To Win the Battle
The 1st Australian Division in the Great War 1914–1918

Tells the story of how the 1st Australian Division became one of the great fighting formations of WWI.

Robert Stevenson (Author)

9781107028685, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 October 2012

306 pages, 46 b/w illus. 14 maps
22.8 x 15.2 x 2.3 cm, 0.55 kg

'… an impressive piece of scholarship and, in the Australian context, a brave book that attacks some of the pillars of the Anzac myth. It is among the finest modern studies of a British Empire division in the Great War, and deserves the widest possible readership.' Gary Sheffield, War in History

In 1915 the 1st Australian Division led the way ashore at Gallipoli. In 1916 it achieved the first Australian victory on the Western Front at Pozières. It was still serving with distinction in the battles that led to the defeat of the German army in 1918. To Win the Battle explains how the division rose from obscurity to forge a reputation as one of the great fighting formations of the British Empire during the First World War, forming a central part of the Anzac legend. Drawing on primary sources as well as recent scholarship, this fresh approach suggests that the early reputation of Australia's premier division was probably higher than its performance warranted. Robert Stevenson shows that the division's later success was founded on the capacity of its commanders to administer, train and adapt to the changing conditions on the battlefield, rather than on the innate qualities of its soldiers.

Introduction
1. In the beginning
2. Organising for battle
3. Sinews of war
4. Already half a soldier
5. Into battle
6. Learning the hard war
7. Hitting the peak
8. The year of victory
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: First World War [HBWN], Military history [HBW], History [HB]