My story “Percy’s War” has just been released in the new issue of Review of Australian Fiction. When I say it’s my story, that’s not exactly true. “Percy’s War” is the story of my great-grandfather, Percy Altschwager, who served in World War I in the Middle East.
Percy, complete with slouch hat and Light Horse uniform
Not only did he serve in the Light Horse (in a machine gun crew), he was also one of the first people to own a car in his district (he won a lottery for a Model T Ford with two mates, was the only one who knew how to drive). Percy also went out and worked on the Overland telegraph line, back when one wire connected Australia to the rest of the world.
There’s no doubt that Percy was an interesting fellow, but by all accounts he didn’t talk about the war much. After poring through his war records and that of his brother Bernie (who saw a lot of action throughout France and I believe Gallipoli?) I have blended reality with my own unique brand of fantasy. He wasn’t on deployment for very long by the time the Armistice was signed, but that’s not to say he didn’t face a unique war of his own…
Just to add to the mix, you also get a story from J.J. Irwin, “Afterparty”. Irwin tackles urban fantasy like nobody’s business, and this offering is second-to-none. J.J. Irwin is a fellow Clarion South survivor, ink-scribe of the highest order, and if nothing else you should be buying this issue to read her work.
Volume 12 Issue 2 of the Review of Australian Fiction can be found at the following link: http://reviewofaustralianfiction.com/issues/volume-12-issue-2/
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