"Stand Easy"; with the Australian Army, at home & overseas, in 1945

"Stand Easy"; with the Australian Army, at home & overseas, in 1945
		Sub category index
Dust cover (above) and cover (right) of the book.
EDITORIAL NOTES
THE preparation of this volume was commenced early in 1945 when members of the Army, following a practice introduced with "Khaki and Green" in 1943, were invited to take part in a competition for contributions. This produced the usual excellent results and the book was ready for the printer early in August. By then the Australian Army was fighting along an inland front from Bougainville to Borneo-a. battle-line stretching across the north of Australia, longer than the distance from Sydney to Perth, and equal to the distance from the Normandy beaches to the Persian Gulf. In those days the commonest phrase on the lips of Australians-servicemen and women and civilians alike-was "Up North", and it was intended to publish the book under this title. With the sudden ending of the war it was decided to revise the book and defer production until pictures of the final scenes in this great conflict could be included. A change in the title was thought to be desirable. The book was again ready for the printer late in September. Then other causes outside the control of the editors and publishers further delayed production. In selecting "Stand Easy" for the title, the editors had in mind that, although the war had been brought to a successful conclusion, the Army's task was not finished. For the immediate future there were the duties arising from the cessation of hostilities - the tracing and recovery of members of the Eighth Division and the marking of the graves of those who died in captivity, the disarming and custody of several hundreds of thousands of Japanese prisoners, and the policing of the terms of the surrender. Later the post-war Army will resume its task of preparing to defend Australia. The "Cease Fire" therefore brought to the Army no more than a brief relaxation in its service to Australia. While in this volume the editors have adhered to their policy of making acknowledgment to contributors by their Army numbers, they have included in an appendix the names of members who have contributed to this series of books published during the war. To assist readers of the account of the Australians' final campaign in the South-west Pacific, which will be found on page 121 et seq., the maps which illustrate it have been inserted loose. They can therefore be opened clear of the book.

When no longer needed for use in this way it is suggested they should be tipped in between pages 130 and 131 in the case of the maps of Bougainville, Aitape-Wewak, and New Britain, and between pages 176 and 177 in the case of the others. Should the maps be mislaid it will not be possible to replace them.

To those who have contributed to "Stand Easy", whether it has been possible to use their contributions or not, the editors extend their grateful thanks. They are also deeply indebted to members of the Military History Section who supplied many of the items included in the book.


	30th September 1945.