1915 (39 page)

“This isn't the kind of letter you want: but we never get what we want, or if we
do
, we find it was not worth waiting for. If I have been lengthy to the point of boredom, forgive me, for as I said before: I was blown up by a bomb, which is as bad as being blown up by a woman — but not so interesting.

“If you write again, please send letter to the above address; the hospital will forward it to me, as I may be back at Gallipoli, or I may be — who knows?

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Melrose.”

Although derived from many real events,
1915
is a work of the imagination. The following, however, willingly recounted their experiences at Gallipoli, fully aware that their stories were destined as background to fiction: Mr Albert Platt, M.M. (7th ALH) of Parkes, Mr Len Bennett (1st Field Ambulance) of Yass, Dr A.T. Dunlop (Medical Officer, 18th Battalion), Mr H.A. Clapson (23rd Battalion), and Mr Clive Newman (9th ALH), the last three all of Canberra. I am particularly indebted to Mr Newman for a wealth of vividly remembered detail.

I also wish to record my debt to the late Mr Tom Dunford (6th ALH, Palestine) of Parkes, and especially to the Parkes and District Historical Society through the generosity of its President, Mr W.F. Nash.

I was directed to valuable sources by Dr Bill Gammage; made use of many books, diaries and letters held in the library of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra; and viewed material in the La Trobe Library, Melbourne, thanks to the assistance of Patsy Adam Smith. I am grateful to Geoffrey Lehmann for invaluable comments and criticisms.

While writing this novel I was the recipient of a Senior Writer's Fellowship from the Literature Board of the Australia Council (1977–78).