It’s early 1918, and after four brutal years, the fate of the Great War hangs in the balance. Across a 45-mile front, no fewer than two million German soldiers hurl themselves at the Allied lines, with the specific intention of splitting the British and French forces, and driving all the way through to the town of Villers-Bretonneux, at which point their artillery will be able to rain down shells on the key train-hub town of Amiens, thus throttling the Allied supply lines.

In desperation, the British commander, General Douglas Haig, calls upon the Australian soldiers to stop the German advance, and save Villers-Bretonneux. If the Australians can hold this, the very gate to Amiens, then the Germans will not win the war.

'It's up to us, then,' one of the Diggers writes in his diary.

Arriving at Villers-Bretonneux just in time, the Australians are indeed able to hold off the Germans, launching a vicious counterattack that hurls the Germans back the first time. And then, on Anzac Day 1918, when the town falls after all to the British defenders, it is again the Australians who are called on to save the day, the town, and the entire battle.

Not for nothing does the primary school at Villers-Bretonneux have above every blackboard, to this day, "N’oublions jamais, l’Australie." Never forget Australia. And they never have.

Suitable for ages 14+

Details: Non-fiction, published 2017.

Format: Soft cover, illustrations, 784 pages.

Dimensions: 23.4 cm (h) x 15.4 cm (w) x 4.9 cm (d) / 914 grams.