Bibliograph

The lost battalions, a battle that could not be won. An island that could not be defended. An ally that could not be trusted, Tom Gilling

Type

Label

The lost battalions, a battle that could not be won. An island that could not be defended. An ally that could not be trusted, Tom Gilling

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references and index

resource.biographical

contains biographical information

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The lost battalions

Nature of contents

bibliography

Responsibility statement

Tom Gilling

Sub title

a battle that could not be won. An island that could not be defended. An ally that could not be trusted

Summary

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

Target audience

adult

Creator