Farewell Dear People

This book Farewell Dear People by Ross McMullin made for sombre reading as the author tells the biographies of 10 young men of "Australia's lost generation" who died in World War I.  Its 534 pages are well researched accompanied by great photographs.  These particular 10 men epitomise Australia's loss and show how they might have further contributed to Australia's growth as a nation.  McMullin has emphasized these men should not be forgotten, as they are not well known in our history but they are well memoralised in this book.  Each of these 10 men had an exceptional talent and their death meant a loss to their families, the community and the nation.  After reading the first biography of Geoff McCrae, the author's intent is clear.  He gives us a complete biography of each man, building up a picture of his character and his contribution so we know him well.  When he is killed at Gallipoli  or the Western Front, the reader feels the loss.  This is exacerbated as these men mostly die through the incompetence of their superiors in sending them to a futile death. The most well known example is shown in the movie "Gallipoli", which was based on the death of Wilfred Harper. These biographies are very interesting.  They range from stories about sportsmen, a winemaker, an engineer who accompanied Mawson to Antarctica, a medical scientist, Rhodes scholar and career soldier. For those with an interest in World War I history, this is highly recommended. 5/5