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Derrick VC in his own words: The wartime writings of Australia's most famous fighting soldier of World War II
Tom 'Diver' Derrick VC DCM was Australia's most famous fighting soldier of World War II. Derrick fought in five campaigns, won the highest medals for bravery, and died of wounds sustained while leading his men in the war's last stages. His career reached its climax on the jungle-clad heights of Sattelberg in New Guinea, where he won the Victoria Cross by spearheading the capture of seemingly impregnable Japanese defences.
The diaries Derrick kept throughout his campaigns, from Tobruk to Tarakan, are among the most important writings by any Australian soldier. Those diaries and all his other known wartime correspondence and interviews are published here for the first time in their entirety. 'Diver' had only a rudimentary education, but his intelligence, humour, ambition and fighting outlook shine through his words.
Edited and annotated by Mark Johnston, one of Australia's leading authorities on World War II, this book provides unprecedented insights into the mind and the remarkable career of one of Australia's most decorated and renowned servicemen.
The diaries Derrick kept throughout his campaigns, from Tobruk to Tarakan, are among the most important writings by any Australian soldier. Those diaries and all his other known wartime correspondence and interviews are published here for the first time in their entirety. 'Diver' had only a rudimentary education, but his intelligence, humour, ambition and fighting outlook shine through his words.
Edited and annotated by Mark Johnston, one of Australia's leading authorities on World War II, this book provides unprecedented insights into the mind and the remarkable career of one of Australia's most decorated and renowned servicemen.
448 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 3, 2021
This book or reproduction of the Wartime writings of Derrick VC was surprisingly informative. I initially was put off from reading it due to the format but decided to give it ago and I am glad I did. The format is in diary entries with additional information added by the author.
The Diary entries could be one sentence long to a few paragraph long, this might not seem much but it actually spoke volumes as you read it in sequence and followed an "ordinary soldiers" life as he trains, learns and fights. I love the emotion you got as he complained, shared his fears, what he truly thought of those who commanded him and the humour was refreshing and raw. With his diary entries you got a picture of war in a very raw form and this I appreciated.
The Author's additional information that helps clarify events and places etc was actually helpful. I really enjoyed the short bios of each person mentioned in the diary as this just helps fill in the picture of the men that surrounded support and fought and died next to Tom Derrick. I like most of the Authors extra information, but at times I also found it distracting, but had it's purpose and gave relevant info that somebody who doesn't read a lot of War History will find helpful.
Over all this book had its own charms and I wasn't disappointed and it kept me reading and interested til the end. I just wish there was more of his diaries that survived but alas that was not the case! I would have loved to hear about his time at OCTU (Officer Cadet Training Unit) in his own words and other moments that were missing. I will admit this format won't suit everybody but it is well researched and informative and tells a story of one man's war and everything that entailed (And it wasn't an idle War)!
The Diary entries could be one sentence long to a few paragraph long, this might not seem much but it actually spoke volumes as you read it in sequence and followed an "ordinary soldiers" life as he trains, learns and fights. I love the emotion you got as he complained, shared his fears, what he truly thought of those who commanded him and the humour was refreshing and raw. With his diary entries you got a picture of war in a very raw form and this I appreciated.
The Author's additional information that helps clarify events and places etc was actually helpful. I really enjoyed the short bios of each person mentioned in the diary as this just helps fill in the picture of the men that surrounded support and fought and died next to Tom Derrick. I like most of the Authors extra information, but at times I also found it distracting, but had it's purpose and gave relevant info that somebody who doesn't read a lot of War History will find helpful.
Over all this book had its own charms and I wasn't disappointed and it kept me reading and interested til the end. I just wish there was more of his diaries that survived but alas that was not the case! I would have loved to hear about his time at OCTU (Officer Cadet Training Unit) in his own words and other moments that were missing. I will admit this format won't suit everybody but it is well researched and informative and tells a story of one man's war and everything that entailed (And it wasn't an idle War)!
August 26, 2022
The format is not easy to read (info Notes take up most space) but the overall effect of the Diary is eye-opening. It brought home to me the devastating effect of losing comrades in war, how the fighting man could be burying a mate at sundown and then arise next morning to face the same prospect. How on earth did they keep going? And if their turn came the people they left back home were affected for life. Made me realise the devastating personal effect war has on a whole generation.
RAMBLINGS, a couple of observations: Derrick’s widow was told by her doctor to burn all his letters as a help to her healing, to get on with her life (she did). This was no doubt common advice in those times but surely his words would have brought her some solace over time - one letter to a friend is reproduced in full and shows Derrick’s open and engaging personality.
An intriguing custom mentioned is that lots of soldiers had all their teeth removed after joining up - as did Derrick who in the Middle East temporarily mislaid his dentures much to his chagrin! I can see the logic in this if there wasn’t a dentist handy on the battlefield, but all the same….
On this practice, author Thomas Keneally (in a newspaper article) mentions how a family’s wedding gift to the bride’s new husband was to have her teeth removed beforehand. In another book ‘The Charles Family’s War’, I read how a friend of Mrs Charles couldn’t wait to have all her teeth removed to stop aches and pains. I mentioned this custom to my elderly dentist who told me at 14 (!) his dentist wanted to pull all his teeth. He didn’t doubt it was a rip-off (this incident probably occurred in the late 1940s) yet it didn’t stop him becoming a dentist himself.
RAMBLINGS, a couple of observations: Derrick’s widow was told by her doctor to burn all his letters as a help to her healing, to get on with her life (she did). This was no doubt common advice in those times but surely his words would have brought her some solace over time - one letter to a friend is reproduced in full and shows Derrick’s open and engaging personality.
An intriguing custom mentioned is that lots of soldiers had all their teeth removed after joining up - as did Derrick who in the Middle East temporarily mislaid his dentures much to his chagrin! I can see the logic in this if there wasn’t a dentist handy on the battlefield, but all the same….
On this practice, author Thomas Keneally (in a newspaper article) mentions how a family’s wedding gift to the bride’s new husband was to have her teeth removed beforehand. In another book ‘The Charles Family’s War’, I read how a friend of Mrs Charles couldn’t wait to have all her teeth removed to stop aches and pains. I mentioned this custom to my elderly dentist who told me at 14 (!) his dentist wanted to pull all his teeth. He didn’t doubt it was a rip-off (this incident probably occurred in the late 1940s) yet it didn’t stop him becoming a dentist himself.
October 16, 2022
A very good read!
Thoroughly well researched and written story of an undersung and often unknown Australian hero of (what I now know is) a highly decorated unit.
Thoroughly well researched and written story of an undersung and often unknown Australian hero of (what I now know is) a highly decorated unit.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews