Stanley Savige was one of the Australian Army's most senior and experienced citizen soldiers of WW2 He began his long m military career as a private in 1915 and was twice decorated for gallantry during the Great War.

    As a senior commander ill WW2, he led an infantry brigade against the Italians, Germans and Vichy French and a division and a corps against the Japanese.

    His was an experience of combat command not matched by any other senior Australian officer during that time. To his troops, Savige was know as 'Old Stan' and he developed a reputation as having exceptionally strong rapport with his men.

    However, his relations with his military contemporaries were frequently acrimonious and his detractors charged that he lacked the technical knowledge for higher command and had been promoted beyond his ability.

   Keating examines Savige’s command performance during WW2 and his long friendship with Thomas Blamey.

   This book shows a very human Savige who, despite struggling with some of the complexities and pressures of high command, showed great strength as an officer.