Ian Howie-Willis
Ian Howie-Willis is an independent professional historian based in Canberra, Australia. He is the author of 24 books.
Ian’s latest book has the title From Shell-Shock to PTSD: The Hidden Cost of War for Australian Soldiers (Big Sky Publishing, Newport [New South Wales]; release date September 2026).
From Shell-Shock to PTSD: The Hidden Cost of War for Australian Soldiers
The book cover shows a wounded soldier at an Australian first aid post near Ypres, Belgium, September 1917. The unknown soldier has the vacant look, colloquially called the ‘thousand-yard stare’, that was a common symptom of shell-shock.
From Gallipoli to the 21st century, Australian soldiers have often returned home from overseas deployments carrying invisible wounds. What was called ‘shell-shock’ and ‘war neurosis’ in World War I (1914‒1918) is now recognised as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many of the soldiers suffering PTSD were afflicted with a long-term disabling mental illness that blighted their lives. The ‘ripple’ effect washed over their families and friends as well.
Read more about From Shell-Shock to PTSD: The Hidden Cost of War for Australian Soldiers and Ian’s other books on the Books page.
Ian Howie-Willis 