{"product_id":"2026100011524-secondhand-on-guard-with-the-volunteer-defence-corps","title":"On Guard With The Volunteer Defence Corps","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Good\u003cbr\u003eJacket: Chipped and worn with some minor damage\u003cbr\u003ePages: Yellowed\u003cbr\u003eMarkings: Previous owner\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the threat of Japanese invasion loomed over Australia's shores during the darkest years of the Second World War, a citizen force of remarkable determination rose to meet it — On Guard with the Volunteer Defence Corps chronicles the story of this largely unsung paramilitary organisation, composed predominantly of World War One veterans who answered their nation's call once more, standing ready to defend Australian soil against enemy attack. Published in 1944 for the Volunteer Defence Corps by the Australian War Memorial, this official wartime record documents the formation, organisation, and service of a force that at its peak numbered over 100,000 men, detailing their training, duties, and unwavering commitment across the length and breadth of the continent.\n\nA significant piece of Australian wartime history, this publication stands as both a tribute and a primary source document, capturing the spirit of civilian sacrifice and martial resolve that defined Australia's home defence effort. Its sober, authoritative tone reflects the gravity of the era, preserving for posterity the names, deeds, and legacy of men who guarded against an invasion that never came — yet whose vigilance was no less vital for its absence. For historians, collectors, and those with a personal connection to Australia's wartime generation, this rare volume raises a compelling question: how much of a nation's survival rests upon those who wait, watch, and are never called to fire a shot?\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50572485165275,"sku":"2026100011524-SECONDHAND","price":30.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/a4b14712-c503-4440-a829-6a122cb63570.png?v=1791166623","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026100011524-secondhand-on-guard-with-the-volunteer-defence-corps","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}