New Publications

First World War

The Courtneys:
A Victorian Military Family

Ron Austin.

Courtney's Post at Galliopoli is symbolic of this family's century of military service, ranging from The Castlemaine Corps in the 19th century, Militia service, AIF at Gallipoli (R Courtney 14th Bn, C Courtney 4th LHR), WW2 in Pacific with RAN, Para Landing at Arnhem, German POW.

This book provides the reader with valuable insight into the development of the Australian Army over 120 year span from Colonial times, through two world wars and beyond.

Fisrt Edition 2009, Slouch Hat Publications, Mc Crae, Victoria 3938.Hard Cover dust jacket 200pp, 7 x 10". Includes many historic photographs, Abbreviations, family medals supplement in colour, Bibliography, Index, Appendices.

From Gallipoli to Palestine:
The war writings of Sgt GT Clunie of the Wellington Mounted Rifles, 1914-1919,

Clunie GT, Compiled by Kevin Clunie, Edited by Ron Austin.

Provides the reader with a view of the historic Anzac operations at Gallipoli, then the successful campaign in Egypt and Palestine.

Garry Clunie's war writings are an unvarnished and fascinating story of war, told through the eyes of a young New Zealand farmer who had enlisted in the Army to serve his country.

Fisrt Edition 2009, Slouch Hat Publications, Mc Crae, Victoria 3938. Hard Cover, dust jacket 224pp, 7 x 10", Many original photographs taken by Sgt Clunie.Index, Contents.

They Rode into History:
The History of the 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF, 1914-19

Max Emery

Unit history of 8th Light Horse Regiment, written by Max Emery, whose great uncle was killed at Es Salt in Palestine.

This unit was raised in Victoria and which saw service in Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine and Syria during the Great War.
The action of the 8th and 10th Light Horse Regiments during the ill fated charge at The Nek on 7th August 1915 is the stuff of legends and has been immortalised on screen.

Forsaking their beloved horses during the Gallipoli campaign, which saw the 8th LHR lose over 180 officers and men killed. When the unit returned to Egypt in December 1915 where they were reunited with their horses and for the next three years participated in the campaigns which took them across Egypt and into places such as Gaza, Beersheba and many more famous towns. During early 1919, there occurred the Egyptian uprising, and units of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade including the 8th LHR spent some months assisting the British authorities to crush the rebellion.

The history has not been told in its entirety before and is well over due. THEY RODE INTO HISTORY is a classic tale of heroism of men and their horses under terrible conditions in Egypt and Palestine.

The book is well illustrated with many photos and maps, and also includes Nominal, Honour and gallantry medal Rolls.

CYCLING TO WAR:
The history of the AIF/NZ Cyclist Corps 1916-1919

Ron Austin

The illustrated history of the two Anzac Corps Cyclist Battalions that served in Gallipoli, France and Belgium. Traces the use of bicycles in the Boer War, and the origins of the AIF Cyclist Companies in Egypt, also the New Zealand Cyclists.

New, 176 pages, Hard cover, Dust Jacket. Appendices - Nominal Rolls, Honour Roll, Honours & Awards, Bibliography, Index.

The Fighting Fourth:
A History of Sydney's 4th Battalion, 1914-19

Ron Austin

The 4th Battalion was raised in Sydney by Lieutenant-Colonel Onslow Thompson. On 25 April 1915, the 4th Battalion landed at Anzac Cove, and in August fought in the costly struggle to capture the Turkish trenches at Lone Pine.

Following the evacuation of Anzac in December 1915, the unit returned to Egypt, and in April 1916 landed in France. The 4th Battalion fought in the battles at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm and at Bullecourt. In late 1917, the 4th Battalion was involved in the struggle in Flanders which culminated in the capture of Passchendaele.

As well as depicting the battles fought by the battalion, it also provides a fascinating and often poignant insight into the war through the use of letters and diaries obtained from families whose relatives fought in that war. These personal excerpts bring home the human cost and futility of that war, particularly as the 4th's fatal casualties totalled 1,287 men.

The book is well illustrated with many photos and maps, and also includes Nominal, Honour and gallantry medal Rolls.

Second World War

LET ENEMIES BEWARE, 'Caveant Hostes';
The History of the 2/15th Battalion 1940-1945.

Ron Austin

History of the 2/15th Battalion WW2.

Reprinted 2008, Slouch Hat Publicatiuons McCrae Hard cover, photos, nominal and honour rolls.