Digger the Dog Who Went to War

digger the dog who went to war

Mark Wilson, Digger the Dog Who Went to War,  Lothian Children’s/Hachette, 10 March 2015,  32pp.,  $24.95 (hbk),  ISBN: 9780734415745

Mark Wilson has created a series of war stories, including My Mother’s Eyes and Angels of Kokoda. This one is as successful as previous stories. This time Wilson has been inspired by the true story of Driver, a puppy smuggled on an Australian troop ship during World War One.

Matthew names the adventurous new pup Digger and they become constant companions around the farm. Matthew goes away for a few months and then in October 1916, the family visit Matthew accompanied by Digger. Matthew, now a young solider, is about to board a ship, smuggling Digger aboard as he leaves.

The reader then accompanies Matthew on his overseas journey: shipboard life, arrival and then training in England, before the transfer to the Western Front in 1917, to Messines and other famous battle locations. Matthew is a stretcher-bearer and is always accompanied by Digger. It is Digger who notices that Matthew has left on his latest sortie without his gas mask and takes it to him.

Matthew’s focus in that battle is saving Digger from the all-pervading gas before succumbing to the deadly attack. Digger returns to Australia, again illegally, with members of the battalion and returns to the farm.

Wilson has created a moving tribute to the millions of men who lost their lives during World War One. The stunning illustrations are the strong point, complementing and expanding the verbal text.  Colour is used to imply mood and the threats of battle, while sunrise/sunset shows hope and the future. Mixed media, in the form of hand-written letters and newspaper cuttings, give the reader a different perspective on the narrative.  One small criticism is that the portrayal of Matthew at the beginning of the story gave me the impression that he was much younger than his stated age of 16 and I had to go back to check my reactions.

With themes of courage, mateship, duty and the horrors of war, this excellent book adds another layer to the visual portrayals of World War One. It requires repeated readings and will be an excellent addition to all libraries: primary and secondary school as well as public. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Maureen Mann

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