Australian Guerrilla

Ion Idriess was a spotter for the famous Australian sniper, Billy Sing, and this book draws on his own experiences in the Gallipoli trenches during World War One. Sing had a reputation as an excellent marksman, lurking in the dark and silently sneaking up on the enemy. One day he was shot by a Turkish soldier. The bullet travelled down the barrel of his telescope, wounding both hands then went through his mouth, out his cheek and into his shoulder. He recovered from the injury, but was never really the same... Idriess was a trooper with the Light Horse at Gallipoli, all the way to Beersheba, and his diary was published as The Desert Column. Drawing on his military experience, this is one of six manuals written for soldiers and civilians in 1942, when invasion by the Japanese seemed imminent.

Idriess was a trooper with the Light Horse at Gallipoli, all the way to Beersheba, and his diary was published as The Desert Column. Drawing on his military experience, this is one of six manuals written for soldiers and civilians in 1942, when invasion by the Japanese seemed imminent. Here Mr. Idriess gives in illustrative detail the technique of guerrilla warfare under Australian conditions. As will be seen by the subject headings, every phase is dealt with. Here is the complete vade-mecum for the guerrilla fighter, a forceful, vivid book that teaches how, in Australia, he may play a part as vital as that played by the Russian guerrilla in aiding his army.

To attack and ambush, to snipe and raid is the job of the Australian Guerrilla. By rifle and grenade, by machine-gun and mortar to kill them, harry them, trap them, grant them not one moment's peace, day or night. Break their hearts! Smash their outposts, blow up their tanks, bomb their communications, burn their airfields. To be a hawk by day and a shadow by night, to be a killer by day or night is the sworn job of the Australian Guerrilla on his native soil.' These Australian guerrilla manuals were written by Ion Idriess at the time of imminent invasion by the Japanese. Following the massive bomb attack on Darwin in early 1942, Idriess wrote six manuals in one year to help aid the local militia, based on his extensive experience in guerrilla tactics in World War 1. As the Japanese continued to raid Sydney Harbour, Newcastle, Broome and Toowoomba, Idriess offered his knowledge on the art of warfare to Australians at home.

Abdul the Sniper was the pride of the Turkish Army. They named his rifle 'The Mother of Death'. Because, so declared the Ottoman Guard, 'her breech gave birth to bullets which destroy the lives of men'... Idriess was a trooper with the Light Horse at Gallipoli, all the way to Beersheba, and his diary was published as The Desert Column. Drawing on his military experience, this is one of six manuals written for soldiers and civilians in 1942, when invasion by the Japanese seemed imminent. This volume includes the full story of the duel between Australian sniper Billy Sing and his opposite number, Abdul the Terrible in the trenches at Gallipoli.

Throughout all the game of war, in every Age, there has been no task so fascinating, so alive with thrills, as that of the scout. Against an enemy army he plays a lone hand as does the sniper. But the scout's job is not to hide and kill, his is to press forward and see, but never be seen. And, he must return. Ion Idriess's Australian guerrilla manual presents a rare insight into one of the most vital functions of small-unit combat intelligence - scouting. Despite great technical achievements in modern military science, the small-unit commander must still rely heavily on the eyes, ears and stealth of his scouts. Details obscure techniques often overlooked in most U.S. Army and Marine scouting texts.