Reluctant Heroes

Ever since  Gallipoli, war heroes have had a special place in Australian hearts.

In world War 11 the greatest disaster for Australian troops occurred in Borneo where more than 2000 men lost their lives while Prisoners of War.

Those heroes were forgotten except by their families. At last here is a novel about them. A novel about mateship.

The story is about real people and real events, as well as fictional people and events that could have happened.

It was 1941 when Bill McDonald waved goodbye to his family. Surely the war would be over in a few months. But  Bill became a Prisoner of War and he and his mates struggled with starvation and disease to survive in Borneo. This is Bill's son Russell’s story too, as he grows up in a rural town, while his Father is away.

This is Bill McDonald. He was my father and was always my hero. He sent me doll's furniture from Singapore and  I talked to his photo every day on the wireless cabinet.

My brother Russell was my hero too. Here he is with Ann, my big sister, and me in 1941.

Reluctant Heroes is a historical novel. It is not only about Bill and his mates, but about his family in Australia. Russell and his mates earn money by rabbit trapping; they dig air raid trenches at school; they play tricks on the teachers; they find ways to talk to the girls although the sexes are separated by an invisible line in the playground. The times are different today, but young people face many of the same challenges.

Here are the details

Reluctant Heroes : Author Helen Evans

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4568-3774-7  Price $29.99

E book ISBN:978-1-4568-3804-1 Price $9.99

Order your copy today from Amazon

The book is also available at the Evans gallery in Uralla, NSW

www.evansgalleryuralla.com