the last
year of the war by its commander.
Esprit De Corps Edited By F.W. Speed
The Regimental history of the
5th Battalion AIF and its origin, the Victorian Scottish Regiment.
Everything you want to know about the 5th/VSR.
The Anzacs By Patsy Adam Smith
Similar to The Broken Years,
uses first hand accounts to tell the story of the Australian infantryman in
the war.
The ANZAC Book. By the Men of Anzac
Intended as a Christmas gift for
the Australians on Gallipoli it tells the story of the campaign with humor,
poems, stories, and cartoons from the soldiers perspective.
Original copies were published in 1915 and 1916, and the AWM
occasionally reprints copies.
The Australians in Nine Wars By Peter Firkins
A comprehensive history of the
Australian army from the First Fleet to Vietnam. A very good read.
The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History
The Encyclopedia of Australian
Military History. Everything is
alphabetically listed with topics ranging from campaigns, biographies,
weapons, and units. The one
drawback to this book is the cost. It
retails near $100.
On the Western Front By John Laffin
Anecdotes from the British Imperial and Commonwealth Army in France. More than just Australians.
Damn the Dardanelles by John Laffin
A short history of the Gallipoli
campaign. Highly critical of the
British.
Digger: The Story of the Australian Soldier By John Laffin
The fighting spirit of the AIF
summed up in one book. A great
read.
The Australian Army at War by John Laffin
Osprey book (123) covering Boer
War, WW1, WW2, Korea, and Vietnam. Outstanding
uniform studies.
The Nek By Peter Burness
What really happened to Mel Gibson
on “Gallipoli.” A good study of
the assault at the Nek which almost destroyed the 3rd Light Horse Brigade.
Saddle Up By Rick Landers
Covers Australian Army load
carrying equipment from Australia, Britain, and the USA.
The source of information on P-08 and P-15 gear.
Anzac and Empire By John Robertson
A thought provoking work that
examines the Gallipoli Campaign and its effects on Australia.
Australians at War the Time Life Series
Very hard to find in the US. Standard Time-Life series books, however they are full of good information. The WWI related volumes are: Gallipoli - One Long Grave; The Western Front 1916-1917; 1917-1918; The Australian Light Horse; and The Royal Australian Navy.
Viewing:
-Gallipoli
-The LightHorsemen
-ANZACS: The War Down Under
-Breaker Morant
