At the beginning of 1918, an elite group of Australians was chosen for a secret mission on another front.

      Twenty officers of the AIF reported to the Tower of London, where they joined contingents from all parts of the British Empire. They learned that their commander would be General Dunsterville – the legendary ‘Stalky’ of Rudyard Kipling's stories.

      After the collapse of the Russian Empire, the East was in turmoil and insurrection broke out across the region.  As the Turks advanced through Armenia, the Bolsheviks tried to size control of the Caspian Sea.

   Dunsterforce set off on an expedition into Persia. That involved crossing desert sand and mountain snow, then dealing with corrupt officials, hostile tribesmen and Cossack mercenaries.      The aim was to reach the Caspian, set up a friendly government in the Caucuses and head off a German thrust towards India.  

        Stalky lead a gallant defense of the port of Baku, besieged by a Turkish force and threatened by local intrigue. Meanwhile, other members of Dunsterforce fought desperately to save thousands of Armenian refugees as they fled overland into Persia.  

     This is a true story of high adventure: of young Australians given daunting tasks under extreme conditions. They played the ‘Great Game’, to protect the Gates of India and secure the bountiful reserves of oil in Central Asia.