Lest: Australian War Myths

by Mark Dapin

From Simpson’s donkey and the Emu War to Vietnam and Ben Roberts-Smith, Australian military history is full of events that didn’t happen the way most people think they did. In his inimitable style, award-winning author Mark Dapin sets the record straight.

Australia’s war tales could be said to be the closest thing we have to sacred ANZAC, Simpson and his donkey, Changi, the wronged diggers in Vietnam, Ben Roberts-Smith. Millions of dollars are spent enshrining these stories in the War Memorial in Canberra and the Australian National Memorial in France, amongst others.
 
But did what we’re celebrating actually happen?
 
In this book, award-winning author and historian Mark Dapin shows that often the reality was completely different from the myth – and that by celebrating the wrong people, we often forget about the real heroes. With deep research and a sharp wit, Lest reclaims the truth about our military history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Australia

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Mark Dapin is the author of the novels King of the Cross and Spirit House. King of the Cross won the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction, and Spirit House was long listed for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and shortlisted for the Age Book of the Year and the Royal Society for Literature's Ondaatje Prize.

His recent work of military history, The Nashos' War, has been widely acclaimed. He is a PhD candidate at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

Reviews

[Avril · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, very interesting. I thought I knew about most of the war myths, having studied and read so much Australian history, but I was saddened to discover that the proportion of Australians who survived Japanese prisoner of war camps was not greater than the proportion of British soldiers, and that Australian officers used the power the Japanese had given them to discipline Australian soldiers for not observing military protocol while prisoners. Some awful stories. Also, it was amusing to read the antisemitic comments made about John Monash: “out for himself all the time; like a Jew, showy,” and then to read that the reason we remember Monash as ‘the outsider who won the war’ is that he wrote a self-promoting book! I guess the point is that we can’t blame his self promotion on his Judaism; he was individually ‘out for himself all the time’. I knew that Vietnam Veterans had not been rejected by Australian society in the way that they remember, but I did not know that they only started remembering being spat on after the release of Rambo 2, in which Sylvester Stallone describes being spat on. I did some quick research, the National Library’s Trove is the historian’s friend, and found many articles about Vietnam Veterans being welcomed back and marching in ANZAC Day parades immediately, but I guess such facts can’t counter feelings. But ‘feelings’ do make oral history difficult.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting listen. I found this book via LibroFM. I'd never have found it otherwise. The author is an Australian journalist who, in this book, digs into the various myths of the glories of ANZAC. He tells the real story or the rest of the story for each. He makes the experience a lot of fun--quiet irony written with a wink and a grin.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read two of Mark Dapin's novels, Spirit House (2011, see here) and R&R (2015, here), but until reading Lest: Australian War Myths I'd never read any of his nonfiction before. A journalist, author, historian and screenwriter born in 1963, Dapin has other NF titles listed at the front of the book.  These, as you can see from the list below, have intriguing titles that indicate an interest in major crime and, more recently, military history — and more particularly, with debunking military myth-making.  Indeed, Dapin has a PhD — with a thesis titled Myth Making and Memory: Australia, the Vietnam War and National Service — that lends credibility to his sub-title 'What didn't happen, from Gallipoli and the Emu War to Vietnam and Afghanistan'.

Carnage: A succulent Chinese meal, Mr Rent-a-Kill and the Australian Manson murders  (2023);
Prison Break: Shantaram to the Bangkok Hilton, The World's Most Wanted Australians (2021);
Public Enemies: Russell 'Mad Dog' Cox, Ray Denning and the Golden Age of Armed Robbery (2020),
Australia's Vietnam: Myth vs History (2019);
Jewish Anzacs:  Jews in the Australian Military (2017);
The Nasho's War: Australia's national servicemen and Vietnam (2014).

As the title and the chapter headings of Lest suggest, Dapin debunks myths about all sorts of things:

The Myths of Anzac Day
The Myths of White Feather Women
The Myths of the Gallipoli Landing
The Myths of the Dardanelles Campaign
The Myths of Monash and the Western Front
The Myths of the Emu War
The Myths of the POWs
The Myths of No Poofters
The Myths of Victimised Veterans
The Myths of Vietnam Veterans, Anzac Day and the RSL
The Myths of Movements
The Myths of Myths to Come

Dapin's intention, he says, is not to denigrate Australia's military history, but to set the record straight.

Brigadier Chris Roberts, author of the study The Landing at Anzac, spoke to me of a cynicism overseas about some strands of Australian military history. 'Part of the problem is that most of our military history  — certainly the popular military history that we see on the bookshelves — is overly nationalistic, it's overly parochial, and it gives an impression of hubris and arrogance,' said Roberts.  'We also have a tendency to criticise the British unfairly and a very strong tendency to exaggerate our own achievements.' (p.103)

One of the elements of Dapin's myth-busting is his assertion that some popular beliefs about war derive from historical inaccuracy in films such as Peter Weir's 1981 Gallipoli and popular music such as Redgum's anti-war anthem 'I was only 19'.  Some myths have made their way into veterans' memories even though they never actually took place and some myths emerge in the absence of an authoritative alternative.  For example, myths about General Sir John Monash (1865-1931) abound: a claim that he was an outsider who won the war; that he pioneered the use of tanks; that his career was hampered because he was Jewish; and that the Australian victory at Hamel was decisive when it wasn't.  Dapin argues that the excesses of some of the accolades, in the absence of other sources, derive from Monash himself, because...

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2025/04/23/l...

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the author Mark Dapin has to say in LEST Australian War Myths is likely to be controversial (my late Dad was a WWII vet (sent to Europe with RAAF) & I remember some of these stories/myths. When at Uni, my husband was in line for the last conscription ballot for Vietnam in 1972 when Labor & Gough Whitlam PM was elected. Being a few years younger, I remember the protests - which my older sister attended. At that time on TV & at our home (in Sydney) the arguments between my sister & Dad re ‘The War’ were intense. Mark Dapin’s book would have been helpful! He has done extensive research with 6 pages of author notes, including detailed sources/references/quotes etc. He asserts that many claims made back then (& even today) are myths. I borrowed this book from the public library and I appreciated the very brief summary at the start of each myth busting chapter…some quite amusing. I’ve read many chapters & look forward to reading more down the track. A book that could be read over many weeks. There’s a lot of detail, so I wonder if the average reader &/or others with busy careers would last the distance ie reading start to finish? Therefore I think a 1 page summary (at the end of each chapter) might have been helpful? (former Educator here😉) Clare Wright’s recommendations on front/back cover caught my eye - I’ve been to one of her book launches & read some of her work. Impressive! I look forward to reading more by Mark Dapin? 🤞- the more myth busters like him we have in the world, the greater chance of hearing/reading less fake news. More importantly, we’ll be less likely to blindly pressure our young people to head off to war, unless absolutely necessary. However the boomers (like me) who’ve been relatively lucky in many ways, should be the last to insist young people head off to war zones - even as peacekeepers. Many thanks Mark!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting, though at times controversial, read. When mentioning this book to friends, there were some who disagreed as a relative/friend "was there" and it DID happen. Dapin seems to have carried out very thorough research, and the results seem genuine. Perhaps the differences could be a result of emotions and memories of participants and loved ones over time?
I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the "Emu Wars" which was news to me. The author injected humour into his report which it really deserved. :-)

From Simpson’s donkey and the Emu War to Vietnam and Ben Roberts-Smith, Australian military history is full of events that didn’t happen the way most people think they did. In his inimitable style, award-winning author Mark Dapin sets the record straight. Australia’s war tales could be said to be the closest thing we have to sacred ANZAC, Simpson and his donkey, Changi, the wronged diggers in Vietnam, Ben Roberts-Smith. Millions of dollars are spent enshrining these stories in the War Memorial in Canberra and the Australian National Memorial in France, amongst others. But did what we’re celebrating actually happen? In this book, award-winning author and historian Mark Dapin shows that often the reality was completely different from the myth – and that by celebrating the wrong people, we often forget about the real heroes. With deep research and a sharp wit, Lest reclaims the truth about our military history.

[albie_of_nonfic · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book, in which the author debunks the myths of Australia's military history with remarkably thorough research (including early Anzac Days in little known places) and an enjoyable sense of humour.

Dapin is impartial - he skewers the myths of the left, the right, and of general ignorance.

Given that querying (let alone correcting) strongly-held beliefs, many of them very important to those holding them, is a hazardous venture, Dapin does a great job of tiptoeing through the minefield. His humour is light and never vicious, though with a certain weary 'almost of out of patience with these mugs' feeling in places. With rare exceptions (such as describing former RSL chief Bruce Ruxton as "reliably moronic" - which is fair enough, given his monumentally boofheaded quotes), he is polite to veterans and most commentators, usually attributing their factually-incorrect beliefs to error rather than mendacity. He never devalues military service or the hardships of soldiers - only those that never happened.

Highly recommended for all who are interested in Australia's military history, and much of its military culture (Anzac and Vietnam especially). Unfortunately those who should read it never will, and the few who do will probably be outraged by it.

[Johann Brandstatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not having been born in Australia, I have the privilege, to look at some very familiar myths, with the eye of fan impartial umpire. I have taken most if not all of them, as the truth, as I am not at all into wars or glorification of wars in any way. My interest in history, is another matter.
I followed the reasoning of Mark with great interest. His research and his logic applied, let most of them dissolve and disappear altogether. Myths are comfortable. Myths can make you feel warm and cosy. That is no guarantee that they are true. Constant repetition can achieve, that a myth is taken for a fact.
Mark has made enormous efforts and painstaking research in presenting us this book. For this alone and for the facts presented, he deserves the highest rating.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an American and not an Australian, I did not have much familiarity with many of the Australian-centric myths although some of them overlap with other countries. That lack of familiarity did not hinder my enjoyment of Dapin's exploration of how these myths developed starting with the kernel of truth and moving on to the other contributions. The book did not dive deep but did lay a solid foundation for further research.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark Twain said, “never let the truth get in the way of a good story" and so it would seem for some of the stories that have been told about Australia and the involvement of the Country in various military campaigns. What I found interesting in this book was the way in which people remember events and how they can be changed by the influence of feature films, television or media reporting.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 but rounding up. This was entertaining in style, and I learned a lot. This book is definitely aimed at an Australian audience that is already familiar with Australia's involvement in wars, and in particular, in Gallipoli. It was interesting to see how many war myths in Australia are similar to those in the US.

I was given an ALC by Libro.fm for library workers.

[Bazz Sherwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never has history been so accessible. Written with some humour but much respect, Dapin debunks many of the myths Australians hold as gospel truth: Anzac day, the horrors of Changi, the victimisation of Vietnam Vets, and Simpson and his donkey, to name a few.
I missed Dapin's interview at Adelaide Writers Week, but bought the book there.
Very highly recommended.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry. I get that all views of history need to be shown and it's important that falsehoods need to be exposed.
But this is just tawdry. The only chapter I thought worthwhile was the one on LGBTIQA+ Service personal.
Rarely rate a book less than three stars.
I was feeling generous giving 2.

[John Sheridan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat light-hearted approach to a serious matter. Darin does good work in exposing some of the most prevalent myths of Australia’s military history. A good read, written with an easy to understand style. Recommended for people with an interest in the truth behind the accepted facts.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I liked this book -unravelling the stories around commonly held beliefs and how the myths originated. It was helped by his deep research and sense of the absurd.
I learnt so much -definitely for the history buffs.

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting viewpoint, with many myths perpetuated by movies and that is now the popular story believed.
Covers themes like the Emu war of the 1930's, various issues across the different wars and how they were handled by both Governments and the general population.

[Mark Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last a book which explores how nonsensical the whole Gallipoli myths are amongst other things. Very informative but some will prefer the myths.

[Sylvie Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and a must if you want to really understand the Australian History during WWI and WWII

[Stanley Xue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was alright

[Ann Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot shorter than I thought it would be

[William Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read with plenty of new facts. well worth a read.

[Grant · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like the snarky tone of much of the book, and many of the so called myths were things that anyone with a genuine interest in Australian military history would already know about.

[Peter S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Along with Graham Wilson's Bully Beef and Balderdash books, Mark Dapin in Lest, delves into facts conflicting with various Military myths. An interesting and enjoyable read.