Sir William Glasgow

William Glasgow, was a man committed to serving his country. He lived in interesting times. In October 1899 Lieutenant Glasgow, aged twenty-three, sailed to the war in South Africa where his service earned him a Distinguished Service Order medal. In 1914, he led a charge on Dead Man’s Ridge, Gallipoli, and then, promoted to command a brigade in 1916, he was in action on the Western Front. Famously, his brigade played a leading role in the April 1918 counter attack to regain Villers-Bretonneux. Glasgow then commanded the 1st Division in the 100-day advance to victory. On the voyage home in 1919 he learned that he had been knighted and was now Sir William. Meticulously researched, Sir William Glasgow: Soldier, Senator and Diplomat is a fascinating and valuable book that tells the story of this once famous figure, his career in the AIF, Commonwealth Government and the diplomatic service, and in doing so reveals much about Australia at war and peace in the first half of the 20th century.