In Black and White

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT: When a doctor was put in charge of Melbourne’s first lunatic asylum, it should have heralded an era of better treatment for inmates. Instead, the gruesome reign of Robert Bowie was plagued by allegations of bodies hanging from trees, patients restrained in body bags, and brains left in a cup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before he would become an iconic US President, John F Kennedy was a US Navy officer in the WW2 Pacific.And when his PT boat is sunk by the Japanese, it was an Australian coastwatcher and his Solomon Islander allies who came to his rescue. Author  Michael Veitch joins the show again to tell the story. Read more about Michael's book at: https://www.hachette.com.au/michael-veitch/Like the show? Get more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coastwatchers of World War 2 were civilians who weren’t paid and received no military training. But when Japan invaded Papua New Guinea, they were called into service to spy on the enemy. And one of their number, in partnership with a wealthy widow, managed to pull off one of the biggest and most daring rescues in Australian military history. Author  Michael Veitch  tells their extraordinary story.Read more about Michael's book at: https://www.hachette.com.au/michael-veitch/Like the show? Get more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was designed to be an unsinkable ship. But just like the Titanic, disaster struck the Dunbar just as it neared home, and it was the passengers who paid the price. Author Larry Writer joins the show to outline one of Australia's worst maritime tragedies, and the remarkable story of its sole survivor. More information about Larry's book: https://www.qbd.com.au/the-shipwreck/larry-writer/9781760879105/Clarification: early versions of this episode state the death toll as 122, the correct figure is 121See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. This week we tell the story of an Australian PoW in World War 2, who was damned for helping his Japanese captors but hailed for helping send war criminals to the gallows. Author Tom Gilling tells the story. More about Tom’s book at:https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Tom-Gilling-Witness-9781760879273 If you or anyone you know needs help Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The outback Queensland town of Cunnamulla feared famine when floodwaters cut it off from the world.But a young Afghan entrepreneur named Abdul Wade and his unusual herd stepped in to save the day.Author Ryan Butta tells the story.More information about the book: https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/the-ballad-of-abdul-wade/Like the show? Get features, background and more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historian Mat McLachlan joins the show again to tell the rest of the tale of Hajime Toyoshima, the Japanese fighter ace, who found himself a prisoner of war and the main instigator of the only battle of the second world war to take place on Australian soil.Get Mat's book: https://www.hachette.com.au/mat-mclachlan/the-cowra-breakoutLike the show, get features, backgrounds and more at: https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hajime Toyoshima was a crack fighter pilot who flew his Zero in the attack on Pearl Harbor. But it was an Australian machinegun that saw him tumbling out of the sky and into the history books. Historian Mat McLachlan joins the show to start the story.Get Mat's book: https://www.hachette.com.au/mat-mclachlan/the-cowra-breakoutLike the show, get features, backgrounds and more at: https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19-year-old Gary McKay was determined to avoid being sent to Vietnam, so he enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces for six years instead. But as fate would have it, Gary wound up in Vietnam anyway and earned a Military Cross for extraordinary bravery under fire. He tells his amazing story. Learn more about Gary's book at:https://livinghistorytv.com and http://garymckay.com.au/Like the show? Go to https://heraldsun.ccom.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1943, as war raged in Europe, the larger-than-life British PM had one thing on his mind: how to import a marsupial to keep as a pet. Journalist and author Alistair Paton joins the show to tell that tale - and many more. Get the book at: https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/marsupials-and-menLike the show? Read more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.