Dale Blair Livres

"In November 1918, the BEF under Field Marshal Haig fought a series of victorious battles on the Western Front that contributed mightily to the German Army's defeat. They did so as part of a coalition and the role of Australian 'diggers' and US 'doughboys' is often forgotten. The Bellicourt Tunnel attack ... was very much an inter-Allied affair and marked a unique moment in the Allied armies' endeavours. It was the first time that such a large cohort of Americans had fought in a British army. Additionally, untried American II Corps and experienced Australian Corps were to spearhead the attack under the command of Lieutenant General Sir John Monash with British divisions adopting supporting roles on the flanks. [The author] details the fighting and the largely forgotten desperate German defence. Although celebrated as a marvellous feat of breaking the Hindenburg Line, the American attack failed generally to achieve its set objectives and it took the Australians three days of bitter fighting to reach theirs. [The author] rejects the conventional explanation of the US 'mop up' failure and points the finger of blame at Rawlinson, Haig and Monash for expecting too much of the raw US troops, singling out the Australian Corps commander for particular criticism. Overall, he judges the fighting a draw"--Publisher's description

The book delves into the troubling phenomenon of Australian soldiers' refusal to take prisoners during World War I, exploring both the victims and perpetrators of this practice. Despite being against the rules of war, such acts were common in the trenches between 1915-18. Through a variety of sources, including official histories and personal accounts, the author examines the prevalence of these unlawful behaviors and the complexities surrounding surrender and the prisoner of war experience. Dr. Dale Blair, a seasoned historian, provides a critical perspective on this grim aspect of the war.

The book explores the intersection between the Great War and patriotism through an examination of the effects of both on Australia’s most popular football code. The work is chronological, and therefore provides an easy path by which events may be followed. Ultimately it seeks to shine a light on and provide considerable detail to a much-ignored period in Australian Rules football history, including women’s football history, that was subject to much upheaval and which reflected considerable social and class divisions in society at the time. One hundred years on, the Australian Football League presents past soldier footballers as unequivocal representatives of a unifying national ‘Anzac’ spirit. That is far from the reality of football’s First World War experience.