Andrew Johnston
Soldier, teacher, author
Uncovering Australia's Hidden Military History: Tales of Forgotten Soldiers and Unlikely Heroes
BOOKS
On the 21st of May 1945, in a single blinding flash of gelignite, 26 young lives were snuffed out in an underground bunker. When they buried the victims three days later, half of the population of Wagga Wagga- 7000 men, women and children-lined the streets to bow their heads at the passing parade of coffins. It remains to this day the Nation’s largest military funeral. But then something strange happened:
Australia forgot them
The Forgotten Rising Sons is the first written account describing the events of one fateful day at the Royal Australian Engineer Training Centre, Kapooka Camp, Wagga Wagga NSW. Almost seventy years later the heartbreaking tragedy, often referred to as simply the ‘Kapooka Tragedy’, remains largely forgotten, as do the lives, identity and memory of the brave men who perished there. Incredibly, the grim and gruesome loss of 26 young enthusiastic volunteer soldiers, in a tragedy unparalleled in Australian Army history, has somehow been omitted from official records of WWII. Put simply, seemingly ‘airbrushed’ from history, entire generations of Australians have grown up not knowing of this tragic event from the countries foundational military past. Capturing a brief, but nonetheless historically important moment in the chronicle of the Australian Army during WWII, the story of The Forgotten Rising Sons reminds us all of the futile, senseless, heartbreaking unknown and often forgotten cost of war.
THE FORGOTTEN RISING SONS
A TIME TO RETURN
Harry Thomson grew up in an Australian country town, determined to break free from his destiny as a shearer’s son. The Nazi invasion of Poland became his escape route, leading him to enlist and board the Queen Mary with the 2nd AIF. But instead of adventure, Harry faced the horrors of war in Malaya, becoming a prisoner in Changi and enduring the brutal death railway construction.
Barely surviving, Hiroshima’s tragedy brought Harry liberation, but returning home began his greatest battle—life. Alcohol became his refuge from the haunting memories of war and what he did to survive. His one true friend, Jack Mills, whom he met during training and survived Changi with, remained loyal despite their estrangement.
Decades later, Harry vanished, his whereabouts unknown until Jack’s great-grandson, Charlie, embarked on a search seventy years later. Born slightly disfigured, six-year-old Charlie believed he had lived before—as Harry Thomson. Convinced he was his Poppy’s best mate reincarnated, Charlie carried the spirit and memories of the haunted missing WWII POW.
Guided by his past life entity, Charlie must solve the mystery of his own disappearance, uncovering unfinished business and secrets from a time long gone. A Time to Return uses historical events in a fictional narrative in a gripping tale of survival, friendship, and the enduring power of the human spirit.
NEW RELEASES
On a dark foggy evening in May 1943, the Australian border towns of Wodonga and Albury were forever scarred by Australia’s worst level crossing disaster. When the details became clear the entire nation gasped. A timber bus, packed with jubilant servicemen and women on well-deserved leave, collided with a massive railway engine travelling in reverse with lights blacked out due to wartime regulations.
In an instant, 25 lives were lost, and countless others shattered.
This gripping true story unravels the chain of events leading to the collision, the harrowing aftermath, and the extraordinary heroics of those who fought to save lives amidst the wreckage. As the nation reeled from the shock, questions about accountability were met with silence, leaving grieving families to fight for justice against a wall of bureaucratic indifference.
Death by Misadventure: The true story of the Wodonga Tragedy, brings to life a forgotten chapter of Australian history, honouring the victims and survivors while shedding light on a calamity that shook a nation—and demands to be remembered.
REVIEWS & TESTIMONIALS
The Forgotten Rising Sons
A valuable work that will enlighten military history buffs on the often-overlooked ‘home front’ during World War 2.
Neville Taylor
The Royal United Services Institute, Victoria
A Time to Return
An inspiring, enthralling, confronting novel which does not shy from serious topics handled with well-balanced sensitivity
Austin Macauley Publishers
Death by Misadventure
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
From Soldier to Storyteller
Andrew Johnston is an Australian author with a passion for uncovering the untold stories of military history. After a distinguished two-decade career as a soldier, Andrew turned his attention to writing, blending his military experience with meticulous research to bring forgotten events to life. His writing to date includes The Forgotten Rising Sons delving into the 1945 Kapooka tragedy and his debut fictional novel, A Time Return, combined elements of military history and the supernatural, earning praise for its gripping storytelling and authenticity.
Residing in Queensland, Australia, with his wife, Andrew enjoys travelling, balancing his research for upcoming books, and spending quality time with his three children and four grandchildren.
Current Project
'All Lives Lost-The untold story of the 1943 Archerfield air tragedy.
For his next book, Andrew is currently researching the crash of RAAF Douglas DC3 (C-47) VH-CTB, A30-16 (A65-2) of 36 Squadron, Townsville, which was involved in a fatal accident at Archerfield on Saturday 27th March 1943 at approximately 0512 hrs.
The crew of four and all 19 passengers, consisting of 17 Australian and 2 American personnel were killed instantly when the plane crashed into scrubland approximately 1 mile from the runway shortly after takeoff on a routine troop transport task bound for Sydney.
This project is proudly supported by Peter Dunn OAM, and his invaluable WWII research found on his website.“Australia @ War” www.ozatwar.com
CONTACTS
"I'm not available on social media because I value setting boundaries and prefer not to be contactable 24/7. This allows me to focus on my priorities and maintain balance in my life."
For media inquiries, speaking engagements and book purchases, please contact Andrew directly via e-mail:
andrewjohnstonbooks@outlook.com
Proudly sponsored by:
