Before the Anzac Dawn

Providing a comprehensive and compelling account of Australian military history before the failed Gallipoli campaign, this study demonstrates the extent to which this pre-World War I history has been forgotten. It begins with detailed accounts of both traditional indigenous warfare and frontier wars between European settlers and indigenous inhabitants before moving on to a description of the setting up of colonial navies, the red coats who guarded the colonies, Australians fighting in wars against the Maori of New Zealand, cadet and rifle clubs, and the wars in the Crimea and Sudan in which Australian forces participated. With contributions from leading experts in a number of different fields, this book is an insightful and surprising look into the extent to which Australians thought about and experienced war prior to the existence of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.