Ratbag, Soldier, Saint The Real Story of Sergeant Issy Smith VC Lian Knight
- Bib ID:
- 10013464
- Format:
- Book
- Author:
- Knight, Lian, author
- Online Access:
- National edeposit: Onsite at National Library of Australia
- Related Online Resources:
- Thumbnail
- Access Conditions:
- National edeposit: Available onsite at the National Library of Australia, State Library Victoria
- Description:
-
- Ormond, Victoria Hybrid Publishers 2022
- ©2021
- 1 online resource (352 pages)
- File Characteristics:
-
- text file
- EPUB
- 5.5MB
- ISBN:
- 9781925736847
- Summary:
-
Lian Knight has recreated the amazing life of her grandfather, a war hero. What has been published about him is extraordinary - 2000 newspaper articles, many printed more than a century ago. Yet almost nothing written about him is consistent. The press varied his name, his age, his place of birth, where he lived and what he did. There were whispers that he emerged from poverty, delivering fish before dawn in London's East End in the markets and laneways of Jack the Ripper's local haunts, before joining the army at just thirteen. Averse to authority, he was a military superior's nightmare. He served in South Africa and India before migrating to Australia. When World War I broke out, he was despatched to the Western Front where, gassed, bombed and working against remarkable odds, he saved the lives of many and was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour. He became legendary, gaining medals and escaping death on numerous occasions. After the war he married and finally returned to Australia. He was famous in England and Australia for his bravery and kindness to his fellow man. Later as a movie star, a politician, a boxer, a celebrated Australian identity and a good Samaritan, his notoriety seemed to know no bounds. Which of these stories were real? A mixture of truth and fantasy has continued to be reported ... until now. 'From page 1 of Ratbag, Soldier, Saint, I entered the magnificent maze of the life of Issy Smith, wonderfully led through that life by Issy's granddaughter, Lian Knight.' - General Sir Peter Cosgrove 'This book brilliantly recounts the unusual life of Sergeant Issy Smith VC, a Jewish war hero of WWI, revealing the many challenges he and his family faced in Australia and England during the war and in the post-war years. A captivating read!' - MAJGEN (Ret'd), Emeritus Professor Jeffrey V Rosenfeld.
Recreating the history of this remarkable man and his family has been a labour of love for his granddaughter Lian Knight. Through her words, we discover how Issy Smith, the youngest of eleven children, stowed away on a ship to London, aged eleven. In London's East End, Issy got a job delivering fish before dawn in the markets and laneways of Jack the Ripper's local haunts, before joining the militia and then the army at just thirteen. Averse to authority, he was a military superior's nightmare. He served in South Africa and India before migrating to Australia.When World War I broke out, he was recalled and despatched to the Western Front where, gassed, bombed and working against remarkable odds, he saved the lives of many and was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour. He was the first Jewish non-commissioned officer to win the VC. He continued his brave exploits in various battles until the end of the war, after which he married and finally returned to Australia. Though treated as a hero, he faced ongoing struggles with ill-health from the repercussions of war and ongoing prejudice, see-sawing between poverty and wealth and taking on various jobs to support his little family. Despite difficulties, he always kept up his spirits and dedicated himself to helping others. A true hero!With painstaking research of original sources and a novelist's eye, Lian Knight brings to life the life and tumultuous times of this remarkable man, Sergeant Issy Smith VC.
- Notes:
- General.
- Subject:
-
- Smith, Issy, 1890-1940
- Heroes -- Australia -- Biography
- Soldiers -- Australia -- Biography
- World War, 1914-1918 -- Participation, Australian
- Biography: general
- History
- Biography & Autobiography - Historical
- Biography & Autobiography - Military
- BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY
- Historical
- Military history
- Military
- Australian
- Genre/Form:
- Electronic books
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary, dramatic or musical work
- Published status:
- Published
- Publication date:
- 2021
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