Peter Doyle Books

The extensive collection of police forensic negatives casts a fascinating light on the shadowy underworld of Sydney between the wars.

Experience the First World War's battlegrounds like never before, from the First Battle of Ypres to the grim mud of Passchendaele. This work presents stunning panoramas alongside poignant personal photographs and soldiers' recollections from the featured battles. The panoramic images, created by the British Royal Engineers for intelligence, resemble early satellite mapping. Photographers risked their lives, exposing themselves for extended periods to capture views typically seen only through a trench periscope. Many images offer a 160-degree field of view, revealing details like a soldier picking lice or a sniper in hiding. Spanning the entire Western Front, these photographs have a profound impact on general audiences while providing specialists with insights into a lost world, contextualizing other archives temporally and geographically. They challenge common perceptions of the war, depicting not only the tortured landscapes of mud but also fields of flowers, beaches, and standing churches. While desperate scenes exist, the work emphasizes that much of the conflict unfolded in a recognizable, real landscape, offering a nuanced understanding of the war's environment.

The British soldier of the Great War has been depicted in many books. Recently, military historians have presented an alternative picture, a picture in which the hopelessness of the First World War is given new life and purpose.

Riveting stories and extraordinary images from Sydney's mysterious and chilling underworld in the early 20th century.

The Great War continues to fascinate more than 100 years after its outbreak. There is an abiding fascination in the uniform and equipment of the British Great War soldier. What was it like to wear? What were puttees? What does a gas mask look like? How heavy was the equipment? How did you dig a trench? These and other typical questions answered by Great War Tommy Owners' Workshop Manual in Haynes Manual style, providing a vivid insight into life during the Great War for the average ‘Tommy Atkins’.

Set in 1950s Sydney, the story follows Billy Glasheen, a charming character with a knack for creating intricate schemes. As he navigates a world of crime, he juggles various escapades, including gambling scams and the transportation of stolen jewels. His resourcefulness shines through during a thrilling tour with rock 'n' roll legend Little Richard, showcasing his ability to adapt and survive in a bustling, dangerous environment.

The First World War has left an almost indelible mark on history, with battles such as the Somme and Passchendaele becoming watchwords for suffering unsurpassed. The dreadful fighting on the Western Front, and elsewhere in the world, remains vivid in the public imagination. Over the years dozens of books have been published dealing with the soldier's experience, the military history and the weapons and vehicles of the war, but there has been little devoted to the objects associated with those hard years in the trenches. Tommy's War (new in paperback) redresses that balance. With hundreds of carefully captioned photographs of items that would have been part of the everyday life for the British Tommy; from recruiting posters, uniforms and entrenching equipment to games, postcards and pieces of 'trench art,' this book brings to life the experience of the Great War soldier through the objects with which he would have been surrounded.

The full history of Princess Mary’s World War I Christmas gift box. In 1914, Princess Mary, the only daughter of King George V, was just seventeen years old. Only two months into World War I, the young princess was destined to make her mark. She would send a Christmas gift to all those serving in uniform, “afloat and at the front.” With great determination, she set about her task to provide her gift to all those on active service.Beautifully illustrated and deeply researched, For Every Sailor Afloat, Every Soldier at the Front is the first full retelling of the story of the princess’s gift. Using original sources, texts, and archives, and illustrated with images of original surviving objects, this book unfolds the true story of the fund and its wider meaning. For anyone interested in the first Christmas of the war, this book offers new perspectives on the meaning of the gift to the recipients and the nature of the gift itself.

Set in post-World War II Australia, the story follows Billy Glasheen as he navigates a tumultuous landscape filled with crime and chaos. With his black marketeer boss gone, Billy finds himself pursued by criminals and law enforcement alike, all seeking an unknown item he possesses. As he races against time to uncover its significance, the narrative delves into the era's criminal underworld, political corruption, and the vibrant cultural shifts of the time, including the rise of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll.

World War II was one of the defining periods of British history, a six-year period that saw Britain and its Commonwealth stand united against the tyranny of the Axis powers. With the nation initially ill-prepared to engage in war, the British Soldier suffered many trials and reverses of fortune before his central role in the Allied victory in Europe. After early defeats, some British soldiers endured long years of captivity in German POW camps, while others performed the vital duty of home defense and training for the inevitable return to the continent. Accompanying each of these aspects of the war, there were various items that give insight into the soldier's experience. In many cases, these items - uniforms, insignia, weapons or ephemera - have become highly collectable. Peter Doyle and Paul Evans have put together a huge selection of objects relating to the British soldier's experience from 1939-1945.