# Peter Williams — Australian military historian

> Official website of Dr Peter Damian Williams, an Australian military historian and author based in Canberra. His work covers the Pacific War, Kokoda, Gallipoli and oral-history interviews with Japanese Second World War veterans.

Peter Williams, Peter Damian Williams and Dr Peter Williams refer to the same Australian author on this site: born in Hobart in 1957, now based in Canberra. He holds a PhD from Charles Darwin University for research on the Kokoda campaign. His publishers include Osprey Publishing, Cambridge University Press, Pen & Sword, Wiley, Australian Military History Publications and Kitap Yayınevi.

## About and enquiries

- [Home](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/): introduction and selected work.
- [Biography and timeline](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/about): education, fieldwork, publications and conference appearances.
- [Writing, research, speaking and consulting](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/about#services): scope of work and enquiries.
- [Media and speaker information](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/press): biography, speaking subjects and publisher links.
- [Contact Peter](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/about#contact): email and enquiry details.
- Email: peterdamianwilliams@icloud.com

## Consulting, writing, speaking and battlefield guiding

Based in Canberra, Peter welcomes enquiries from across Australia and overseas by arrangement. His subjects include the Second World War in the Pacific, the Kokoda and Papua campaigns of 1942–43, Gallipoli in 1915 and Japanese veteran interviews.

- [Military history writing and co-authorship](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/about#writing): Military history writing, ghostwriting and co-authorship on the Second World War, the Pacific War, Kokoda and Gallipoli. Enquiries welcome for articles, commissioned reports and book projects. [Published books, articles and commissioned reports](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books).
- [Military history research](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/about#research): Archival research, oral history and battlefield research for authors, documentary producers, museums and study groups. Particular interests include Japanese sources, veteran interviews and the Australian and Japanese experiences of the Pacific War. [Japanese veteran interviews and research](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/talks/japanese-veterans-1945).
- [Military history speaker for conferences and events](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/about#speaking): Conference presentations, author talks, commemorative addresses and talks for history groups or cruise programmes. Subjects include Kokoda, Gallipoli, the Pacific War and Japanese veterans’ accounts, with the scope agreed for each audience. [Melbourne conference talk, 11 October 2025](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/talks/japanese-veterans-1945).
- [Military history consulting](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/about#consulting): Historical advice, manuscript review and fact-checking for writers, broadcasters, museums and government projects. Peter’s experience includes research for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and consulting for the Department of Defence and military museums. [Professional background at Kokoda Historical](https://kokodahistorical.com.au/about/meet-the-team).
- [Kokoda and Papua New Guinea battlefield tour guiding](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/about#battlefield-guiding): Battlefield tour guiding and historical briefings on Kokoda and Papua New Guinea’s Second World War battlefields. Enquiries from tour organisers and study groups are welcome; routes, dates and Peter’s role are agreed for each engagement. [Peter is listed as the historian for Kokoda Historical’s non-trekking tour](https://kokodahistorical.com.au/tours/kokoda-no-trekking).

Enquiries: include the subject, intended audience or publication, location and proposed dates. Availability and scope are agreed directly with Peter.

## Subjects and related work

- [Kokoda and Papua, 1942–43](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books/kokoda-1942-43): Kokoda, Milne Bay and Buna–Gona; see also [The Kokoda Campaign 1942: Myth and Reality](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books/kokoda-campaign-1942).
- [Gallipoli and Anzac Ridge, 1915](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books#battle-of-anzac-ridge): Australian, New Zealand and Ottoman perspectives; a [Turkish translation](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books#canakkale-savasi) is also listed.
- [Japanese veterans and the Pacific War](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books/japans-pacific-war): oral-history interviews, published accounts and [conference research](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/talks/japanese-veterans-1945).
- [Australians in Britain during WWII](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books#australians-uk-wwii): a publication for the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

## Selected books

- [Kokoda 1942–43: Japanese Defeat in Papua](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books/kokoda-1942-43): Osprey Publishing, 2026; English. ISBN 9781472869807. The fighting at Kokoda, Milne Bay and Buna–Gona, examining Japanese, Australian and American operations in Papua in 1942–43. [Osprey Publishing](https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/kokoda-194243-9781472869807/).
- [Japan's Pacific War: Personal Accounts of the Emperor's Warriors](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books/japans-pacific-war): Pen and Sword, 2021; English. ISBN 9781682477373. First-person accounts of the Pacific War from Imperial Japanese Army and Navy veterans, collected in Japan by Peter Williams. [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/p/books/japan-s-pacific-war-personal-accounts-of-the-emperor-s-warriors-peter-williams/16543015?ean=9781682477373).
- [Australians in World War II: United Kingdom](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books#australians-uk-wwii): Department of Veterans' Affairs, 2015; English. ISBN 9780992583972. Australians who served in Britain or operated from its ports and airfields during the Second World War, from the Blitz and the Battle of the Atlantic to D-Day and repatriation. [Read free at DVA](https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/resources/united-kingdom).
- [The Kokoda Campaign 1942: Myth and Reality](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books/kokoda-campaign-1942): Cambridge University Press, 2012; English. ISBN 9781107015944. A re-examination of the 1942 Kokoda Campaign based on Japanese and Australian archival sources. [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-kokoda-campaign-1942-myth-and-reality-peter-williams/988064?ean=9781107015944).
- [Kokoda for Dummies](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books#kokoda-for-dummies): Wiley and Sons, 2012; English. A general-reader introduction to the Kokoda campaign. [Australian War Memorial](https://shop.awm.gov.au/products/kokoda-for-dummies).
- [Çanakkale Savaşı Kanlısırt Muharebesi, 25 Nisan 1915](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books#canakkale-savasi): Kitap Yayınevi, İstanbul, 2009; Turkish. Turkish-language study of the Battle of Anzac Ridge (Kanlısırt) on 25 April 1915, from the Ottoman perspective. Translation of The Battle of Anzac Ridge (AMHP, 2007). [Alkapida](https://www.alkapida.com/tr-nl/p/canakkale-savasi-peter-williams/1480022).
- [The Battle of Anzac Ridge: 25 April 1915](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books#battle-of-anzac-ridge): Australian Military History Publications, 2007; English. Peter's first book. A close-grain study of the 25 April 1915 Anzac landing and the fighting on Anzac Ridge from both the Australian/New Zealand and Ottoman sides, drawing on Turkish primary sources. [Regimental Books](https://regimental-books.com.au/product/the-battle-of-anzac-ridge-25th-april-1915/).

## Japanese veteran interviews and the Melbourne conference

- [What did Japanese veterans think about WWII?](https://www.kokodawalkway.com.au/education-centre/military-history-presentations/): 11 April 2026, Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, Beyond the Battlefield series. The organiser’s page lists the presentation and its recording.
- [1945 – the Viewpoint of Japanese Veterans](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/talks/japanese-veterans-1945): 11 October 2025, Caulfield RSL, Elsternwick, Melbourne. Part of “Fighting to the Finish: Australia in 1945 – Strategy, Victory and Legacy”, organised by Military History & Heritage Victoria. Peter Williams draws on interviews with Japanese veterans to examine how servicemen experienced the end of the Pacific War, surrender and captivity.
- [Conference recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b82rLe4yXc)
- [Official programme](https://www.mhhv.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Fighting-to-the-Finish-Program-Final.pdf): confirms the date, venue and session, and describes Peter’s interviews with 100 Japanese Second World War veterans.
- [Presentation slides](https://www.mhhv.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Peter-Williams-1945-The-Viewpoint-of-Japanese-Veterans-4.pdf)
- [Organiser’s report](https://www.mhhv.org.au/fighting-to-the-finish-australia-in-1945-strategy-victory-and-legacy/)
- [Peter Williams: The Pacific War](https://vimeo.com/1077411157): Lecture, 2025.
- [Interviewing Japanese Veterans](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rTH767nThc): WW2TV, 2024.
- [Australia's Thermopylae: Were the Australians Really Outnumbered?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJdFKjsiRdU): WW2TV, 2024.

## Articles, chapters and reports

Full publication list: https://www.peterdwilliams.com/books
- Against Overwhelming Odds? On the Kokoda Trail: in Kokoda: Beyond the Legend, Cambridge University Press, 2017 (chapter).
- Kokoda: The Second World War Campaign in Papua New Guinea: Department of Veterans' Affairs, 2011 (report).
- Australia's Involvement in the Korean War: Department of Veterans' Affairs, 2011 (report).
- The Kokoda Track: Site of the Battle in WWII: Department of Veterans' Affairs, 2010 (report).
- An Imperial Japanese Navy Pilot in New Guinea: Headmark Journal, 2007 (article).
- Zero Hours: Australian Warship, 2007 (article).
- [The Japanese 18th Army in New Guinea](https://www.awm.gov.au/wartime/36): Wartime Magazine, Issue 36, 2006 (article).
- [The Ottoman Artillery Bombardment at Gallipoli](https://www.awm.gov.au/wartime/34): Wartime Magazine, Issue 34, 2005 (article).
- A Ridge Too Far: Sydney Morning Herald, Gallipoli supplement, 2004 (article).

## External author reference

- [Pen & Sword author biography](https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Dr-Peter-Williams/a/4108)
- [Osprey author biography](https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/author/peter-williams-57334/)
- [U.S. Naval Institute author biography](https://www.usni.org/people/peter-williams)
- [Kokoda Historical team profile](https://kokodahistorical.com.au/about/meet-the-team)

## Site feeds

- [Sitemap](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/sitemap-index.xml)
- [Publications RSS](https://www.peterdwilliams.com/rss.xml)