New Zealand's inclusion is perfunctory; 99.9% of the book is about Australia. To that extent, the use of the word ''Anzac'' in the title is misleading. For example, there is no reference to the Italian campaign of 1943-45, in which Kiwis featured prominently but in which Australians did not serve.
Campaigns in which they both served are entirely devoted to Australian experiences. In all the lavish display of wartime photos, there are none devoted to New Zealanders.
In the foreword by Paul Keating, former prime minister of Australia, the name of New Zealand does not appear, although he praises the ''Anzac spirit''.
A small section on the Maori Wars refers to the minuscule contribution of a few dozen Australians, but ignores any contribution New Zealanders may have made to their own war.
One, and as far as I can see only one, New Zealander is referred to in the text, Corporal Willie Apiata. There are lists of Australian and New Zealand VC winners (91 and 21, respectively) with detailed accounts of how many of the Australians won theirs,
but none on how the New Zealanders did; not even double-VC winner Charles Upham. This is a superbly presented book, but a more honest title would have been ''A Century of Australia at War''.
- Oliver Riddell is a retired journalist living in Wellington.
