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The Lost Battalions: A battle that could not be won. An island that could not be defended. An ally that could not be trusted.

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title The Lost Battalions: A battle that could not be won. An island that could not be defended. An ally that could not be trusted.
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Tom Gilling
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:272
Dimensions(mm): Height 198,Width 128
Category/GenreAustralia, New Zealand & Pacific history
Second world war
ISBN/Barcode 9781760876166
ClassificationsDewey:940.540095982
Audience
General

Publishing Details

Publisher Allen & Unwin
Imprint Allen & Unwin
Publication Date 3 September 2019
Publication Country Australia

Description

They were thrown into a hopeless fight against an overwhelming enemy. Later, hundreds died as prisoners of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and in the freezing coal mines of Taiwan and Japan. Through it all, wrote Weary Dunlop, they showed 'fortitude beyond anything I could have believed possible'. Until now, the story of the 2000 diggers marooned on Java in February 1942 has been a footnote to the fall of Singapore and the bloody campaign in New Guinea. Led by an Adelaide lawyer, Brigadier Arthur Blackburn VC, and fighting with scrounged weapons, two Australian battalions - plus an assortment of cooks, laundrymen and deserters from Singapore - held up the might of the Imperial Japanese Army until ordered by their Dutch allies to surrender. Drawing on personal diaries, official records and interviews with two of the last living survivors, this book tells the extraordinary story of the 'lads from Java', who laid down their weapons, but refused to give in.

Author Biography

Tom Gilling is an acclaimed novelist. The Sooterkin, Miles McGinty and Dreamland have all been published in Australia, as well as London and New York. He is co-author with Clive Small of the highly successful Smack Express, Blood Money, Evil Life and The Dark Side. His most recent book is The Griffith Wars with Terry Jones.