A COUPLE OF TITLES FROM PENGUIN BOOKS
FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN NZ MILITARY HISTORY

IN DEFENCE OF OUR LAND
A Tour of New Zealand’s Historic Harbour Forts
Russell Glackin – Penguin - $40

In the Preface to his fascinating book the author says that “this work seeks to provide a guided tour of New Zealand’s historic harbor fortifications for those New Zealanders and international travelers who have an innate curiosity about what happened at some of the most visited places in New Zealand and some of its most isolated. It offers an easy reference that will answer most of the fundamental questions that arise when people visit the remnants of the major defence fortifications undertaken in our major harbours at two critical points in our history – when New Zealand faced the very real threat of external armed aggression”.
Illustrated with maps, drawings and numerous historic photographs throughout. The author is a former commissioned officer and a retired secondary school history teacher who has long held an interest in the subject of his readable book.

NZSAS – THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS
Ron Crosby – Viking – Cased and Jacketed
$65.00

This is the first ever official history of New Zealand’s elite Special Forces, the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS).
It would seem that since last year’s biography of Willie Apiata, V.C. public interest in the NZSAS has skyrocketed.
From their first-ever engagements in the jungles of Malaysia in 1956, through to the Vietnam War and on to modern conflicts in East Timor and Afghanistan, this book traces the history and development of the NZSAS.
Illustrated with maps and never-before-seen photographs, the book provides a rare and fascinating insight into this clandestine world.
It is a thumper of a book running to almost 500 pages with black and white photos throughout. An especially comprehensive index and bibliography, a glossary and useful appendices all add to a fine piece of publishing.

Marlborough-based Ron Crosby has an honours degree in law but for the past 10 plus years has been busily engaged writing New Zealand historical and military books. You can check him out on his website – http://www.roncrosby.co.nz/