1. Ambition
2. Book design
3. Bravery
4. Compassion
5. Danger
6. Death
7. Historical fiction
8. Illness
9. Kindness
10. Letters
11. Photo-realism
12. Soldiers
13. Women
14. WW1

Mark Wilson’s meticulous research is evident in his large collection of picture books about war and the people involved. Featured here is the true story of Rachel Pratt who grew up on the banks of Victoria’s Fitzroy River. Life was not easy for the family, but her mother always observed, ‘Be strong, work hard and everything will turn out fine’.

Mark Wilson’s endpapers offer a kaleidoscope of iconic red poppies, recognised as a symbol of remembrance and hope, including hope for a positive future and peaceful world. The year is 1914 when Rachel and her friend Elsie Hampton join the Australian Army Nursing Service. Working conditions are very poor and dangerous along with understaffing, poor sanitation and lack of food and supplies. Like the soldiers they treated, the nurses suffered dysentery, influenza, typhus, pneumonia and measles. When confronting wounded Turkish soldiers under guard in their ward Rachel and Elsie faced a challenge. Should the enemy’s wounds be treated? Rachel believed ‘These soldiers are no different from our boys — they are mostly young, scared, and with terrible injuries that many will carry for the rest of their lives.’

On 4 July 1917, Rachel is badly wounded when the hospital is bombed. She continued to help the wounded. Shrapnel in Rachel’s lung could not be removed and this affected her breathing for the rest of her life. She was awarded the Military Medal for ‘conspicuous gallantry displayed in the performance of her duties’. This award was first extended to include women in June 1916. Rachel was one of only eight Australian nurses to receive this honour. The Australian Government did not recognise women as veterans. They were denied healthcare and benefits which were available to returning soldiers.

Mark Wilson’s realistic artwork varies in style and technique, but his body of work is recognisably his own. His artwork includes watercolours and pencil sketches, full page detailed landscapes and settings, multiple images per page, and picture inserts into larger artworks, all featuring historical detail. Similar stylistic features appear in Wilson’s collection of books about little-known persons in Australian history. His illustrations bring these people and their times to life and encourage readers to vicariously live through these characters and times.

1. The Book Muse 26 May 2021 review by Ashleigh Meikle of ‘Rachel’s War : the Story of an Australian WW1 Nurse’ https://ashleighmeikle.com.au/2021/05/26/rachels-war-the-story-of-an-australian-ww1-nurse-mark-wilson/
2. Momo celebrating time to read 30 May 2022 review of ‘Rachel’s War : the Story of an Australian WW1 Nurse’ https://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2022/05/rachels-war-by-mark-wilson.html
3. Reading Time 10 Apr 2022 review by Alida Galati of ‘Rachel’s War : the Story of an Australian WW1 Nurse’ https://readingtime.com.au/rachels-war-2/
4. Kids’ Book Review 10 Nov 2021 review by Anastasia Gonis of ‘Rachel’s War : the Story of an Australian WW1 Nurse’ http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2021/11/review-rachels-war.html
5. National Archives of Australia, Australian World War 1 Nurses, resource material including curriculum areas of teaching and historical records https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/war/world-war-i/world-war-i-nurses#:~:text=More%20than%202000%20Australian%20nurses,Service%20during%20World%20War%20I
6. Australian War Memorial ‘Rachael Pratt’ profile and teaching questions relating to Pratt’s wartime experiences https://www.awm.gov.au/sites/default/files/pratt.pdf
7. Mark Wilson’s website https://marklwilson.com.au/about/
8. Language & Literacy Consultant Joanne Rossbridge 18 Apr 2022 ‘Selecting and using picture books for Anzac Day’ https://www.joannerossbridge.com.au/blog/selecting-and-using-picture-books-for-anzac-day
9. Joanne Rossbridge also features a longer bibliography, ‘Picture Books for Anzac Day’ https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/sites/140924/themes/2942946/downloads/wHWgtUoJTXqHTlficTGJ_Picture_books_for_Anzac_Day.pdf