Engaging Account of an Artillery Runner

Sydney Loch was a runner in an artillery brigade, and so was necessarily out on the edges of the action most of the time. Unlike a soldier in the infantry, Sydney Loch's unit and role meant he had few frontline experiences with any close mates, so his account is somewhat detached compared to those of a typical infantry digger. His role, though, meant he had frequent contact with officers, as well as awareness of media reports and information describing the broader theatre. This makes for an interesting, and quite engaging, account of a Gallipoli eyewitness who is able to articulate what he sees in a context that wouldn't normally be available to a soldier on the frontline.

The full presentation of To Hell and Back is somewhat compromised by the inclusion of a biography of Sydney Loch that seems to concentrate excessively on his romantic exploits and is altogether much less interesting than Loch's own writing. The narration, while conveying a broad range of characters quite well, occasionally irritates with too much moisture on the palate.

For Sydney Loch's own account (and with a moisture-less narration), I would have given it 5-stars for its entertaining and engaging narrative. Despite not being a "typical digger's story", it is none-the-less still a worthwhile account of Gallipoli and one worth listening to.

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