Anzacs in the Middle East is a compelling exploration of the experiences of soldiers who fought in the Middle East during World War II. Spurred by a sense of adventure and duty, they set sail to countries of which they knew very little. The book examines the relationships between Australians and their allies and also how they related to the local people: Greeks, Egyptians, Syrians, Lebanese and Palestinians. Mark Johnston draws on extensive research to provide a new perspective on the famous campaigns at Tobruk and Alamein, as well as significant but less familiar battles at Bardia, Retimo and Damascus. Featuring first-hand accounts and stories from the front line, the book discovers the true nature of the 'larrikin Australian' and is a must-read for anyone interested in Australia's military history. This book is a companion volume to Mark Johnston's previous books, At the Front Line and Fighting the Enemy.

'Johnston makes a novel, interesting and impeccably well-written contribution to the corpus of literature on the Australian soldier’s Second World War. He does an excellent job of answering his principal question: rebutting the ‘Anzac myth’ through detailed examination of contemporaneous attitudes … Cambridge University Press should be commended for producing an attractive volume including a good number of photographs and some decent maps. It would be too much to ask for Orders of Battle to provide an overview as to formations’ and individual units’ course through the Middle East, but they can easily be accessed online.'

Alexander Wilson - The Second World War Military Operations Research Group