For the first time, this book tells the powerful story of how Australian humanitarians helped the Armenian people during one of the twentieth century's most terrible human calamities. The Armenian Genocide began on 24 April 1915 as the Anzacs were preparing to land on Gallipoli. Australian troops witnessed the Armenians' ordeal, rescuing victims in Palestine and in Mesopotamia, and as Australian civilians learned of the massacres they became involved in alleviating their distress. Stanley Savige, Isobel Hutton, Cecilia John, James Cresswell, Edith Glanville, Jessie Webb, among others, became the first of Australia's humanitarian heroes. Even after the war ended, they tirelessly continued to work for decades supporting survivors and orphans. Until now their stories have lain neglected in the pages of parish newspapers and defunct charities' newsletters. After 1945 many Armenians began to migrate to Australia. And now, with 50,000 Armenian-Australians sharing direct family links with the Genocide, this has truly become an Australian story.

Book jacket.