The Diggers of WW1: Were they different?

With special guest:

• Andrew Tink AM

No book on Australia covering the early years of the twentieth century could overlook the 61,500 of our men killed or listed as “missing” in World War 1. Another 156,000 had a fate that was sometimes worse, they were wounded, gassed or taken prisoner.

In his new book Australia 1901-2001: A narrative history, Andrew Tink, former Member of State Parliament, tells us that like the school children of Villers-Bretonneux France we must never forget the heroism of our soldiers, the diggers of World War 1.

Why did our young men volunteer for the sheer hell of war in the muddy fields of northern France? Australia at the time had a population of fewer than 5 million when this chunk of our finest was lost to the future of Australia. With 80% of our soldiers single when they left our shores how many of our best men would never be fathers? How many poets, musicians, writers, inventors, businessmen, teachers and leaders were gone for all time? This has accurately been called a lost generation.

Back in Australia after the war there was a further toll when many diggers appeared to function well while hiding fearful emotional turmoil. Andrew tells us the real story of a hero of Gallipoli and the Western Front, Pompey Elliott, who died in 1931.

This is Australia’s front line. Andrew tells the story that is at times inspiring. We hear of the relief of the French families on the road to nowhere when they saw Australian troops coming to their rescue. At times it is heartbreaking when we hear what these good men had to endure. Most importantly this is our history told in a way that is informative with lots of personal insights.

Our Anzac Day special

Andrew Tink AM

Andrew Tink is a former Barrister who served as a Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 2007.  There he rose to be shadow Attorney-General and shadow leader of the House. Australia 1901-2001: A narrative history is his fourth book and like his previous books on William Charles Wentworth, Lord Sydney and Air Disaster Canberra this is a story driven by people; Prime Ministers, soldiers, farmers and others who shaped the country be they immigrant or Aboriginal. He writes and speaks with empathy, humour and insight to create a narrative that is as entertaining as it is illuminating.

Song selection by our guest: Adagio from Clarinet Concerto in A by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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