To Effie

and our children,

and to Grafton, which was the making of me. 

A.G.

 

 

 

 Author's note 

There will come a time, years from now, when my children - if there are any - will learn about the conflict once called the war that will end war.  When they ask me what I know of the Great War, there will be no need to cite dates, places and historical accounts.  It will be enough to say, ' I knew an Australian Digger.  He was a good cobber of mine, actually.'

Alec Griffiths died on 11 April 1995, just a handful of days before his seventy-sixth Anzac Day.

Although the words which follow come from my pen, this is as much Alec's story as it is my book.  Based on oral testimony it is the story of an ordinary, and at once remarkable man, who witnessed the better part of the twentieth century.  He also witnessed the worst.

Just as he dedicates his story to his wife and children, I in turn dedicate my book to him.

R.C.

 

Click here for Alec Griffiths' early years.