DVA Tell Your Story: Hallett Shueard – Gallipoli, Legacy & The Stories We Must Not Forget

Episode Overview

In this episode of Tell Your Story, we sit down with Hallett Shueard to explore lived experiences connected to intergenerational service, historical truth, legacy, and the enduring psychological impact of war.

Hallett’s family story is deeply woven into Australia’s military history. His grandfather landed at Gallipoli on the first day as a medic. His father served as a flying officer in the Second World War. For decades, many of these stories remained largely unspoken — until Hallett began researching letters, photographs, and firsthand accounts that revealed both courage and confronting truths.

This conversation touches on Gallipoli, leadership and command decisions, propaganda versus lived experience, the psychological cost of war, and the responsibility of storytelling. It offers insight for veterans, families, and communities seeking to understand not just the events of war — but their human and generational consequences.

Listen to the conversation

About the organisation or association

Hallett’s work intersects with several veteran and legacy-focused organisations, including:

• RSL

• TPI Associations

• Legacy

• Local veteran and community history groups

  
  

Through his writing, research, and public presentations, Hallett works alongside veteran communities to preserve lived experience, promote honest historical understanding, and support causes connected to veteran wellbeing.

In this episode, the conversation provides insight into:

• The importance of recording family military histories

• The role of veteran organisations in preserving memory and connection

• The psychological impact of war across generations

• How historical truth-telling can support contemporary reflection and healing

  
  

Hallett is currently preparing multiple books for publication, with a portion of proceeds intended to support veteran-related causes.

Key links & resources

📘 Upcoming Book Launch – Details to be announced

📄 Speaking engagements & community presentations – Contact via Different Conversations

Key themes discussed

• Intergenerational military legacy

• Gallipoli and the lived reality of frontline service

• Leadership failures and the cost of command decisions

• The 12-hour truce and the humanity between former enemies

• Wartime propaganda and censorship

• Psychological trauma and its long-term impact

• Vietnam veteran recognition and delayed understanding

• The responsibility of storytelling and remembrance

Key takeaways

Key reflections and insights from this conversation include:

• Many veterans from earlier conflicts rarely spoke about what they experienced — silence was often part of survival.

• The Gallipoli campaign shaped Australian identity while also forging an unexpected bond with Turkey.

• Leadership decisions in wartime carry profound human consequences for those on the ground.

• Wartime propaganda can distort public understanding of what soldiers are truly experiencing.

• The psychological impact of war can extend well beyond the battlefield and across generations.

• Researching family history can uncover powerful and confronting truths.

• Veterans from conflicts such as Vietnam have historically faced delayed recognition and understanding.

• Honest storytelling is essential if we are to learn from history.

• Legacy carries both pride and responsibility.

Selected sound bites

Moments from the conversation that capture key themes and reflections:

“You’d never forget it.”

“The war to end all wars.”

“The one thing we learn from history is that we never learn from history.”

Episode chapters

This episode covers the following topics:

• 00:00 Introduction and family military legacy

• 02:30 Researching Gallipoli and uncovering hidden history

• 06:00 Leadership, command failures, and the human cost of war

• 10:00 The 12-hour truce and unexpected humanity

• 13:30 Propaganda, censorship, and the shaping of public memory

• 16:00 Psychological trauma and generational impact

• 18:30 Writing, publishing, and supporting veteran causes

About the Tell Your Story project

Tell Your Story is a Department of Veterans’ Affairs supported storytelling project amplifying lived experience across the veteran community through respectful, recorded conversations.

If this conversation raises difficult topics, support is available through services such as Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (1800 011 046).