Published in 1977, Citizen to Soldier draws together the recollections of soldiers who served during World War 1. These were collected as the result of an appeal made through newspapers in 1966. The soldiers’ own words are woven into a very readable narrative.

The book looks not only at the soldiers lives before the war – in a much harsher but hopeful Australia – but concentrates on the wide range of reasons for enlistment. These mostly have the benefit of hindsight but have the ring of truth. The authors also mention the reasons given at the time, as collected by an A.I.F. Chaplain in France¹, and include duty and defence of women and children as was usual. It seems, though, that most Australian soldiers preferred to joke.
‘A moments indiscretion.‘
‘To stop Billy Hughes sending my sister.‘
‘Because my wife would not.‘
‘To see if the Froggies really ate frogs.‘

It contains some wonderful anecdotes including several about the way the physical requirements for enlisted were circumvented.

The problem of being over- or underweight could be solved by simple arithmetic.
On presenting myself I was too small and light. Sg. Major Holmes, who was putting men thro’, had a man there (Mr Neen) who was about 16 stone and too heavy for L. Horse so decided to weigh us together, divide by two, and we were both in the 9th L. Horse. (p.180)

Persistence and inventiveness paid off sometimes for those who were underage even in 1914 when recruiting sergeants were very particular. This soldier, aged 19, had tried twice, in a matter of minutes, to enlist by raising his age and changing his name. At his third try, he changed his name yet again and raised his age to 21.
I told him my parents were at Newcastle, and they wouldn’t pull me out so he took me. Next thing the doctor. They measured me, 5ft. 4½ins., the sergeant said, ’Too short, must be 5ft. 6ins.’ The doctor said he was passing men not half as fit as I was, so I was in. (p.179)

The soldiers names are not attached to their stories but there is a list of the men who contributed at the back of the book.

Definitely a must read for those interested in the men themselves who served in the A.I.F. in the Great War. The book is, of course, well out of print but can be bought second-hand and also is held by state and specialist libraries and those pubic libraries with a genuine interest the breadth of Australia‘s history.
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1. James A. Gault Padre Gault‘s Stunt Book pp.145-6 ↩︎