About the Event
Join Lucas Jordan In Conversation with Nicholas Reynolds, discussing his book The Chipilly Six.
The Readers’ and Writers’ Festival is an annual adult literature event presented by City of Mandurah Library & Heritage Services. In 2024 it will be held from 11 – 13 January at the Seashells Resort Mandurah. The aim of the festival is to foster a love of reading and literature and encourage creativity in our community. This year the festival brings together an array of established and emerging storytellers from across WA. The free to attend three-day festival includes author talks, panel discussions, and poetry reading.
Lucas Jordan
Lucas Jordan grew up in Burekup in Western Australia. He holds a PhD in history from the Australian National University. Lucas is currently a leading teacher at Western English Language School, a secondary school for new arrivals and refugees in Melbourne. He is the author of The Chipilly Six: unsung heroes of the Great War (2023) and Stealth Raiders: A few daring men in 1918, (2017). Lucas lives in Lara, Victoria, with his wife and two sons.
The Chipilly Six: Unsung heroes of the Great War
On 9 August 1918, at Chipilly Spur overlooking the Somme River, an entire British Army Corps is held up by German machine gunners. The battle raged for 30 hours and more than 2000 men have fallen. Then, two Australian sergeants, Jack Hayes, and Harold Andrews, go absent without leave and cross the Somme ahead of British lines. Seeing that the British advance is stopped, they re-cross the river, gather four mates and return to drive the Germans of the spur.
The extraordinary feats of the Chipilly Six and the personal stories of these diggers have been overlooked. Historian Lucas Jordan weaves a compelling tale of the lives of the soldiers, chronicling their return home and years after service, through a pandemic, the Great Depression, another world war, and the very first Anzac dawn service.
Nicholas Reynolds
Nicholas Reynolds obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of WA in 1998 majoring in history. His area of expertise was British Colonial history. He also holds a Certificate in Museum Studies from Edith Cowan University. After graduating he became involved with the Army Museum of WA as museum registrar. In 2004 Nicholas took up a position with the City of Mandurah as the Curator of the Mandurah Museum. In subsequent years this Museum has been the centre of his efforts.
What to Expect:
9.30am: In Conversation
10.15am: Q & A
10.30am: Book signing
Places are limited. Bookings required. >BOOK NOW
Tea & Coffee provided. Festival Bookseller is Dymocks Busselton
