WW2 Aust publications - 'As You Were', 'Stand Easy', etc

[Bruce Gilbert]

I have been recently going through my Father's (Darwin Mobile Force and 2/12 Fd Amb - Tarakan) collection of these excellent books (spanning from 1943 to 1947), and note there are many action shots of vehicles, guns, diggers, ships, etc.

The books (at least the Army-related) were "Published for The Australian Military Forces by Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT, 194n."

There are also wonderful personal stories, cartoons, sketches, battle maps, etc. showing the Aussie digger at war.

Has there ever been an attempt to digitise these publications?

I'm sure many Australian families have these books, but as time passes their relevance may be lost to future generations.

Other than being of general interest to families, would these publications have given serving soldiers at the time in a particular theatre-of-war a first-hand understanding and appreciation of their comrades-in-arms (men and women in the Army, Navy(RAN) and Air Force (RAAF)) in other TOW's?


Were these publications unique to Australia, or did other countries produce similar publications for their troops?.


Lest We Forget (in every sense of the phrase)

Bruce Gilbert
NSW, aust.

[Keith Webb]

They're part of a much wider range of books covering Australia's military effort in WW2, some great pictures and stories. There's a series for the RAAF, Army, Signals and more. They are often seen at second hand bookshops. I was fortunate to find several in their original mailing packages.

[Mike Kelly]

The rarest one seems to be the 'SIGNALS' .

The RAN series was HMAS and HMAS Mk2 and HMAS Mk3 . I have the HMAS Mk2 in its original post cardboard box, my father bought it new and posted it to my mother.

[hrpearce]

It took a while but I think I have them all.

[jack neville]

It is the WW1 books that are hard to find. The RAAF being the hardest of the WW2 books, probably because they had the smallest numbers of personnel I suppose. My collection has steadily improved over the years as I buy and sell better books, original copies, but more importantly, those with original dust covers.

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by hrpearce

It took a while but I think I have them all.

Seem to know who started you off with those Robert. Glad to see that they have been put to good use.

Here are some of mine I have 21 different books in that set and quite a few double and triple ups.



Here are some shots of part of my library. All of this wall are military related.



And about 1/2 of this one. The other 2 walls I didn't photo, or the boxes under the table.



Regards Rick.

[hrpearce]

Yes Rick the visit to your library was an eye opener for me and I have followed your example and handed on the doubles I got while collecting to the next generation. My collection is of 24 books will have to write the titles down and compare notes with you in Corowa.

[Tony Smith]

Khaki and Green in original mailing cover, just $4.00!:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KHAKI-AND...4AAOSw8gVX~bD9

[lynx42]

Thank you Tony for the heads up. I was successful for this one at $5.50 almost un-opened.

Regards Rick.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Thank you Tony for the heads up.
".... this one...... almost un-opened."

Regards Rick.

It was probably undelivered. Quite surprising that the History Unit of the Department of the Army couldn't spell Dardanelles St!

[hrpearce]

I finally sorted the books, I have 24 titles.
The two books in the first picture were the hardest to find.
I bought the book in the second picture thinking it was different, turned out to be the same as book two.
Pictures three and fore show the best copies of the rest of my collection.
Picture five shows the double ups and one in original packing.
Some books I bought thinking they were different only to discover the cover colour was the only difference.

[lynx42]

Hi Robert,

You have quite a collection, I wonder who started you off on them??

Might have to do a deal with you on the RAAF books as I do not have any of them.

Regards Rick.

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Robert,

Yes, those two WW1 pictorials are difficult to find, especially in reasonable condition. Like you, I'm fortunate to have both. Another nice find is the Bruce Bairnsfather series of cartoon magazines published during the war. I was pleased to find both a complete hard-cover bound set, plus four of the magazines in their original covers, all in good condition. Still don't have a complete set of the WW1 official history, but as these are all digitized on-line on the AWM site, the need is not so pressing.

Like every Australian enthusiast, I have picked up several volumes of the WW2 series, mostly the Army books and the later 'As you were' books up to the 1950s - a poor showing compared to yours and Rick's collections! Only one in an original posting box, however. The more valuable books for me are a complete set of the WW2 official history, and a complete set of the Australian Pictorial History of WW2.

We also have several of the US Official history of WW2, and a set of the rare first edition of the pictorial history of the US Civil War, published about 1900 (the blue-spinned, 10 volume set below the Aust official history).

And what's an office to work in without some original art to gaze upon from time to time?? Confederate 12-pounder Napoleon ML SB cannons firing on Harper's Ferry from Bolivar Heights, flanked by portraits of a Confederate officer and an enlisted artillerist.

Mike

[jack neville]

I have a full set of the WW2 AWM books which I have improved over the years to include mostly original issues and most with complete dust covers. I managed to obtain two of the WW1 books with the The Anzac Book having a very good dust cover.

[jack neville]

I have set of the WW1 Official History including two of the Medical History volumes. The set is in very good condition and originally belonged to Colonel Frank Hewiston who was a long time member of the Australian Army Staff College at Queenscliff until his retirement. His widow gifted them to me some years after his death.
My set of AWM Pictorial History and 16 of the WW2 History volumes all came from the long forgotten Amenities Library that was housed at the now defunct Russell Street Police Headquarters in Melbourne. A couple of years before the complex was closed the library ceased to operate. It was rumoured that the books were all to be sold by tender. The collection contained many original issue battalion histories. When the tender went through the main interest was in the antique shelving not the books. The elderly volunteer librarian had since departed and not many people had access to the keys. You can be lucky sometimes.

[jack neville]

But my favourite book is this All Australian Memorial printed in 1917. It contains many unique photos which are pasted in and has the Roll of Honour for 1914-1916. I assume there were later editions to cover the later war years but I am very pleased to have this not least because it contains my grandfathers name. 1932 DRIDAN, J.H., Amphitheatre. V

[Mike Kelly]

In my experience the most rare publication of the WW2 AWM series , is "SIGNALS" If you have one hold onto it.

The op shops were filled up with those WW2 AWM books in years past. Those days are gone.

[hrpearce]

Still a fair few on ebay of the easy to get ones. I still check what is available hoping to get better copies, plenty of water damaged ones around. Asking prices vary greatly and some cheap ones have outrageous postage added.

[Matt Austin]

Someone once noted that the value of second-hand shops can be measured by the prices of these books. More than $10-$15 for the common ones, and it's a good guess that all of their stuff is overpriced!

[Luke R]

I was lucky enough to buy a collection of 21 of these books at a local garage sale for $20 a few years ago.

I've got
HMAS
HMAS MK2
HMAS MK3
HMAS MK4
As you were 1946
As you were 1947
As you were 1948
As you were 1950
These eagles
Victory roll
RAAF saga
RAAF log
Stand easy
Soldiering on
Khaki and green
Active service
Jungle warfare
Signals
On guard
Royal Australian Engineers Second World War 1939-45

So what other books am I missing?

I've also got doubles of
Active service
Stand easy
As you were 1949 and 1950 if anyone needs them.

[hrpearce]

Pig in mud time, I just purchased five more in original packages.
Will add photos when they arrive.

[Tony Smith]

1st edition of the Anzac Book, 1916:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-...0AAOSwWCBasEuG

[hrpearce]

Bought another in original post pack and it arrived today. Also added picture of all I have in post packs as promised on 17/6/18, sadly only two have complete postage labels.