Our father never talked to us, his daughters about his experiences, during his time at war as a Signalman during the siege of Tobruk and the historic battle of El Alamein. Like many Australians, Cecil wrote diaries, based on his thoughts and experiences.
Our father’s diaries meticulously kept, carefully guarded and kept safe from the censor’s eyes, dating from 1941 to 1943, are written with humour and candidness and at times like poetry, a window looking into his past, revealing his courage and convictions, during a gruelling period in his life as a soldier.
It has been a long journey for us both, enjoying the experience immensely with mixed emotions, putting together and editing our father’s diaries, into two books, titled “Such is War” Diaries of a Signalman. Our passion to tell his story has finally been realised, not only for our families but also for the wider community.
Our father Cecil Anderson would never have imagined at the time, writing his diaries that one day his story would unfold, escaping from the desert sands, for us a story worth telling.
Books by Joscelyn Lobegeiger and Jeanie Cox
