R. Hugh Knyvett Bücher

This work offers profound insights into the experiences of Australian contingents during the war, highlighting their personalities, interactions, and friendships amid extreme stress. Mike Knyvett, who served as an Intelligence Officer with the 15th Bn. Australian Imperial Force, was seriously wounded at Gommecourt in November 1916, just before his transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. After his injury, he was invited to give war lectures in America, where he tragically passed away in 1918 at the age of 31. The book is structured into several parts, beginning with the call to arms and the journey of Australians from distant lands. It explores their training, the challenges of life in Egypt, and the harrowing experiences at Gallipoli, including the unexpected success of the landing and the subsequent evacuation. The narrative then shifts to the Western Front, detailing the harsh realities of battle, including the Battle of Fleurbaix, the Somme, and the psychological toll of trench warfare. The latter sections delve into hospital life in France, London, and Australia, as well as Knyvett's reflections on the nature of war, the psychology of fear, and the moral imperatives that guide soldiers. The work concludes with a poignant poem, encapsulating the fleeting nature of life amidst the backdrop of war.