Maker and Breaker: an Engineer Officer in World War Two - Hardcover

John C. Grover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0980320437 ISBN 13: 9780980320435

Publisher: Australian Military History Publications, 2008

Synopsis

This book tells the the true story of John Grover, engineer, and his experiences of World War Two. Aged only 24 by the end of the war, John joined up in the Engineers when war broke out in 1939, and by October 1941, by then a lieutenant, he was in the Middle East.

There, he worked with 2/1 Field Company including the push north into Syria as the Australians fought the Vichy French. With the Pacific War underway much of the AIF was returned to defend Australia and Grover soon found himself in Papua.

His unit was sent to the start of the Kokoda Trail, with the task of hacking a new track through the jungle. They had almost reached Nauro when the Japanese arrived first and the work was abandoned.

He later built roads and bridges around Buna and faced the force of nature often ruining bridges that had just been built. In charge of a platoon of 2/14 Field Company, next came Wau and Bulolo – again building and repairing vital bridges.

The end of the war in the Pacific found Grover and his engineers supporting the fighting along the New Guinea north coast.

Edition details

• Publisher: Australian Military History Publications
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0980320437
• ISBN 13: 9780980320435
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 228