Crossing the Lines: The story of three homosexual New Zealand soldiers in WWII

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Crossing the Lines: The story of three homosexual New Zealand soldiers in WWII
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Brent Coutts
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:336
Dimensions(mm): Height 240,Width 170
Category/GenreOckham Longlist Titles
General Non-Fiction Award
Second world war
ISBN/Barcode 9781988592381
ClassificationsDewey:940.53086640993
Audience
General
Illustrations Yes

Publishing Details

Publisher Otago University Press
Imprint Otago University Press
Publication Date 3 August 2020
Publication Country New Zealand

Description

In Crossing the Lines, Brent Coutts brings to light the previously untold history of New Zealand homosexual soldiers in World War II, drawing on the experiences of ordinary men who lived through extraordinary times. At the centre of the story are New Zealand soldiers Harold Robinson, Ralph Dyer and Douglas Morison, who shared a queer identity and love of performance. Through their roles as female impersonators in Kiwi concert parties in the Pacific and Egypt they found a place to live as gay men within the military forces, boosting the morale of personnel in the Pacific Campaign and, along the way, falling in love with some of the men they met. Crossing the Lines is a richly illustrated account that follows the men from their formative pre-war lives, through the difficult wartime years to their experiences living in a postwar London where they embraced the many new possibilities available. It is a story of strong friendships, the search for love and belonging as homosexuals within the military and civilian worlds, and the creation of the foundation of the queer community today.

Author Biography

Brent Coutts is a University of Otago graduate living in Auckland. He is the author of Protest in New Zealand (2013), Re-Reading the Rainbow (2017) and Pacific History (2018), which focus on themes of social justice, identity and decolonisation. In 2009 he was awarded the Royal Society Teaching Fellowship from the Royal Society Te Aparangi, which allowed him to begin research into New Zealand soldiers' experiences during World War II.