The ANZAC Book

On 26 March 2010, I had the honour of giving a speech at the launch of The ANZAC Book at the Australian War Memorial. It’s a great book, and as we all get back to work following the ANZAC day long weekend, I’d like to share this transcript of what I had to say on the day.

I guess many of you here today would know of the English author Antony Beevor, who’s famous for his account of the battle of Stalingrad.

I had a yarn to him in Melbourne last year when he was here to promote his new book, which is on D-Day (D-Day: The Battle for Normandy). 

I made the remark – and I thought it sensible at the time – that he was fortunate that so many survivors of D-Day were still alive and able to tell him things.

He surprised me by saying that this didn’t count for much.

Why? I asked.