In response, his father breaks his promise to his deceased wife and signs up too. It is this type of pressure, and a feeling of importance and urgency, that convinces Frank to lie about his age and sign up for The Australian Light Horse Brigade. On page 18, Frank’s father receives a package containing a white feather, a symbol of cowardice. To avoid war was seen as an act of cowardice, and often comments and insults were made to those men who did not sign up. Frank’s father, a water diviner, is against going to war because of a promise he made to his late wife, Frank’s mother. In many communities there was pressure on men and boys to sign up and fight for their country.

In 1914, the year the book is set, Australia still hadn’t introduced conscription to go to war you had to volunteer and be at least 16 years of age. Loyal Creatures is a World War I story that centres on Frank, a 15-year-old boy from country New South Wales, and his horse named Daisy. You may decide to share this with your students or you may prefer students discover the twists and turns as the story unfolds. The following introduction is for the teacher.

The book contains descriptions of war and the teacher should decide about the use of this book in relation to the students in the class. Note: Before beginning, teachers are reminded to read Loyal Creatures.

Loyal creatures by morris gleitzman