I picked this one up whilst on holidays at a Freemantle Secondhand bookshop, of which there are three, in the main shopping/restaurant precinct of Market Street.

“Kalumburu War Diary” by Fr. Eugene Perez is a book that presents an edited version (Rosemary Pratt and John Millington) of the daily diary kept by the Benedictine monks of the Kalumburu Mission in Western Australia during World War 2. The book’s real value is as a primary source and the unique perspective it offers on a remote part of Australia during a global conflict.

The book provides a rare, firsthand account of life on the Australian home front, particularly in a remote and isolated location. It chronicles the mission’s experience during the war, including the establishment of an airbase nearby and the tragic Japanese air raid in September 1943 that killed the mission superior and several Indigenous people. The diary offers a meticulous record of the community’s daily life under the difficult conditions of war. It documents everything from air force activities to the mundane details of mission life, such as food supplies, health, and even the hatching of chickens. This shows the resilience and dedication of the monks and the local Indigenous community. The book also provides insights into the relationships between the monks and the local Aboriginal people, touching on the complexities of these interactions as well as the shared experience of surviving the war years.

Overall, “Kalumburu War Diary” is a valuable historical document. It sheds light on the role of remote Australian communities during the war and the impact of the conflict on both military personnel and the local population. For historians, researchers, and anyone interested in Australian wartime history or the history of Indigenous communities, it is a vital and important resource. Its value lies in its authenticity and the detailed picture it paints of a remote community thrust into the front line of a global conflict. It is a work of history, not a narrative, making it a crucial source for understanding a significant but often overlooked chapter of Australian history.

Although an easy read it is literally a diary strung together to provide a readable storyline. Worth it if you can pick it up cheaply.