Lex McAulay

The Battle of Coral-Balmoral, 40km north of Saigon, was a much larger engagement - with more Australians killed - than the better known (to Australians) Battle of Long Tan. Each however deserved it place in history for its own reasons. Both, however, were distinguished by the sheer desperation of the fighting. It is appropriate perhaps that the some of the best histories of both engagements have been written by Lex McAulay, an army intelligence officer in Vietnam as these events unfolded.

These histories do not answer the question of whether the war, or indeed the battles themselves were justified. While forthright in his own views on the justification for the war, McAulay gives what seems a fairly balanced view of the actual conduct of the campaign. But it is down at the Unit and individual level that he shines, taking up the tradition of Australian war historians from Charles Bean onwards. The story of the soldier, both Australian and Vietnamese is told in all its aspects, the mundane, heroic, ironic and the horrific. McAulay writes of sense of achievement and pride in the Australian victory, but it is (somewhat) muted by the reality of the losses on both sides, and the failures of tactics, equipment and (occasionally) command that he is honest enough to acknowledge.

To acquire (and read) these books is sometimes seen as a patriotic endeavour, reinforcing a certain jingoistic view of history and the world. One suspects the hand of editors and publisher pushing this line. But to give McAulay credit (and many other Australian war historians), the honest reporting of the 'din of battle' is one of the best places to start to make an attempt to understand both the merits and errors of Australia's involvement in - what has been for a very small country - a great many wars. The key note in McAulay's book is rememberance, not triumphalism or justification of some 'position', and he has succeeded remarkably well. Highly recommended.… (more)