1 comments about An Anzac's Story.

1. This book is a memoir of one man's experiences in both the pre-war years and the war from 1915. While much of the book is devoted to the pre-war years and life in country Victoria, the book presents a unique insight into a soldier's experiences and memories written in later life.
   
   Roy Kyle began writing the notes for this book when he was 89, and then died before he had completed it. Bryce Courtney worked on the introduction and provides a chapter called "Background to the War Years". Courtney's notes provide useful background information that sets the context for Kyle's memories, without which Kyle would be hard to understand in some places unless the reader were Australian or had previous knowledge of Gallipoli. I learned a few things from reading Courtney's additions. Courtney does betray a sense of disgust at the sheer numbers of lives lost and the commanders' apparent disregard for the lives of their men. I suspect that Courtney's disgust was a heartfelt response to the research he needed to do in editing Kyle's notes.
   
   Kyle's writing is very informal and is very much that of an ordinary person making notes about what he remembers. He also makes note of those people and events that have "faded from memory" in places, though it has to be admitted that his memory for details was amazing after so many years.
   
   In some parts, Kyle's memories are truly harrowing, and I was pretty sickened by some of the things he saw. At least once, he just leaves the details out, and states that someone's death was "truly horrific". For someone as Kyle to say that something is "truly horrific" must be a classic in understatement.
   
   In some parts, Kyle's memories are truly hilarious, and add something of a lighter side to the whole affair. Of particular note was when a divisional parade collapsed into chaos when a hare decided to make a run for it across the beach through the legs of the men at attention. Apparently, the General just left in disgust. The hare....well, you will just have to read the book.
   
   The book, at times touching, at times harrowing, but always honest, direct and moving, is a fantastic read and a great memoir of a man who fought with the Anzacs. Unlike books written by the armchair historians and those commanders who were safely behind the lines, Kyle takes you right into it, and puts you smack in the middle of the sweat, flies, stench and dysentry.
   
   Although a "sideshow" to the main war in Europe, Gallipoli is permanently burned into the Australia and New Zealander pysche. "An Anzac's Story" gives you a first hand glimpse of life and death there. An awesome and gut-wrenching book.

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