Lasseter's Last Ride

Idriess has pieced together the story of Lassiter's Expedition to rediscover his gold reef near the remote Central / Western Australian border.
Lassiter originally discovered the reef, while prospecting for rubies, but was lost in the desert soon after, and was close to perishing when a camel driver rescued him. Three years later, after returning to health, he an a surveyor named Harding relocated the reef, but on returning to civilisation were astounded to discover their watches were over an hour out - meaning all the bearings they took were also incorrect.
Western Australia was in the middle of a gold rush, and gold was literally being found all around, so investors had little appetite for an expedition to far off and isolated land.
This book explains what happened after Lasseter talked John Bailey into raising capital for a 1931 expedition, some thirty years after Lasseter first discovered the reef. The most well equipped expedition Australia had seen, with an aeroplane for scouting, a six wheeled trackless Thorncroft truck for desert travel, as well as personnel selected for their skillset and ability.
They also had native assistance in trackers and men able to communicate with the aboriginals in the remote areas, less used to the white man.

The above is a summary of the first two chapters, and doesn't even begin to tell the story.
Overall it is a simple enough read - it cleverly doesn't overdo the description of locations (as for 99% of the time they are not relevant tot he reader) and the language is simple. It isn't overly emotional, and doesn't over dramatise the situations, and has an element of humour at appropriate times.

Aboriginal guide Micky on seeing the Thornycroft vehicle: P13
“All a same plury sentrypede”, he mused, adding “legs belonga him go round. Him make noise all a same mad bull camel. Him drink water all same too,” he declared, as he watched them pouring in the petrol. “Him thirsty cow!”Taylor blew a blast on the horn and Micky jumped three feet, to join shakily in the laughter while staring askance at the truck.“What are you looking for now Micky?” asked Blakely.“Him got wild horse longa belly?” inquired Micky. “Brumby horse sing out all a same longa that one!”

4 stars