Don Farrands QC: WW1 – a story to stir your soul
Posted on: Mon 19 Jul 2021
Courage and Compassion… the Somme, Bullecourt, Ypres, Villers-Bretonneux… all words with horrific background that figured prominently in the life of a humble young Art Teacher from Ballarat by the name of Nelson Ferguson who became a stretcher bearer in 15th Field Ambulance AIF. He set sail for the UK in 1915 aboard HMAT A63 Karoola. There are so many levels of lived experiences that Nelson went through, both during the war and in the aftermath. His diary came within a hair’s breadth of being lost forever during a ‘clean-out’ following the death of a family member.
Now Nelson’s grandson Don Farrands shares his grandfather’s experiences with the world in his books The Glass Soldier published in 2017 and the newly released book, Courage and Compassion.
- Nelson’s story was adapted into a play The Glass Soldier by The Melbourne Theatre Company.
- The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra produced a musical tribute CD also called The Glass Soldier, inspired by the life of Nelson Ferguson.We play a selection during this broadcast.
Don Farrands image and bookcover courtesy of Bigsky Publishing
