Our latest catalogue contains a comprehensive collection of Australian First World War unit histories, augmented by a selection of related ephemeral publications, many of them rare.
This introduction will be mercifully brief: it seems rather pointless to preach to the converted, and the rest of you have already stopped reading!
Please forgive the eccentric order in which the items are displayed. It is a quirk of our website platform and beyond our control, but you’ll figure it out!
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, [1988] (facsimile edition)/ 1919. One of 300 copies of this facsimile edition. The portrait, preface and index are new to this edition, and Limb's authorship is acknowledged on the title page (it is not done in the original edition). See Trigellis-Smith 212 (giving 1989 as the date..... More
Adelaide, Webb & Son, 1936 [first edition, second impression]. The author was 'Late No. 624, Private Original 10th Battalion'. Dornbusch 322; Fielding and O'Neill, page 226; Trigellis-Smith 211 (none of them noting that the first impression binding is lettered in gilt, the second in black). More
Adelaide, Webb & Son, 1936 [first edition, first impression]. The author was 'Late No. 624, Private Original 10th Battalion'. Dornbusch 322; Fielding and O'Neill, page 226; Trigellis-Smith 211 (none of them noting that the first impression binding is lettered in gilt, the more commonly-encountered black lettering denotes the second impression)..... More
London, Cassell, 1919. The first edition of this anonymously published book is fiendishly rare in our experience; we have had only a handful of copies in over forty years as booksellers in Adelaide, and the 10th is a local battalion. Arthur Limb (1893-1920) was a member of the battalion; he..... More
Melbourne, Alexander McCubbin, [1921]. The two-page foreword by Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Chauvel describes the author thus: 'Lieut.-Colonel Olden is well qualified to undertake the work, as, joining the Regiment on its inception, he served with it throughout the War, and, though twice wounded, was never long away from duty. He..... More
Brisbane, A. Green, 2009 (facsimile edition)/ [1921]. Number 9 of only 400 copies. Dornbusch 399; Fielding and O'Neill, page 233; Trigellis-Smith 280 (all referring to the original edition). More
Perth, Imperial Printing Company, 1940. Provenance: the family of Lieutenant James Murray Aitken, killed in action near Harbonnières on 10 August 1918. He is mentioned by name several times in the text. 'An extract from a letter written by Private J.M. Aitken in the early days of camp life' is..... More
Brisbane, William Brooks and Co., 1942. This is a rare item, with provenance from two light horsemen. An inscription on the front free endpaper reads: 'Originally owned by the late [868 Corporal] Jack Ledlie but given to me by his widow Olive. Clive Kynaston. 512 - 12th ALH'. A second..... More
[Swanbourne, Burridge, 1984] (facsimile edition)/ 1942. Limited to only 200 copies. Loosely inserted is a calling card for Mrs J.M. Ledlie (Olive), with a personal message from her in 1975 on the verso. 868 Corporal J.M. Ledlie is listed in the nominal roll in the book. See Trigellis-Smith 282 (giving..... More
Brisbane, A. Green, 2009 (facsimile edition)/ 1942. Number 57 of 400 copies signed by the publisher. More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1989 (facsimile edition)]/ 1924. One of only 200 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 215 (giving 1989 as the date of this facsimile edition). More
Sydney, Tyrrells Ltd. 'for the 13th Battalion, A.I.F., Committee', 1924. The title page is worth quoting in full: 'The History of the Thirteenth Battalion, A.I.F. By Thomas A. White, (Captain, 13th Bn., A.I.F.) (Author of "Diggers Abroad.") To "The Gamest Old Man" Our Honoured and Beloved Colonel Granville John Burnage..... More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1987 (facsimile edition)]/ 1929. One of only 200 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 216 (giving 1987 as the date of this facsimile edition). More
Melbourne, The Arrow Printery (for the 14th Battalion and 4th Brigade Association), 1929. Provenance: F.S. Ross, with his ownership signature on both front and rear flyleaves. 5726 Lance Corporal Frederick Saltoun Ross was a member of the battalion. Loosely inserted are two duplicate message forms signed in ink ('Certified true..... More
Brisbane, William Brooks & Co (Q.) Pty. Ltd., 1948. Both pastedowns have the following stamped in ink on them: 'Presented by Major Gen. J.H. Cannan ... and Angels Remembrance Club, 15th Bn. AIF'. In his two-page foreword, Cannan notes that he 'had the honour to command and train the Battalion..... More
Brisbane, William Brooks & Co (Q.) Pty. Ltd., 1948. Provenance: the small ownership stamp of 'J. Fleet' appears on a handful of pages. 594 Company Sergeant-Major Francis John Fleet DCM, veteran of Gallipoli and the Western Front, was later treasurer of the Angels Remembrance Club, 15th Battalion AIF, and it..... More
Perth, History Committee of the 16th Battalion Association, 1929. Dornbusch 324; Fielding and O'Neill, page 227; Trigellis-Smith 219. More
Swanbourne, John Burridge, [1983 (facsimile edition)]/ 1929. Number 153 of 200 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 219 (giving 1983 as the date of this facsimile edition). More
Carlisle, Hesperian Press, 2007 [facsimile edition]/ 1929. More
Sydney, Printed by Shipping Newspapers [for the Seventeenth Battalion Association], 1946. The author enlisted as a private in January 1915; he saw action at Gallipoli. He rose rapidly through the ranks, and was awarded the MC and Bar. The nominal roll (34 pages) and detailed Honour Roll (15 pages) are..... More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1988] (facsimile edition)/ 1946. One of only 200 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 220 (giving 1988 as the date of this facsimile edition). More
London, 'Published for the 18th Battery AIF by Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd', [1919]. The front cover artwork is by the British artist Harry Payne (1858-1927). Not in Dornbusch; Fielding and O'Neill, page 223. More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1989 (facsimile edition)]/ 1931. One of only 200 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 200 (giving 1989 as the date of this facsimile edition). More
[Sydney, printed by James J. Lee for the 1st Battalion AIF History Committee, 1931]. Dornbusch 337; Fielding and O'Neill, page 225; Trigellis-Smith 200. More
[Adelaide, W.K. Thomas and Co., Printers, 1919]. The ink ownership details of a member of the brigade, 32988 Gunner Charles Francis John Davidson, are written on the original flyleaf (see page 96 for his details in the nominal roll: 'Joined - 11/9/17 | Wounded - 2/11/17 (Ypres) | Transferred to..... More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1987 (facsimile edition)]/ [1919]. One of only 200 copies. An unusual treatment: apart from a few preliminaries, a chronology of movements of the Brigade (10 pages), the Roll of Honour, and list of Honours and Awards (totally 16 pages), the bulk of the book is devoted to..... More
Melbourne, H.H. Champion, Australasian Authors' Agency, 1919. The author served with the battalion, and was awarded the MC. In his preface he records that 'Most of the book was written on the Somme at irregular intervals, in dugouts or ruined villages, or beneath that well-known tarpaulin which, in the forward..... More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1987 (facsimile edition)]/ 1919. One of only 200 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 223 (giving 1987 as the date of this facsimile edition). More
Brisbane, A. Green, 2009 (facsimile edition)/ 1919. Number 6 of 400 copies. More
Box Hill, History House, 2001 (revised edition)/ 1919. Number 365 of 500 copies. More
[No Place, No Publisher, circa 1973]. A short unpublished memoir of Gallipoli and the Western Front. 848 Private Donald William Lechte enlisted on 15 February 1915 at the age of nineteen, and composed this memoir around 1973. 'I will try to describe in some detail my experiences on Gallipoli &..... More
Ypres/Broodseinde, 'Printed in the Field', 1918. The National Library of Australia records that this well-produced periodical was published fortnightly or monthly from Number 1 (September 1917) to Volume 2, Number 11 (April 1919). Not in Dornbusch; not in Fielding and O'Neill. More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1984] (facsimile edition)/ [1920]. One of only 200 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 225 (giving 1987 as the date of this facsimile edition). More
Melbourne, Published for the 24th Battalion Association by Alexander McCubbin, [1920]. The author was a member of the battalion; he was awarded the Military Medal at Pozières in March 1916. Dornbusch 316; Fielding and O'Neill, page 227; Trigellis-Smith 225. More
Melbourne, Published for the 24th Battalion Association by Alexander McCubbin, [1920]. The author was a member of the battalion; he was awarded the Military Medal at Pozières in March 1916. Dornbusch 316; Fielding and O'Neill, page 227; Trigellis-Smith 225. More
Hobart, Published for the Government of Tasmania by J. Walch and Sons, 1921. Pages 217-370 contain 'Tasmania's Muster Roll, 1914-1918'. Dornbusch 213; Fielding and O'Neill, page 227; Trigellis-Smith 195. More
Adelaide, Lonnen & Cope, 1921. Provenance: 2280 Corporal Victor Clarence Sidney McGrath (a member of the battalion), with his ownership details written in ballpoint pen on the title page. Dornbusch 310; Fielding and O'Neill, page 227; Trigellis-Smith 226. More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1988 (facsimile edition)]/ 1921. One of only 200 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 226 (giving '1980s' as the date of this facsimile edition). More
Bassendean, [The Author], 2002 (first edition). 'Lieutenant Colonel H.B. Collett wrote "The 28th, A Record of War Service, Volume 1" in 1922. His volume covered the history of the Battalion from April 1915 to March 1916. It was always intended by the 28th Battalion Association that a second volume covering..... More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1983 (facsimile edition)]/ 1922. Number 176 of only 200 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 227 (giving 1983 as the date of this facsimile edition). More
Perth, Trustees of the Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery of Western Australia, 1922. Colonel Herbert Collett was the first Commanding Officer of the 28th Battalion. The last leaf (verso blank) is a 'Compiler's Note' which goes a long way to explaining why no other volume was published. It states..... More
Brisbane, A. Green, 2010 (facsimile edition)]/ 1922. Number 12 of 400 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 227. More
Sydney, William Brooks, 1916. Dornbusch 355; Fielding and O'Neill, page 242; Trigellis-Smith 190. More
Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1992 (facsimile edition)/ 1942. The limitation is not stated, but the Burridge editions were typically limited to between 200 and 300 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 201 (giving '1970/80' as the date of this facsimile edition). More
Sydney, [Second Battalion Association] (and printed by New Century Press Pty. Ltd.), 1942. Both authors were members of the battalion: Lieutenant Frederick Taylor was in the 14th Reinforcements, Private Timothy Cusack in the 19th Reinforcements. Dornbusch 339; Fielding and O'Neill, page 225; Trigellis-Smith 201. More
Tamworth, 'The Northern Daily Leader', [1926]. Dornbusch 381 (with the date 1919); Fielding and O'Neill, page 232; Trigellis-Smith 264. More
Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1994 [facsimile edition]/ [1926]. One of only 300 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 264 (giving '1970/80' as the date of this facsimile edition). More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1991 (facsimile edition)]/ 1938. The limitation is not stated, but the Burridge editions were typically limited to between 200 and 300 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 229 (giving '1970/80' as the date of this facsimile edition). More
Sydney, Printed by Halstead Press [for the 30th Battalion AIF Association], 1938. Fielding and O'Neill provide the informative note that the work first appeared 'in monthly instalments in "The Highlander", commencing July 1936', but they don't state that the latter was the 'Monthly Magazine of the 30th Battalion, NSW Scottish..... More
Melbourne, Modern Printing Co. Pty. Ltd., 1936. This copy is not identified as such, but it comes from the personal collection of Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Thomas Paterson (1886-1950), Commanding Officer of the 39th Battalion AIF, and the author of that battalion's history. Dornbusch 330; Fielding and O'Neill, page 228; Trigellis-Smith 233..... More