This book tells the story of the Australian contingent of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) who, in 1946, entered western Japan to ‘demilitarise and democratise’ the atom-bombed backwater of Hiroshima. Drawing extensively on diary entries, papers and personal interviews with Australian soldiers, Gerster paints an intricate portrait of the moral and cultural disorientation felt by the Aussie ‘conquerors’ as they came to terms with not only an enemy decimated by atomic horror but also their own inherent prejudices. While this particular slice of Australian history is both compelling and grossly under-reported, Gerster perhaps does himself a disservice by relying on too many ‘voices’ to get the story across. This oral history-style of historical writing has gained popularity in recent times, but for my palate it’s a little too scattered to truly carry an overall narrative. That said, the book is an immense achievement of research and a timely reminder of the tightrope balance of foreign occupation, a message that has particular relevance in today’s post-9/11 climate. It will be particularly popular among avid history readers looking for a new angle on the wartime Australian experience.

Christopher Currie is the buyer for Avid Reader in Brisbane, and writes a short story every day at www.furioushorses.com

Tags: robin gerster