Blood And Iron

by McAulay Lex

The Kokoda campaign of 1942 is one of the classic battles in Australian military history, and has taken its place alongside the landing at Gallipoli, the charge of Beersheba, and the defence of Tobruk.
It was also the first time that Australians fought to defend their homeland against direct threat, without the protection of great and powerful friends.
In Blood and Iron , Lex McAulay tells the full story of the campaign – from the beginning, when an untried force of Australians went to battle with a Japanese army which had swept aside all before it in its relentless drive through southeast Asia, to the victorious conclusion, with the Australians emerging as victors. The Japanese side of the campaign is also described in some detail.
Blood and Iron is also the story of personal heroism and courage, and a refusal to give way, as the men battled the elements, the terrain, the jungle – and the enemy.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction, Military Fiction

432 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1991

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had its ups and downs. Apparently, he took every scrap of info and put it in chronological order no matter how small or significant it might be. There is no overarching theme except a day-by-day slog. One moment you are on a Japanese patrol, then you are on a B-25 attack on Lae, then back in Australia for some logistic issue, then to a Aussie firefight. Nothing is ever tied together or finished or related to any higher theme. Seldom more than a paragraph or two on any one event. At first I was annoyed, then I saw how confusing the whole campaign was for everyone and liked his approach. But in the end, I was again annoyed because how random and disjointed the story was. On the good side, he gives both the Japanese and the Australian accounts of various points in the campaign. Some good accounts mixed in with many less interesting. 3 Stars

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So impressed and in awe of the Diggers that fought and died on the Kokoda Track - deep respect!
The bravery and sheer horrors that were seen must have weighed heavy on the minds of all.
More should have been done to award bravery for this cream of Australian youth that fought here!

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into Australia's early role in the defeat of Imperial Japan. Ill equipped volunteers thrown into battle with little or no logistical support at the whim of Macarthur and his megalomania perpetuated by a well oiled "spin" machine that lied and deceived at every turn! A real eye opener was the sabotage (with fatal consequences for the fighting soldiers) of equipment, munitions and rations by the left wing unionised workers in Australia despite the fact that they were fighting to repel an invasion of the there own country... Dock workers and railway unionists prevented loading and unloading of ships and transportation of soldiers to the front. This was all of course before the Soviet Union entered the war and participation was "blessed" by Uncle Joe. The traitorous behavior is hard to understand given that the Japanese executed or enslaved all of the Australian civilians they captured and canniblised the bodies of dead Australian soldiers.

[Mick Maye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this version of the Kokoda battle. Some events were treated slightly differently from other writers which maintained my interest from start to finish.