This meticulously researched book unearths a 60 year secret. As the Japanese swept south towards Australia in late 1941, they carried with them chemical weapons, already used with deadly effect in China.

Forced to counter the chemical warfare threat, Australia covertly imported about 1,000,000 chemical weapons - including 16 types of mustard gas - and hid them in tunnels and other sites around the country.


This book tells the story of the importation, storage and 'live trials' of the deadly weapons. It reveals details of the chemical warfare agents themselves, Australia's retaliatory plans, the involvement of the USA, the training of the weapon handlers and, finally, the dangerous disposal of the volatile agents.


Most of all, this is the story of the men who lived with the deadly weapons on a daily basis, handling them constantly despite the immense risks and suffering as a consequence. They were the chemical warfare armourers and two died as a result of mustard gas exposure. Almost every armourer suffered physically and often mentally from the effects of the weapons and terrible burden of maintaining secrecy.


This remarkable book contains over 300 photographs - many taken surreptitiously - that illustrate all too starkly the conditions and the danger to which these men were exposed. This is an unprecedented visual history.

Australian War Memorial Book Review

Below is a link to a review by the Australian War Memorial

Australian War Memorial Book Review

Author's web site

To see more articles and reviews for this title and read more about chemical warfare in Australia, please visit the author's own site:

Chemical Warfare in Australia