Simply Hell Let Loose

Stories of Australians at war

Plot

The Great Document Search was instituted by the Department of Veterans' Affairs with assistance from ABC Radio as part of the commemorations to mark the Centenary of Federation. It called for members of the public to submit items of wartime memorabilia. Many of the personal recollections that were submitted add substantially to the great human drama of Australians at war. Simply Hell Let Loose is a collection of some of the most vivid, unusual or poignant stories. It covers all conflicts from the Boer War to the Gulf War and depicts the efforts of all the active services, medical personnel and civilians. There are stories of nurses evacuating from Greece, war correspondents in Vietnam, aircrew lost in the western desert and diggers writing to their sweethearts from the trenches. Many of the stories offer surprising new insights into the many, multifarious ways war affects all members of society. Simply Hell Let Loose does not feature any historical or political analysis but lets the various individuals speak for themselves. They tell of acts of heroism, daring, compassion and endurance and, by their personal nature, bring the experience of war powerfully and unforgettably to life.