Soldier Superb: The Australian Fights in New Guinea (1944) By Allan Dawes
 
Allan Dawes was best known as a war correspondent, he wrote for the Herald from Darwin and often from 'somewhere in New Guinea'. He flew in air-raids over Rabaul and Wewak, went north with Americans towards Tambu Bay, and was with the Australian infantry during the advance on Salamaua and the assaults on Lae and Finschhafen.
 
Later he reported from Netherlands New Guinea and Morotai, and saw conditions in Malaya and Java after the Japanese surrendered.
 
Dawes deliberately played down conflict between the Australian Imperial Force and the Militia, and between Australian and American troops; he emphasized that the loyalty of New Guineans as a result of benign Australian policies; and he propagated digger characteristics that Australians wanted to read about—shop-assistants and stockmen transformed into tough, independent soldiers, 'lean and hard and muscular'.
 
Moreover, he fostered the Australians' belief in themselves as jungle fighters, men in loose, 'faded, sweaty, mud-stained green', with Owen guns slung. And, he laughed at himself: 'I was the last war correspondent to enter Lae . . .'. His focus on individuals, together with his vital prose, breadth of reference, wit, and literary tricks made him an excellent writer for afternoon newspapers, but when sustained over Soldier Superb (Sydney, 1944), illustrated by (Sir) Russell Drysdale, his writing is contrived and jingoistic.

Hard Cover
102 Pages
Good condition