Publisher's Synopsis
'McCay, carrying only his broken cane, directed his men forward, saying: "I'm going on with my stick. You can follow me with your rifles if you like. Are you coming?" To the watching troops, his demeanour was serious, but otherwise no different from his normal manner when on exercise at Mena. One of the men called out, " My blooming oath" and, although the first man to rise was hit by several bullets and killed, led by McCay the Australians dashed forward.' In August 1914 James McCay was appointed to command one of the first three brigades of the newly formed AIF. In the course of a successful political career he had been a member of Australia's first federal parliament, and while Minister for Defence he had introduced far-ranging reforms of the Australian Army's command structure. As a militia officer, McCay had commanded the Intelligence Corps and had nurtured the military career of his friend and protege, John Monash. McCay seemed to be destined for a distinguished military career, yet despite his determination and personal courage, by 1918, he had been relegated to a training command in England and was reviled by many who had served under him.;Monash by contrast had won distinction commanding the AIF in France. This book examines the life of McCay and his relationship with Monash. It seeks an answer t the enigma of James McCay: was he brought down by the failures of others or by his own personality?
