Australians are becoming increasingly fascinated by their military history, and every year greater numbers visit the scenes of the battles commemorated each Anzac Day - Villers-Bretonneux, Long Tan, Kokoda, Gallipoli itself. But what can you learn from visiting a battlefield? And how do you make sure you get the most out of the experience? Peter Stanley, one of Australia's most experienced military historians, a veteran of battlefield research in Borneo and Egypt, Turkey and France, gives wide-ranging and practical hints and tips, including what to take, whether to go alone or in a group, how to stay safe, who to contact before you go, and how to avoid getting sick while you're there. Drawing on his own extensive experience, and that of many of his friends and colleagues, Peter will inspire you to get out of the armchair and walk the ground where Australia's military history was made.

Table of Contents

Foreword Professor David HornerAcknowledgementsIntroductionSniffing the ground'Part 1Battle-plan: Why battlefield research?Part 2Intelligence briefing: Where to go and whyPart 3Approach march: Planning your tripPart 4Crossing the start-line: On the battlefieldPart 5Stand down: Home againAppendix Some useful phrasesGlossary BibliographyIndex

About the Author

Peter Stanley is a leading military historian and author. A STOUT PAIR OF BOOTS is based on his research on Australia's battlefields in many parts of the world. Formerly Principal Historian at the Australian War Memorial, he is now Director of the Centre for Historical Research at the National Museum of Australia.