I was looking forward to reading this book as it documents the changes the Australian forces made from being desert fighters to jungle fighters. Regular readers would be aware that I am reasonably familiar with the changes made by Australian High Command re-develop to the Australian Jungle Division, its equipment equipment, training, and tactics. This is the only piece of modern research on the topic that I am aware of.

I was not disappointed with the author who has done an excellent piece of research

Jungle Warriors examines the extraordinary changes the Australian Army underwent over the course of the Second World War. It explores how the 2nd AIF evolved from fighting European and desert wars, in open country and often with large numbers of troops, to master the very close warfare of jungle combat. It investigates the extraordinary array of changes to weapons, equipment, tactics and training. It also reveals the painful lessons learnt and the inadequate planning that resulted in the unnecessary deaths of so many Australian men.

Australians are acknowledged as being among the best, if not the best, jungle fighters in the world. So how did the Australian Army transform itself from a military force totally unprepared for conflict of any kind in 1939 into a professional, experienced and highly skilled jungle warfare force by 1945? This book follows the changes that eventually led to the development of the Australian Jungle Divisions and describes the changes in training that were required to move from veteran desert fighters to veteran jungle fighters.

Jungle Warriors examines these extraordinary changes the Australian Army underwent over the course of the Second World War. It explores how the 2nd AIF evolved from fighting European and desert wars, in open country and often with large numbers of troops, to master the very close warfare of jungle combat. It investigates the extraordinary array of changes to weapons, equipment, tactics and training. It also reveals the painful lessons learnt and the inadequate planning that resulted in the disasters that wasted so many lives.

The above has been paraphrased from the publisher.

Following the story from the training camps in Australia on to the battlefields of North Africa and the Mediterranean to Milne Bay, Kokoda, and final victory in Borneo, Bougainville and New Guinea, I found this book a very detailed account, well written and researched, and very easy read

What I really liked was that because of the excellent referencing, when my ideas were challenged I was able to check the sources that Threfall used to make up my own mind.

An excellent piece of modern research.

The written word is unfortunately let down by the production that is “cheap” at best, and with paper, layout, and photo quality that I would have expected Amazon to have bone better.

Similar to paperback “texts” one was used to in the 70’s, but with a flashy cover.