ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My thanks are due to Cowra historian, Lawrance Ryan. From the day we met and ever since then his help has been invaluable. Lawrence led me to Graham Apthorpe, author of A Town At War who provided details of Italian artists who worked in the camp. If there are errors in the freedom I allowed the Italians during their confinement, those errors are mine. I may have been swayed by the rapport that existed at the time when we trainees met the Italian POWs, but the war with Italy was over by then, and my memory of those days in that pleasant country town are very fond ones.

My daughter Lyn Cawthorne accompanied me to Cowra on a research trip, and spent hours taking photographs in the local war museum. These were of great value, revealing the relaxed lives of prisoners and the amenities that were provided for them in the two Italian compounds.

I’m indebted to close friends: Philippa Davern for Italian words and phrases, artist David Voigt for the solitary moments of a painter at work, and Maria Simmons, who translated an earlier book of mine, and this time provided details of locations in Italy. My grandson Pete provided legal advice for the court case. He also gave enthusiastic help with the storyline and often fixed my erratic computer when necessary. I’m obliged to Wikipedia for details of the Catalina flights from Perth to Ceylon, an amazing feat during World War Two.

Once again, my thanks to the select and hard-working group at For Pity Sake Publishing: Anna Blackie, Candace Chidiac, John Cozzi, and especially Jennifer McDonald, who was not only my publisher but a very creative editor.

Peter Yeldham
pyeldham@bigpond.net.au