Under The Same Moon – Book review

Peter Mitchell’s book Under The Same Moon is a beautifully written social history.

The book focuses on Mr Mitchell’s father Clarence aka ‘Cal’ and Cal’s younger brother Alan during the period 1930 until 1942.

The book provides inviting, easy to read details of the lives and loves of the two brothers and their extended Melbourne-based family’s interactions with friends, fellow comrades and officers of the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion prior to and during the Second World War.

The author has clear mastery of the large amount of family-based information including, but not limited to frequent discussion with his family members – especially Cal and his Uncle Alan, extensive taped interviews and near complete collection of the large number of letters written by various family members, friends and military buddies.

The author skilfully incorporates these family interactions with his extensive knowledge of the war as it is being fought in the various theatres of conflict.

The book precisely segments the brothers’ shared childhood adventures, pre-war involvement in the Melbourne University Rifles, the decisions leading up to their enlistment, basic training at Puckapunyal, the voyage to Palestine and then onto the French mandate – then under Vichy French control.

The book also addresses the dynamic tension between the second AIF volunteers and the militia, then largely conscripts who were viewed as lesser because they had not volunteered to fight overseas.

The book outlines the Pioneer Battalion’s preparation, training and ultimately fighting against the Vichy French armed forces in the Middle East – the then French mandate comprising Lebanon and Syria.

It is also interesting how the brothers reflect upon the achievements and exploits of the Australian Imperial Forces in Palestine during World War I.

After the defeat of the Vichy French forces an Armistice was signed and the battalion was relocated to the far east in order to confront the very rapidly advancing Imperial Japanese forces.

We learn of the speed of the Japanese advance and the consequences that could occur after the possible fall of fortress Singapore. Their foremost concern was the possible invasion of Australia.

Although the Netherlands surrendered to the Germans in May 1940, their colony in Indonesia continued to be administered by the government in exile located in Britain. The allies formed ABDA – American, British, Dutch and Australia, with the intention to protect and defend all land and sea lanes in East Asia – including what is now Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. It was into this conflict that the Pioneer Battalion was sent – without sufficient ammunition or heavy weapons such as mortars or artillery.

This book is the first of two books in this series to be written by the author. The first book, although self-contained, masterfully prepares the reader for the Battalion’s later fight with the Japanese. The second book I’ll Walk Beside You, is set for publication in May and will provide further information on the lives, military service and future dreams of the extended Mitchell family.