There and Back with a Dinkum By W.R.G. Colman, Edited by Claire Woods and Paul Skrebels
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| Coleman is 1st from left, taken at the time of his facial wound |
He was wounded three times in the field, 2nd December 1917, 20th April 1918 and 21st April 1918. The wound that he received in 1917 was a severe gunshot wound to the face, while the other two wounds received on consecutive days were minor - he remained on the battlefield.
He was commissioned, being promoted to Lieutenant on the 12th April 1918.
On the 31st July 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in the field.
In board daylight he led his men across the open, entered enemy line, and captured some 800 meters of trench, together with 20 prisoners, inflicting considerable losses on the enemy.
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| Click to see 27th Battalion History Digger Book |
Subsequently, Colman never published and he donated the original handwritten manuscript to the Australian War Memorial where it remains to this day.
The Editors, Claire Woods and Paul Skrebels have undertaken considerable further research and have included much additional material. This addition information has been included in this book. This includes the original diary entries of Coleman, Biographic information about Coleman and other soldiers during and after the war, explanation of the real names of people mentioned in the book, chapter by chapter commentary research, wartime photos of Coleman and 27th Battalion mates.
‘Although described as a novel, Colman’s work (book) is real autobiographical and accurate; it can be tested against the records.’ Peter Burness Senior Historian, Australian War Memorial
The Blue and Brown Diamond
A History of the 27th Battalion Australian Imperial Force, 1915 - 1919.
by W Dollman and H.Skinner.
Click Here to see a quality reprint of this history.
The Official History of the 27th Battalion AIF was published in 1921. The book was never released in considerable quantity and remains rare. It has only ever been reprinted once in the 1990's and this reprint was limited to 200 books.
Walter Dollman co authored the 27th Battalion History, "The Brown and Blue Diamond. He was a South Australian Militia Officer before WW1. He had outstanding service with the "Adelaide Rifles", 10th Australian Infantry Regiment and later becoming the CO, of the the 74th Infantry Regiment.
He was appointed CO of 27th Battalion AIF, during its raising in March 1915
and embarked for overseas service 31 May 1915. He commanded the Battalion
through the Gallipoli campaign and then on to the Western Front. After
Pozieres and Mouquet Farm, he was wounded as a result of a gas attack, and thus
unfit for further frontline service. He returned to Australia in
September 1916. He remained a stalwart of the 27 Battalion becoming State President of the South Australian RSL in 1929.
He died on 23 August 1945 at Malvern, South Australia. 72 years of age.
His co author was Sergeant Henry Skinner who was a NCO in the Battalion. At Morlancourt on the night of 10-11/6/1918 he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry.
This
is a newly created book which is a Pictorial companion Volume II to the
original Blue and Brown Diamond History the 27th Battalion AIF.When
the original 27th Battalion History was first published in 1921, the
cost of printing photographs was very expensive. Thus most of the
photographs taken by Battalion members were never used in the printing
of the Battalion history. Guy Dollman who is the grandson of the
original author and commanding officer, Colonel Walter Dollman, has
collected a large quantity of original photographs from Battalion
members. Many are from Colonel Walter Dollman's private photograph collection and have never before been printed.
Letter's Home 1915-1916 Mitcham to Pozieres By Colonel Walter Dollman
edited by WJ and GH Dollman
Colonel Walter Dollman VD was the Commanding Officer of the 27th Battalion from inception on the 15 March 1915 to his leaving the Battalion on the Western Front after the Pozieres Campaign.
Walter
Dollman returned home to Australia, in late 1916, to a hero's welcome.
While overseas he had taken many photographs especially on his outbound
journey to Egypt, Gallipoli and then into France. While away he also
wrote constantly to his wife Rose, as well is to his parents and
friends. On receipt, many of these letters were transcribed by his
daughter, Edith, into two volumes. Later Colonel Dollman was a co-author
of the Blue and Brown Diamond, the official historic record of the 27th
Battalion AIF in World War I. This book marries Colonel Dollman's
formal Chronicle, The History of the 27th Battalion, with the personal
narrative of its commander as told through his letters and photographs.
Complimentary stories of other members of the 27th Battalion and their
photographs have also been added.
Further Link reading about the 27th Battalion WW1
Australian War Memorial 27th Battalion History
Australian Unit War Diaries
Wikipedia History 27th Battalion
RSL 27th Battalion History
South Australian Regiments Association
See a quality reprint of the 27th Battalion History
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Dollman and the 27 Battalion embarking 1915 |
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