Thehonest and open memoir of a “Ten Pound Pom” who left post-war Britain to begin a new life in Australia.

After serving as a submarine stoker in World War Two, Sydney Hart decided to leave Britain’s grey skies behind and seek fame and fortune in Australia. Yet when he landed on those sunnier shores, his dreams were quickly scuppered. Widespread strikes meant little work was available, so Hart resolved to take any job he could — even one of the most brutal and dangerous on offer — in an Australian coal mine.

Hart’s memoir offers a unique “Pommie’s-eye view” of post-war migration: the joy of fine weather, open-air sport, fellowship, and even love. But it also shines a humorous light on the challenges: bars that closed too early, the threat of floods, and the constant torment of buzzing insects.

This vivid and entertaining memoir captures both the highs and lows of the migrant experience, bringing to life the story of a Ten Pound Pom.