Battle Scared : The 47th Battalion in the First World War

Craig Deayton

ISBN 10: 1922132004 / ISBN 13: 9781922132000

Published by Big Sky Publishing P/L, 2012

About this Item

The 47th Battalion fought in some of the First World War's bloodiest battles. From their first calamitous experience of war under the terrible shell fire of Pozieres, to the costly and futile attacks on Mouquet Farm and the frigid winters on the Somme they suffered through fighting on the Western Front in 1916. In April of 1917 they were trapped and almost surrounded at 1st Bullecourt. A mere eight weeks later, they 'hopped the bags' at Messines where they lost over half their number. In October they fought and died by the score in the mud of Passchendale. **The front cover has a ripple at the side.**.

Seller Inventory # 001095

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Battle Scared : The 47th Battalion in the First World War
• Publisher: Big Sky Publishing P/L
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1922132004
• ISBN 13: 9781922132000
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Weight: 825 grams

About this title

Synopsis

"Australias own Band of Brothers" One of the shortest lived and most battle hardened of the 1st Australian Imperial Force’s battalions, the 47th was formed in Egypt in 1916 and disbanded two years later having suffered one of the highest casualty rates of any Australian unit. Their story is remarkable for many reasons. Dogged by command and discipline troubles and bled white by the desperate attrition battles of 1916 and 1917, they fought on against a determined and skilful enemy in battles where the fortunes of war seemed stacked against them at every turn. Not only did they have the misfortune to be called into some of the A.I.F.’s most costly campaigns, chance often found them in the worst places within those battles. Though their story is one of almost unrelieved tragedy, it is also story of remarkable courage, endurance and heroism. It is the story of the 1st A.I.F. itself – punished, beaten, sometimes reviled for their indiscipline, they fought on - fewer, leaner and harder - until final victory was won. And at its end, in an extraordinary gesture of mateship, the remnants of the 47th Battalion reunited. Having been scattered to other units after their disbandment, the survivors gathered in Belgium for one last photo together. Only 73 remained.

About the Author

Craig Deayton is a History teacher with a special interest in Australia’s military history. He has worked as a teacher and College Principal for over twenty-five years and is currently Principal of Sacred Heart College in Hobart, Australia. Craig holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Masters degree in Education.