Signed by Author, First Edition. pp. 182 (NO dustjacket) #0320

Bert Vickers was born into an English working-class family, and left school at an early age, later gaining a trade qualification as a fitter and turner. He arrived in Western Australia in 1925, and worked for a number of years as a rural labourer, rouseabout and wool-classer, before turning to poultry farming. During the Second World War, he enlisted and served with the AIF in the Middle East. Following recall to Australia, he was severely injured in an accident, and then spent a lengthy period in Northam Military Hospital, where with the encouragement of Army Education officers, including Alan Marshall (q. v.)