That Magnificent 9th – An Illustrated History of the 9th Australian Field Division, 1940-46 (2nd Ed)

Description

Title: That Magnificent 9th – An Illustrated History of the 9th Australian Field Division, 1940-46

Author: Johnston, Mark

Condition: Very Good +

Edition: 2nd Edition

Publication Date: 2005

ISBN: 9781741146431

Cover: Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 272 pages

Comments: A comprehensive illustrated history of the 9th Australian Division during World War 2. Now quite a hard to find title.

This is a unique and powerful visual history of the men who fought in the 9th Australian Division. Many never before published photographs, some from veterans’ private collections, illustrate dramatic and confronting stories of Tobruk, El Alamein, New Guinea and Borneo.

The 9th Division gained renown as ‘Rats of Tobruk’ in 1941. They were eulogised as ‘that magnificent 9th’ by General Montgomery after the battle of El Alamein in 1942, and drew praise from their formidable opponent, Field Marshal Rommel.

In 1943, the Division joined the war against Japan and served with distinction in New Guinea-undertaking the largest amphibious landing by Australian forces since Gallipoli-and in two controversial campaigns in Borneo.

These evocative photographs show the human face of war but also demonstrate the Australian digger’s ability to find humour in the most unlikely circumstances. but also looks at them when resting. It discusses famous individuals, such as senior officers and medal winners, but also the common soldiers who comprised the majority of this extraordinary formation. Their dramatic, trying and often moving experiences are central to the story. A series of tables provides much previously unavailable information on the division’s casualties, medals and commanders. Mark Johnston brings to bear the fruits of years of research on the Australian Army in World War II, and on ‘that magnificent 9th’ in particular.