It appears that comment may not be true, for example, newspaper reports at the time don't support one of Colebatch's key claims about POWs being stranded because of industrial action by the wharfies.
Recollections of rumours doesn't make it true, shockingly or not.
And despite what Colebatch tries to convey, the military didn't just consist of right wingers.
A history book it is not, a propaganda book which includes a collection of yarns would be a more accurate description.
