Drummoyne's Great War chronicles the lives of the ninety-five men commemorated on the Drummoyne War Memorial who served and died in the First World War. 

The stories of these soldiers, told in the order in which they died, follow the narrative arch of Australia's involvement in the Great War providing a unique contextual depth. Referencing personal correspondence, service records, unit war diaries, Red Cross reports, official histories and newspaper articles, and featuring over 350 archival images and 2,000 meticulously researched footnotes, Brendan has brought the stories of these men to life with a deep respect. 

Their stories also provide an insight into the broader experience of Australia in the war – the volunteers who came from all districts and backgrounds, sometimes with only a fleeting connection to Drummoyne, and who served in all theatres from 1914 to the end of the war. 

Drummoyne's Great War finally tells ninety-five stories missing from Drummoyne and Australia's history.

BRENDAN BATEMAN

Brendan Bateman was born in Sydney, Australia. A lifelong history enthusiast, Brendan studied history at the University of Sydney. Acknowledging the truism that ‘there is no future in history’, he also pursued a law degree and has practised as a lawyer with a leading Australian law firm for over thirty years.

However, his passion for history never waned. In 2009, he scratched that itch which eventually led to him self-publishing I am the First and the Last: The Fallen World War One ANZACs of St Mark’s Drummoyne in 2015.

This work paved the way for his latest three volumes, Drummoyne’s Great War, which chronicle the lives of the ninety-five men commemorated on the Drummoyne War Memorial who served and died in the First World War.

Brendan is married with three children, all of whom have avoided both law and history, and shudder whenever he enters a bookshop.

the collection

"The narratives captured in these volumes outline the fascinating stories of these individuals from the Drummoyne and Five Dock communities. Their lives paint a picture of our local heritage and our community’s connection to the Great War, from those with deep ties to the area to others with more fleeting connections. These stories are so important … in preserving the memory of those who served."

Councillor Michael Megna (Mayor), City of Canada Bay Council.