In the spirit of Les Carlyon's bestselling 'Gallipoli', this book restores Milne Bay, Gona, Buna and Sanananda to their rightful place beside Kokoda as sacred ground, and a vital part of Australian history.
In 1942 and early 1943 Papua New Guinea was a bastard of a place to fight a war. For the first time since the Official Historian's account of that war in 1959, Peter Brune gives us the final, all-encompassing story of the five battles that changed Australia forever: Kokoda, Milne Bay, Gona, Buna and Sanananda.
Peter Brune's compelling narrative incorporates hundreds of his interviews with the soldiers of these battles, with the official records, and a recent month-long tour of the battle grounds. This is no mere military history, but the very real and engaging experiences of both the well-trained AIF volunteer, and the young Militia conscript who triumphed together. Through these Australians' Papuan journey, a light is shone on the very soul of a young nation, essentially left to its own devices and fighting for its very life.
Peter reveals the inside story of how Generals MacArthur and Blamey sacrificed many of the senior Australian field commanders as scapegoats to protect their own positions, and assisted in the making of false legends and outright lies about the men who fought the battles.
'A Bastard Of A Place' restores Milne Bay, Gona, Buna and Sanananda to their rightful place beside Kokoda to what they should collectively be for all Australians - sacred ground. Expect high drama, lingering controversy and final triumph with this book.
