''To attack and ambush, to snipe and raid is the job of the Australian Guerrilla. By rifle and grenade, by machine-gun and mortar to kill them, harry them, trap them, grant them not one moment''s peace day or night. Break their hearts! Smash their outposts, blow up their tanks, bomb their communications, burn their airfields. To be a hawk by day and a shadow by night, to be a killer by day or night is the sworn job of the Australian Guerrilla on his native soil.''

These Australian guerrilla manuals were written by Ion Idriess at the time of imminent invasion by the Japanese. Following the massive bomb attack on Darwin in early 1942, Idriess wrote six manuals in one year to help aid the local militia, based on his extensive experience in guerrilla tactics in World War 1. As the Japanese continued to raid Sydney Harbour, Newcastle, Broome and Toowoomba, Idriess offered his knowledge on the art of warfare to Australians at home.