Trenches & Camels

Two highly regarded books by the light horse chronicler Australian author and journalist Oliver Hogue (sometimes writing as Trooper Bluegum) joined the Australian 6th Light Horse during the First World War and was commissioned. Light Horse regiments were mounted infantrymen and some of the most outstanding soldiers of the conflict-expert horsemen, invariably fine rifle shots and tough, resilient individuals used to living from the land-were well suited for military campaigning. Their camaraderie, informality with authority, dashing uniform (complete with feathered bush hat) and outstanding performance on the field of battle won them huge respect which endures to the present day. Always intended to be utilised as mounted troops, the Dardanelles adventure saw light horse regiments stationed in Egypt surrender their mounts to be transported to Gallipoli where they would fight in futile trench warfare against the Turks-which cost the lives of many of them and gave birth to a legend. Returning to the campaign in Egypt and Palestine, the light horsemen reclaimed their horses, but the desert also demanded another mount more suited to its arid and difficult terrain. So was born the Imperial Camel Corps, the ranks of which were mostly filled with Australian volunteers. Oliver Hogue has left posterity two valuable and entertaining accounts of his experiences in both of these campaigns which gave rise to the spirit of ANZAC. An essential edition for anyone interested in this fascinating period of history or the in the story of Australians at war. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.