In 1942, during Australia's darkest hour, Idriess was commissioned to write a series of military civilian instruction booklets. The information for the booklets was gained from his WW1 sniper experience and Australian Army doctrine - collectively the books were known as the Guerrila Series.

This is book one in the Idriess Guerrila Series, written in 1942 with the threat of Japanese invasion, this particular book provides farmers and civilians the basis of good shooting methods and guerrilla tactics.