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To Hell And Back: The Banned Account of Gallipoli's Horror by Journalist and Soldier Sydney Loch
The book the military censors banned As a young soldier in the battlefields of Gallipoli, Sydney Loch witnessed the horror of war first-hand. On his return to Australia he detailed what he saw in his book, the Straits Impregnable. Hoping to avoid military censorship, his publishers dubbed Sydney's book a novel. But as the war ground on and the numbers of casualties grew, the publisher inserted a note saying the story was factual. the book, which had enjoyed huge literary acclaim, was immediately withdrawn from sale by the censors. Sydney Loch's experiences in the war shaped his life afterwards. With his wife, Joice, he went on to work in refugee camps in Poland and Palestine, and his many subsequent books, set in war-torn countries, reflected his humanitarian beliefs. In to Hell and Back, historians Susanna and Jake de Vries have recovered and edited Sydney's book for a new generation of readers and written a biography of his remarkable life.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
5 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Susanna de Vries
38 books11 followers(From 'Blue Ribbons Bitter Bread')
SUSANNA DE VRIES is an art historian who has now retired from lecturing at the Continuing Education Department of the University of Queensland. She was born in London and attended the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Madrid. She came to Australia in 1975, has been the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship and has written extensively on art history, both here and abroad. She was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1996 'for services to Australian and European art'.
In addition to writing Blue Ribbons Bitter Bread, which has won several awards, Susanna is the author of the following books: Historic Brisbane and its Early Artists; Historic Sydney—the Founding of Australia; Pioneer Women, Pioneer Land; The Impressionists Revealed; Conrad Martens on the 'Beagle' and in Australia; Ethel Carrick Fox—Travels and Triumphs of a Post-Impressionist; Strength of Spirit—Pioneering Women of Achievement from First Fleet to Federation and Strength of Purpose—Australian Women of Achievement; part-author of Parenting Girls with Dr Janet Irwin. For HarperCollins she has written a four-volume paperback series on Great Australia Women. Volumes One and Two have now been reissued as a double volume titled Great Australian Women, 36 Women who Changed Australia, and Volume Three Heroic Australian Women in War [HarperCollins, 2004]. Volume Four is titled Great Women of the Outback [HarperCollins 2005]. Together with her husband, Jake de Vries she has written the illustrated book Historic Brisbane—Convict Settlement to River City [published by Pandanus Press] and To Hell and Back, the banned account of Gallipoli.
(From 'Royal Mistresses')
Susanna de Vries was born and raised in England and now divides her time between Australia and Europe. She is the author of a dozen biographies of women and three books of art history.
As an adopted child, the product of a liaison between a married aristocrat and his married mistress, she was drawn to research this complex topic and the result was Royal Mistresses.
Educated at St George’s Ascot, Berkshire Susanna studied art history and literature in Paris and Madrid. She undertook post-graduate study in Florence and on a Churchill Fellowship was allowed to conduct research in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. She received an Order of Australia (AM) for ‘services to art and literature’ and an award for a distinguished contribution to literature by the Australian Society of Women Writers. She has retired from lecturing at university but is an approved lecturer for the Australian branch of NADFAS, the Fine and Decorative Art Society.
Susanna became interested in effects of arranged marriages between cousins, a usual practice among royal families and the genetic and psychological effects when her first husband worked in the Department of Clinical Psychiatry headed by Professor Sir Martin Roth, a respected psychiatrist consulted by several members of the royal family and came to Australia when her late husband was appointed professor at the Medical School of the University of Queensland.
SUSANNA DE VRIES is an art historian who has now retired from lecturing at the Continuing Education Department of the University of Queensland. She was born in London and attended the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Madrid. She came to Australia in 1975, has been the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship and has written extensively on art history, both here and abroad. She was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1996 'for services to Australian and European art'.
In addition to writing Blue Ribbons Bitter Bread, which has won several awards, Susanna is the author of the following books: Historic Brisbane and its Early Artists; Historic Sydney—the Founding of Australia; Pioneer Women, Pioneer Land; The Impressionists Revealed; Conrad Martens on the 'Beagle' and in Australia; Ethel Carrick Fox—Travels and Triumphs of a Post-Impressionist; Strength of Spirit—Pioneering Women of Achievement from First Fleet to Federation and Strength of Purpose—Australian Women of Achievement; part-author of Parenting Girls with Dr Janet Irwin. For HarperCollins she has written a four-volume paperback series on Great Australia Women. Volumes One and Two have now been reissued as a double volume titled Great Australian Women, 36 Women who Changed Australia, and Volume Three Heroic Australian Women in War [HarperCollins, 2004]. Volume Four is titled Great Women of the Outback [HarperCollins 2005]. Together with her husband, Jake de Vries she has written the illustrated book Historic Brisbane—Convict Settlement to River City [published by Pandanus Press] and To Hell and Back, the banned account of Gallipoli.
(From 'Royal Mistresses')
Susanna de Vries was born and raised in England and now divides her time between Australia and Europe. She is the author of a dozen biographies of women and three books of art history.
As an adopted child, the product of a liaison between a married aristocrat and his married mistress, she was drawn to research this complex topic and the result was Royal Mistresses.
Educated at St George’s Ascot, Berkshire Susanna studied art history and literature in Paris and Madrid. She undertook post-graduate study in Florence and on a Churchill Fellowship was allowed to conduct research in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. She received an Order of Australia (AM) for ‘services to art and literature’ and an award for a distinguished contribution to literature by the Australian Society of Women Writers. She has retired from lecturing at university but is an approved lecturer for the Australian branch of NADFAS, the Fine and Decorative Art Society.
Susanna became interested in effects of arranged marriages between cousins, a usual practice among royal families and the genetic and psychological effects when her first husband worked in the Department of Clinical Psychiatry headed by Professor Sir Martin Roth, a respected psychiatrist consulted by several members of the royal family and came to Australia when her late husband was appointed professor at the Medical School of the University of Queensland.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 14, 2014
How often now we have heard tales of war that it almost seems too familiar. Yet for those first in the thick of battle, whose expectations were as shot as their placements, there always remains a freshness in the telling.
Sydney Loch constructed his book from notes and diaries during the four months he spent at Gallipoli and the many months of preparation en route in Egypt. This book not only allows Sydney to tell his own story, but fills in the context in which he published it as a novel to bypass the War Precautions Act. His connections and supporters helped use his story for influence in England when it could not make enough difference in Australia despite being a best-seller in its day.
That he went on to work with refugees in other wars, and wrote a number of other books, says a lot for his courage and endurance. That we still have not found a way to end war says a lot for our enduring ignorance and lack of commitment to a greater cause.
Well worth looking up his other titles as well. And Susanna de Vries many titles on Australian women as well.
Sydney Loch constructed his book from notes and diaries during the four months he spent at Gallipoli and the many months of preparation en route in Egypt. This book not only allows Sydney to tell his own story, but fills in the context in which he published it as a novel to bypass the War Precautions Act. His connections and supporters helped use his story for influence in England when it could not make enough difference in Australia despite being a best-seller in its day.
That he went on to work with refugees in other wars, and wrote a number of other books, says a lot for his courage and endurance. That we still have not found a way to end war says a lot for our enduring ignorance and lack of commitment to a greater cause.
Well worth looking up his other titles as well. And Susanna de Vries many titles on Australian women as well.
May 9, 2021
The title says it all.
In November 1914, a young Australian volunteer was sent to fight in Europe in the I WW.
Firstly he landed in Egypt, after few months his contingent was transferred to Turkey. On 25th of April 1915 they disembarked on the coast in, what was later called, ANZAC Cove.
Amazingly honest and sincere report of daily life in Gallipoli trenches.
Here I have to distance myself from the book.
My point is, that I did not receive it as a book, as a story.
In my opinion, there is no story. The author reports, day after day, his small experiences, and they are small - deliver a message, find a colonel, wait, wait.
This is punctuated with observation, that someone fell and did not raise.
So, from this point of view, I can't honestly say - I liked it, or recommend to someone.
I just appreciated it very much.
As the title explains, the book was banned in Australia when authorities realized it is not a fiction.
It contains notes on the history of publishing the book and on life of Sydney Loch, which was much, much more than one military campain.
In this context I consider it as a very important reading.
In November 1914, a young Australian volunteer was sent to fight in Europe in the I WW.
Firstly he landed in Egypt, after few months his contingent was transferred to Turkey. On 25th of April 1915 they disembarked on the coast in, what was later called, ANZAC Cove.
Amazingly honest and sincere report of daily life in Gallipoli trenches.
Here I have to distance myself from the book.
My point is, that I did not receive it as a book, as a story.
In my opinion, there is no story. The author reports, day after day, his small experiences, and they are small - deliver a message, find a colonel, wait, wait.
This is punctuated with observation, that someone fell and did not raise.
So, from this point of view, I can't honestly say - I liked it, or recommend to someone.
I just appreciated it very much.
As the title explains, the book was banned in Australia when authorities realized it is not a fiction.
It contains notes on the history of publishing the book and on life of Sydney Loch, which was much, much more than one military campain.
In this context I consider it as a very important reading.
April 25, 2025
Thank you 🙏 to all of our servicemen and women for bravely protecting our country and future generations.
August 14, 2022
To Hell And Back
by Susanna and Jake de Vries (eds)/
The Straits Impregnable
by Sydney Loch
This one is equal parts interesting historical observation and rediscovered WWI novel. The core novel is full of sharp observations, lively dialogue, and a surprisingly contemporary sensibility. The work of the de Vries's a valuable exercise in framing the novel and the context of its effective burial for 90-odd years.
I'd recommend this to anyone interested in the period who would like an uncensored sense of the feelings of the men sent to war immediately after the fact.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½
This one is equal parts interesting historical observation and rediscovered WWI novel. The core novel is full of sharp observations, lively dialogue, and a surprisingly contemporary sensibility. The work of the de Vries's a valuable exercise in framing the novel and the context of its effective burial for 90-odd years.
I'd recommend this to anyone interested in the period who would like an uncensored sense of the feelings of the men sent to war immediately after the fact.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½
Want to read
November 28, 2010The account of war in Gallipoli as seen by Sydney De Loghe, originally published as The Straits impregnable (sold as fiction and banned when it was revealed to be factual).
Read more about this book in this article.
Read more about this book in this article.
October 23, 2016
A fictionalized account of real experiences of Anzac troops in Turkey during WWI, made most familiar to Americans in the movie GALLIPOLI, starring Mel Gibson. Loch had to do so to avoid stringent censorship back home. Although some might find it somewhat slow, it captures well, I think, the struggles of fighting trench warfare in a time of changing tactics and weaponry. There is nothing beautiful about war.
December 11, 2016
I'm enthralled with the war stories about Gallipoli. This is a war journal originally published in 1916. The author relays the excitement of fighting. This quickly turns into horror at the uselessness of trench warfare. I continue to shake my head that almost an entire generation of men were wiped out over a death of a count. A war to end all wars? Men will always fight.
April 29, 2012
Listened to the audio book. The prose echoed Charles Dickens, and the horrors are hard to imagine, and well described. The author was a hero after the war working to help the victims of war. A must read (listen) as we near the 100th anniversary of WW I
March 8, 2015
The style, the emotion and the words are authentic and this is an amazing tale of a generation that is sadly lost to us. That this was banned when it was discovered not to be fiction makes it an even more remarkable story.
September 21, 2012
Incredibly and beautifully written,and at times horribly descriptive book.
Recommended for lovers of true war stories.
Recommended for lovers of true war stories.
June 15, 2013
fascinating insight of young writers life before, during and after Gallipoli
wishlist
March 21, 2015The husband read this and was very impressed. 21 March 2015
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews