Flora's War By Pamela Rushby

 

It's 1915 and sixteen-year-old Australian, Flora Wentworth, is visiting Cairo with her archaeologist father. She watches with growing alarm as first a trickle and then a flood of wounded soldiers are shipped into the city from Gallipoli.
Flora's comfortable life is turned upside down when a hospital visit thrusts her into the realities of World War 1. She is soon transporting injured soldiers and helping out exhausted nurses – managing to fall in love along the way.
As Flora battles to save lives and find her own, a tragic misunderstanding changes everything.

 

I really like reading historical fiction, especially when it is Australian. I love when the author throws the facts in with the fiction so you are not sure what is what. The Gallipoli campaign is such a well know part of Australian history. Rushby tells it so convincingly from a completely different perspective during Flora's War.

After having visited both Cairo and Gallipoli I found it easy to get swept away in the story. Rushby’s descriptions easily tugged on my memories at times and the things I learnt whilst visiting both places.

I loved how Flora and her best friend Gwen thought of themselves as ‘modern’ girls. The introduction to their lifestyle was endearing. Especially nearly 100 years after their ideas were considered modern! It set the story up beautifully though for the sharp contrast of lifestyle once the wounded began to arrive in Cairo.

The journey 16 year old Flora goes on as she witnesses the horror of war could easily have changed her into a entirely different character. I was glad for the changes that Rushby allowed. I was thankful they weren’t overdone. The wounds and injuries were another element of the story that could have been written with more gore for effect. However Rushby wrote just enough to allow the reader to try and imagine the horror and challenges faced.

1915 is hard enough for anyone let alone a teenager to imagine. To be 16, in war time and having to assist as Flora does is almost incomprehensible. Flora’s War gives us a glimpse into life back then. It pays respect to all the doctors, nurses and ordinary people doing extraordinary things for the war efforts. But most of all it gives life to the sacrifices made by so many during the Gallipoli campaign. A terrific read that will make you want to learn more.

Ford Street Publishing
Pamela Rushby
 

I hope you enjoy the photos taken during my travels through Egypt and Turkey. I loved having an excuse to get them out and reminisce.

Turkey 

Anzac Cove

Lone Pine

Trench near 'The Nek'

 

Egypt

Giza

Hieroglyphic Writing carved into stone.

The Valley of the Kings.

Over 60 tombs have been excavated here.