At the Front Line Experiences of Australian Soldiers in World War II

This moving book examines Australian front-line soldiers' reactions to their ordeal in World War II. Based on the letters and diaries of more than 300 soldiers, its focus is the stress they faced and how they coped with it. Johnston paints a picture of survival and surrender in the surreal conditions in which these soldiers lived and fought.

At the Front Line draws on a plethora of letters, diaries and documents written by over 300 Australian soldiers in the field to present a picture of the hardships and triumphs of their wartime experience. Mark Johnston analyses the suffering of front-line soldiers caused not only by the opposing force, but also by the conditions imposed by their own army. The book details the physical and psychological pressures of life at the front and shows how soldiers survived or surrendered to unbearable environments, fear, boredom and the constant threat of impending death. The myths of mateship and equanimity are brought under scrutiny. Much hostility can be explained by competition between ranks and the perceived hostility of superiors. The author investigates the immense strain that led to many breakdowns and the characteristic forebearance that saw so many others through.

Part I. The Front Line: 1. The unnatural life at the front; 2. Experiences of fear and death; 3. Major sources of front-line stress; 4. When fear became unbearable; 5. Taking the strains of the front line; Part II. The Army Way: 6. Callous bigwigs and boredom; 7. Army muck-ups; 8. Resentment of inequality; 9. Discipline and making the most of army life; Part III. Mates: 10. A band of brothers?; Aftermath and conclusions; Appendix A: Who fought where; Appendix B: Statistical comparisons.

This moving book examines Australian front-line soldiers' reactions to their ordeal in World War II. Based on the letters and diaries of more than 300 soldiers, its focus is the stress they faced and how they coped with it. Johnston challenges the stereotype of the fearless, undisciplined, comradely Australian soldier.