Join Former LTCOL Christopher Holcroft OAM RFD JP (Ret’d) as he discusses the story of Australia’s war correspondents from the days of the NSW colony to the present.

Being a War Correspondent is often considered to be one of the most dangerous jobs in journalism. Some work for private news agencies while others also work for the military. They work on or close to the front lines reporting back on what they witness. As the motto of the Australian War Correspondents and Military Public Affairs Association says:

‘We go, so you know’.

This talk covers Christopher's experiences as a war correspondent and includes a history of Australia's most famous war correspondents and artists who brought news of our troops home to the nation. These include Australia's first official War Correspondent, Charles Bean, William Lambie, Damien Parer, and Neil Davis. It also covers the formation of various agencies specialising in war journalism and public relations which have assisted the Australian Defence Force to capture our Troops in action from the Boer War to Afghanistan.

Christopher served in the Australian Army Reserve for more than 43 years and later in the Australian Cadet Forces for another five years. While working for the Australian Defence Force he was deployed to East Timor with the United Nations, Iraq and the wider Middle East.

While working in Military Public Affairs, Christopher served in most major Australian military headquarters including Headquarters Australian Theatre (now Joint Operations Command), Headquarters Land Command, Headquarters Forces Command, Maritime Headquarters, Air Force Headquarters and Headquarters Second Division. He has written and published six books, three for Young Adults, three for Adults with one unpublished in the editing process. Christopher received the Medal to the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2023 Australia Day Honours and Awards for his services to Youth and the Community.

IMAGE: War correspondent Captain Charles E W Bean watching the Australian advance through a telescope near Martinpuich, France in 1917.

(Herbert Baldwin: E00246: AWM)