Cobbers in Khaki – The History of the 8th Battalion AIF 1914–1919 | Ron Austin | 2004 [USED – HCDJ – Very Good]

The unit history of the 8th Battalion AIF, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division — a Victorian battalion raised from rural Victoria by Lieutenant Colonel William Bolton within a fortnight of the declaration of war in August 1914.

The battalion landed at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915 as part of the second wave, then ten days later moved with the 2nd Brigade to Cape Helles for the Second Battle of Krithia — an attack that cost the brigade around a thousand casualties in a single hour. Returning to ANZAC, the battalion fought at Lone Pine in August before evacuation in December.

On the Western Front from March 1916, the battalion served through Pozières, Mouquet Farm, Bullecourt, Menin Road, Broodseinde, Passchendaele and the great Allied offensive of 8 August 1918 — a day General Ludendorff described as the black day of the German Army. Lieutenant William Joynt was awarded a Victoria Cross on that day, and Private Robert Beatham earned another the following day before being killed in action two days later. Total casualties across the war: 877 killed and 2,410 wounded, with three Victoria Crosses awarded.

Ron Austin has written histories of five AIF battalions — the 4th, 7th, 8th, 29th and the present volume — all often in stock at The Book Cellar.

BOOK DETAILS

• Hardcover with dust jacket.
• 314 pages.
• Black and white illustrations.
• Published 2004 by Slouch Hat Publications.

CONDITION

Used, very good condition. Contact the bookshop on 03 6381 1545 for additional photos if required before purchasing.

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