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  #1  
Old 27-07-10, 22:38
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Default Books on war

Up until now I haven't had much interest in books except for instruction manuals, vintage car books and books on steam engines. Lately this has changed and I am getting more interested in history.
At the moment I am reading a book writen from the diries of a soldier on the
western Front and find it hard to put down.

H.G. HARTNETT
a digger's story of the western front
OVER the TOP
edited by Chris Bryett.
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  #2  
Old 28-07-10, 10:25
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The book that got me started was one of Dad's old books.
The Phantom Major by Virginia Cowles.
Now thanks to Andrew I have Europe WW2 and Blueprint for Victory to read.
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  #3  
Old 28-07-10, 12:55
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I read a book about helium once... Couldn't put it down!
But seriously, Folks...
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Old 28-07-10, 13:05
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One of my favorite books is "Voices of War", compiled by Michael Caulfield. (I have read it twice, which is quite remarkable as the only 'read time' I get is also, erm, "Toilet time".... At 500+ pages, that's a lot of... erm... poo.)
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The blurb: "Drawn from engagements ranging from World War I through to operations in East Timor and Iraq, the stories are taken from the Australians at War Film Archive, a collection of the memories of over two thousand Australians who have served, both on the front line and at home.
Some are unbelievably, unbearably tragic, even after sixty or seventy years, others are the golden memories of happy, albeit unusual, times. And, more often than not, they are stories which have never been shared with others, even family members.
There are stories from winners of the Victoria Cross; stories from the POW camps of Asia and Europe; from the patrols of Vietnam, through to those who served as peacekeepers in Rwanda and Somalia. There are stories from nurses, from those who have volunteered to serve with aid agencies and stories of ordinary Australians caught up by circumstances and by duty, in wartime. Here are their words."
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  #5  
Old 28-07-10, 13:09
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I was hopeing for serious replies to give me an idea of what was out there that may interest me and also if others had read the books I've read and their opinions on them.
Howard I take it you are only into light reading
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  #6  
Old 28-07-10, 13:39
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Thanks Howard I just bought that book should get it by the end of next week.
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Old 28-07-10, 22:29
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Convoys Up the Track by Alan Smith is a good read. Alan was an Officer with one of the Transport Companys delivering supplys to Darwin during the early stages of the war when the Japanese were bombing Darwin. He also has another book as well but I don't have it.
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Old 28-07-10, 23:51
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Default Non-Fiction

Bravo 2-Zero is a really good book which was also made into a movie (Sean Bean plays the lead) it is based on real events involving an SAS squad from Austrailia, I thought it was a good read.
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  #9  
Old 28-07-10, 23:53
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Default Alan Smith

Good call Cliff

I interviewed Alan at Corowa in 2004 and you can watch it on the Year of the Studebaker DVD. He is quite an interesting gentleman.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cliff View Post
Convoys Up the Track by Alan Smith is a good read. Alan was an Officer with one of the Transport Companys delivering supplys to Darwin during the early stages of the war when the Japanese were bombing Darwin. He also has another book as well but I don't have it.
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  #10  
Old 29-07-10, 11:31
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Default Ohhh Robert!

You are about to enter a world that you may never return from. There are literally millions of books ( no pun intended ).

One I am in the middle of reading is called the Autobiography of the British Soldier by John Lewis-Stempel. Re-telling actual accounts by soldiers who were there from the battle of Agincourt to Basra.

If youre into the History, using fictional characters, but put into real events. Buy everything by Bernard Cornwall. He has written many books, one of his best series are the Sharpe books which follow Sir Arthur Wellesley (The Duke of Wellington) from his Indian Campaign through Spain, Portugal and then finally to Waterloo. You'll feel like you donned the Scarlet Jacket and then the legendary Green Jacket of the 95th Rifles Regiment and walked across two continents. Not mention enduring the hardships & terrifying battles.

The other series of his I liked was the one on the Danish invasion of England during the reign of Alfred the Great.

Another book is "Warlords" concerning Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin and Hitler its a cracker & will open your eyes as to who orchestrated major events that shaped the next 60 years of how people lived in the world after WW2.

There are just so many - Two Centuries of Warfare is brilliant.

Con Iggulden wrote a great series on Julius Ceaser called 'Emperor'. An Italian Professor by the name of Manfredi wrote some great novels on Alexander the Great. The list goes on............
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  #11  
Old 29-07-10, 22:55
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Ah Tony you have similar reading traits to me as I have read most of the books you mention as well as Alexander Kents books on all the naval battles of the 1700-1800's which are fasinating as well.
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  #12  
Old 31-07-10, 23:12
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As everyone above has said, there's too many books to count; as far as the Great War is concerned, if you want another point of view, try "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Erich Maria Remarque. Sadly it's not a particularly long book, but it is a fascinating account of the Great War from the point of view of a group of German soldiers.

Also definetly read the Sharpe novels, they are a great books!
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Old 14-08-10, 06:07
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Thank you for all the sugestions so far.
I have now finished Harry Hartnett's book and in my opinion it is a good insight into the horrors of war and what our soldures went through to protect our way of life.
I will now start on Howard's sugestion "Voices of War."
Has anyone else read the two I have read so far?
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  #14  
Old 14-08-10, 17:04
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gary_bath_jr View Post
Bravo 2-Zero is a really good book which was also made into a movie (Sean Bean plays the lead) it is based on real events involving an SAS squad from Austrailia, I thought it was a good read.
Umm? Err? 22 SAS is the British Special Air Service http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bravo_Two_Zero. There was a Kiwi and a former Australian Commando in the squad, but it was a British mission. The Australians, New Zealanders, and used to be Rhodesians are brothers-in-arms under the SAS tent, but not the same as Two Two.

Bravo Two Zero has been repudiated by many knowledgible SAS writers. Perhaps the best challenge to its truthfullness is, 'The Real Bravo Two Zero' written by an SAS man who is also an Arabist. Apparently Andy McNab is now persona non grata at SAS functions for stretching the truth at his debrief.
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  #15  
Old 03-12-10, 22:35
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I'm a slow reader but I've finally finished "voices of war", for me a bit harder to read in parts than "over the top" and a little more comfronting at times but as Howard said a good book. Now to start "convoys up the track" thanks Cliff.
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Old 24-12-10, 06:34
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All quiet on the western front arrived in the mail the other day and I read it while waiting in town for Greg to finish work. I'm about 1/3 through Convoys up the track and now realise we learnt verry little of our history at school.
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  #17  
Old 24-12-10, 10:03
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glad you are enjoying the learning experience Robert. Have a good Christmas and New Year.

Cheers
Cliff
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Old 21-02-11, 10:45
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Convoys Up The Track now read, verry interisting and educational.
I now have to read my Christmas present from Greg then I'll get back to learning more of our history.
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  #19  
Old 01-03-11, 21:34
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Default Books

They say you can't judge a book by its cover but this one looks interesting. No connection.

Graeme

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  #20  
Old 01-03-11, 23:07
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Hi Graeme I'll let you know what it's like in a fiew weeks.
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  #21  
Old 02-03-11, 00:16
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Default good books

I am just finishing "Berlin Diary" by William L. Shirer....Published 20 June 1941.

The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent 1934-41

An excellent account of Nazi Germany through the eyes of an American Radio Journalist. First hand accounts of the rise to power of the National Socialist Party, a diplomatic and propogandic study of the events leading to the outbreak of war through to the middle of 1941.. An extremely interesting view of the war and life in Berlin first hand.

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  #22  
Old 14-03-11, 14:18
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Try- the "Guns" Trilogy by Blackburn

where the hell are the Guns
the guns of Normandy
the guns of victory

George Blackburn was a reporter before the war, then became FOO. A very dangerous job and the odds against you grew the longer you served. He was one of the longest serving FOOs of the war and his reporter skills make him a good writer

Alas he passed away a few years ago,
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Old 04-07-11, 12:38
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Default This was an epic

Another book for you Robert (and all)

Kokoda by Paul Ham. ISBN 0-7322-8232-2

I went through a whole myriad of emotions reading this....... Exceptionally well written.

The authors primary sources of evidence are very impressive and give a lot of weight to his findings.

His style makes it an easy read as well.

Well worth picking up fellahs.
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Old 04-07-11, 13:19
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Well done, those men by Barry Heard is a very good read.
It's the true story of a young man from far East Gippsland and his life before, during and after the vietnam war.
Strongly recommend.
Luke
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Old 04-07-11, 13:37
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Too many to say , but :

'The jungle is neutral' by F. Spencer-Chapman . It details his exploits running around Malaya for 3 and a half years , living with Chinese communist guerrilas and evading the Japs . A truely amazing survival story. This chap also set up the commando school at Wilsons prom .

'Fear drive my Feet ' Peter Ryan ? A 18 year old and his adventures in New Guinea as a spy/observer on the Huon peninsula . The author was interviewed on anzac day a few years back, and I immediately clicked to who it was.

And, a favourite . 'the naked Island' by Russell Braddon . His story of being a POW on the Thai Burma railway .
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  #26  
Old 04-07-11, 13:49
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Luke R View Post
Well done, those men by Barry Heard is a very good read.
It's the true story of a young man from far East Gippsland and his life before, during and after the vietnam war.
Strongly recommend.
Luke
His book has been broadcast on ABC radio National, twice, as a talking book . I listened to it all the way through. He was a radio operator . Excellent , it really captured the 1960's .
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Old 10-07-11, 03:16
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Default war books

I've got a couple for sale if anyone is interested.
Tanks of the world by George Forty, 256 pages, large format, heavily illustrated.
And Great war stories, 700 pages. It contains the Colditz Story, the Bridge on the River Kwai, the Battle of the River Plate and the Dambusters.
Both are excellent condition.
I'm after $15 for the two. Postage will be $10.70 anywhere in Aust.
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  #28  
Old 10-07-11, 06:33
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Ryan PM sent.
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  #29  
Old 10-07-11, 10:59
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Sold.
Cheers Robert.
They'll be sent tomorrow.
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  #30  
Old 13-07-11, 09:33
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Ryan the books arrived today thank you. I now have a years reading ahead of me.
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