DiggerBaz
Joined: Jan 29, 2009
Posts: 4259
Location: Melbourne / Australia
G'day fellow BK'rs. I thought I'd start this off. I'm sure we all have a wide range of tastes in reading so why not start a book list where BK members can post their favourite books and brief review. I'll start it off with some of my favorite warries.
Title: NASHO
Author: Michael Frazier
Published 1984 by Aries Imprint, Melbourne, Aus.
Brief Review: NASHO (aussie colloquialism for "Compulsory military training (abolished 1972). A youth undergoing such training (abbreviation of National Service)" - from A dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms.
It is the Author's account of his National Service in Australia between 1969 - 1971 and his 253 days at Vietnam.
Title:The Battle of Long Tan
Author: Lex McAulay
Published 1987 by Arrow Books Ltd London
Brief review: It is a graphic and true account of the legendary battle in the Long Tan rubber plantation of Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam on a late afternoon 18 August 1966.. D Company of 6 RAR (Royal Australia Regiment) fought for their lives against an enemy strength of around 2500 VC. They held the line through the night till the APC’s finally broke through and relieved. In the aftermath 18 Aussie diggers were killed and 24 wounded. Enemy casualties 245 Communist dead and 150 wounded. A great read.
Title:The Battle of Coral
Author: Lex McAulay
Published 1988 by Century Hutchison Australia
Brief review: The book is the account of the 1st Australian Task Force’ actions around Fire Support Base Coral and Balmoral north east of Saigon for 26 days during May-June 1968. These actions consisting of patrolling, ambushing and dispersing the enemy, severely disrupted its attacks on Saigon. Once again an excellent read.
Title:Bravo Two Zero
Author: Andy McNabb (pseudonym)
Published 1993 by Bantam Press Great Britain
Brief review: It is a personal account of the ill-fated secret mission of eight members of the British SAS Regiment. The mission in January 1991 was to infiltrate deep behind Iraqi enemy lines and “seek & destroy” enemy scud missile launchers. The mission was compromised with four members captured including the author, 3 died and one escaped (and made it to safe soil). Quite a remarkable and well written book.
Title:The One That Got Away
Author: Chris Ryan, M..M.
Published: 1995 by Century
Brief review: The author’s account of the BRAVO TWO ZERO (BTZ)on. As the title states he’s “the on that got away”. No love lost between the two BTZ mission members. This story is about the longest E & E (escape and evasion) in the history of the SAS. Gripping read.
Title:Immediate Action
Author: Andy McNabb (pseudonym)
Published 1995 by Bantam Press
Brief Review: This is Andy McNabb’s story of his life in the SAS. A good read.
Title: Vengeance
Author: George Jonas
Published 1984 by William Collins and Sons Great Britain
Brief Review: I’ve read this at least 3 times since I purchased it in the 1980’s. It has been made into two films, one in the 80’s starring Steven Bauer titled “Sword of Gideon” and more recently “Munich” starring Aussie actor Eric Bana. The book is an amazing account of Israel’s retribution for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games massacre by the PLO. Worth the read.
Title: SAS Phantoms of the Jungle
Author: David Horner
Published 1989 by Allen and Unwin
Brief Review: This is the history of the Australian SAS (Special Service Regiment) from its inception, its secret role in Borneo, it’s operation in Vietnam (the VC named them “the phantoms of the jungle” and the NVA put a price on the head of any SAS trooper caught or killed) through to its anti-terrorist roles up to 1991. This was a fascinating read for me as I knew some of the SAS members ho were my Instructors during my time with 2 Commando Company in the early 80’s.
Title: 18 Hours
Author: Sandra Lee
Published 2006 Harper Collins Australia
Brief Review: The author is a journalist and she wrote this story about Australian SAS signalman Martin (Jock) Wallace who received the MG (Medal of Gallantry) for his part in Operation Anaconda, the US-led military offensive against al Qaeda and Taliban in the Shahi Kot Valley, Afghanistan. This is the account of the enemy ambush on men from Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment of which he was seconded to. In the 18 hours of fire-fight, Jock Wallace was able to call in fire-support and extraction of all the soldiers (and get this), not one US soldier died. Great read!
Title: Soldiers without Borders
Author: Ian McPhedran
Published 2008 Harper Collins Australia
Brief Review: This is the story of what happens to the elite members of the SAS after they leave the regiment. Not a pacey read but an interesting one as it illustrates how the skills of ex-regiment members has wide-ranging uses from corporate boards to guns for hire.
Title: Black Hawk Down
Author: Mark Bowden
Published 1999
Brief Review: I borrowed this book from a friend of mine before I saw the film. This is a graphic account of what was to be a snatch-and-run of Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid in 1993 and his cohorts by the United States Army Rangers, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division and Delta Force. Truly a great book. Personally, the film did it justice too.
Title: NASHO
Author: Michael Frazier
Published 1984 by Aries Imprint, Melbourne, Aus.
Brief Review: NASHO (aussie colloquialism for "Compulsory military training (abolished 1972). A youth undergoing such training (abbreviation of National Service)" - from A dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms.
It is the Author's account of his National Service in Australia between 1969 - 1971 and his 253 days at Vietnam.
Title:The Battle of Long Tan
Author: Lex McAulay
Published 1987 by Arrow Books Ltd London
Brief review: It is a graphic and true account of the legendary battle in the Long Tan rubber plantation of Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam on a late afternoon 18 August 1966.. D Company of 6 RAR (Royal Australia Regiment) fought for their lives against an enemy strength of around 2500 VC. They held the line through the night till the APC’s finally broke through and relieved. In the aftermath 18 Aussie diggers were killed and 24 wounded. Enemy casualties 245 Communist dead and 150 wounded. A great read.
Title:The Battle of Coral
Author: Lex McAulay
Published 1988 by Century Hutchison Australia
Brief review: The book is the account of the 1st Australian Task Force’ actions around Fire Support Base Coral and Balmoral north east of Saigon for 26 days during May-June 1968. These actions consisting of patrolling, ambushing and dispersing the enemy, severely disrupted its attacks on Saigon. Once again an excellent read.
Title:Bravo Two Zero
Author: Andy McNabb (pseudonym)
Published 1993 by Bantam Press Great Britain
Brief review: It is a personal account of the ill-fated secret mission of eight members of the British SAS Regiment. The mission in January 1991 was to infiltrate deep behind Iraqi enemy lines and “seek & destroy” enemy scud missile launchers. The mission was compromised with four members captured including the author, 3 died and one escaped (and made it to safe soil). Quite a remarkable and well written book.
Title:The One That Got Away
Author: Chris Ryan, M..M.
Published: 1995 by Century
Brief review: The author’s account of the BRAVO TWO ZERO (BTZ)on. As the title states he’s “the on that got away”. No love lost between the two BTZ mission members. This story is about the longest E & E (escape and evasion) in the history of the SAS. Gripping read.
Title:Immediate Action
Author: Andy McNabb (pseudonym)
Published 1995 by Bantam Press
Brief Review: This is Andy McNabb’s story of his life in the SAS. A good read.
Title: Vengeance
Author: George Jonas
Published 1984 by William Collins and Sons Great Britain
Brief Review: I’ve read this at least 3 times since I purchased it in the 1980’s. It has been made into two films, one in the 80’s starring Steven Bauer titled “Sword of Gideon” and more recently “Munich” starring Aussie actor Eric Bana. The book is an amazing account of Israel’s retribution for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games massacre by the PLO. Worth the read.
Title: SAS Phantoms of the Jungle
Author: David Horner
Published 1989 by Allen and Unwin
Brief Review: This is the history of the Australian SAS (Special Service Regiment) from its inception, its secret role in Borneo, it’s operation in Vietnam (the VC named them “the phantoms of the jungle” and the NVA put a price on the head of any SAS trooper caught or killed) through to its anti-terrorist roles up to 1991. This was a fascinating read for me as I knew some of the SAS members ho were my Instructors during my time with 2 Commando Company in the early 80’s.
Title: 18 Hours
Author: Sandra Lee
Published 2006 Harper Collins Australia
Brief Review: The author is a journalist and she wrote this story about Australian SAS signalman Martin (Jock) Wallace who received the MG (Medal of Gallantry) for his part in Operation Anaconda, the US-led military offensive against al Qaeda and Taliban in the Shahi Kot Valley, Afghanistan. This is the account of the enemy ambush on men from Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment of which he was seconded to. In the 18 hours of fire-fight, Jock Wallace was able to call in fire-support and extraction of all the soldiers (and get this), not one US soldier died. Great read!
Title: Soldiers without Borders
Author: Ian McPhedran
Published 2008 Harper Collins Australia
Brief Review: This is the story of what happens to the elite members of the SAS after they leave the regiment. Not a pacey read but an interesting one as it illustrates how the skills of ex-regiment members has wide-ranging uses from corporate boards to guns for hire.
Title: Black Hawk Down
Author: Mark Bowden
Published 1999
Brief Review: I borrowed this book from a friend of mine before I saw the film. This is a graphic account of what was to be a snatch-and-run of Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid in 1993 and his cohorts by the United States Army Rangers, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division and Delta Force. Truly a great book. Personally, the film did it justice too.
