Come on Australia!

The Great War Service of
Lieutenant Colonel Terence McSharry CMG DSO MC
By Lewis Frederickson and Victor Nurcombe
Published by Big Sky Publishing
RRP $36.99 in Paperback | ISBN 9781923300927

Noted military historian Professor Peter Stanley, in his foreword to the book, pays tribute to the authors Lewis Frederickson and Victor Nurcombe for bringing the story of a key figure in the AIF’s history — Lieutenant Colonel Terence Patrick McSharry CMG DSO MC — to light.

Interestingly, both authors have links to McSharry.

Lewis Frederickson’s grandfather served under McSharry in the 15th Battalion while Victor Nurcombe’s grandfather was wounded in 1918 while serving in the 15th Battalion under McSharry.

LTCOL McSharry was one of the Australian Imperial Force’s most respected battalion commanders. He served both on Gallipoli and the Western Front.

In many ways, he was the embodiment of the classic Anzac—a man whose service, sacrifice, and leadership stand as a shining example of the AIF’s enduring values. He was respected by the men he led.

From the brutal slopes of Gallipoli to the decisive battles of Bullecourt, Passchendaele, and Hamel, McSharry’s wartime experience spanned almost the entire duration of the Great War.

He was among the first Australian officers to receive the Military Cross for gallantry, rising rapidly through the ranks to command the 15th Battalion with distinction.

McSharry embodied values-based leadership at every level of command, from subaltern to lieutenant colonel.

Despite his extraordinary career, his story has never been told—until now. Come on Australia fills that long-standing gap, while also highlighting the broader absence of detailed studies on AIF battalion commanders.

It places McSharry among the finest of his peers, offering a deeply researched and humanising portrait of a man who led by example and died as he lived, attempting to rescue a wounded soldier under fire. He died 6 August 1918, aged 33 years.

VERDICT:

This is an inspiring story of courage and leadership on the battlefields of World War I. It’s a reminder too of the price Australia paid as a nation in the loss of good men who would, in the normal course of a life, have made a significant contribution to our fledgling nation.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Watch this Lewis Frederickson interview on YouTube – link here.