The Unknown Anzacs

A raw, fresh and utterly authentic portrait of Australians fighting and living on Gallipoli, the Western Front and life behind the lines in the UK, France, Belgium and Egypt.

'We have been told of the impossible task before us, of probable annihilation; yet we are eager to get to it; we joke with each other about getting cold feet, but deep down in our hearts we know when we get to it we will not be found wanting ... for the last time in this world many of us stand shoulder to shoulder.' Signaller Ellis Silas, 16th Battalion, AIF

We think we know about the Anzacs – who they were and what they endured amidst the horror of World War I.

But do we really? Have they told us their own stories?

In the Mitchell Library in Sydney is a unique collection of their diaries – nearly a thousand of them. Some written by those who came back, and some by those who didn’t make it ... From Gallipoli to the Western Front, from the mud and blood of Flanders to the brothels of Cairo, Michael Caulfield weaves these stories together in an unforgettable portrait of a young country at war.

This is the Anzac story as you’ve never read it before – graphic, emotional and inspiring. The Unknown Anzacs is a legacy to be proud of – a book for all Australians.