AWM Author talk: Will Davies

Join us for our author talks series in the AWM theatre, bringing together some of Australia’s leading voices to talk about their new books.

When: Wednesday, 21 October

Where: Theatre, Australian War Memorial

Time: 12.30 pm (doors open 12.10 pm)

In January 1917, a young Bathurst boy, Edward Lynch, found himself in the freezing battlefield at Gueudecourt near Pozieres. Somehow, he survived, returned home in 1919 and in the late 1920s, wrote Somme Mud, a brutal yet humorous fictionalised account of his experiences that has become an Australian classic.

Will Davies will talk about Private Lynch’s war and how his lost manuscript came to light, was edited and published in 2006 and is now republished in its original, unabridged form.

Meet the author

After graduating from the ANU in 1971, Will Davies spent the next 37 years as a documentary film producer with his company Look Films, producing non-fiction programmes for the ABC and SBS in Australia. He retired in 2010 and by 2025, had eleven books published and more near completion.

He was a member of the NSW Centenary of Anzac Advisory Council, led battlefield tours to Gallipoli and the Western Front and was awarded a PhD from the ANU in 2018.

Parking and access

Free visitor parking is available in the P1 carpark.&

Taxi, rideshare, or private drop offs are located in the underground P1 Visitor Carpark with access via Fairbairn Avenue.

Accessibility

Wheelchair and Carers seating

There is reserved wheelchair accessible seating available in Seats 1, 2, 3, 21, 22 of Row L with carers seats adjacent.

This Author Talk series presents a range of perspectives. Speakers’ views are their own.