Chapter I

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FROM THE AUSTRALIAN FRONT

Drawn by Will Dyson.]

FROM THE AUSTRALIAN FRONT

The Net Profits from Sales will be devoted to Australian Soldiers' Patriotic Fund

Cassell and Company, Ltd London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne 1917

_The Photographs in this book are reproduced from Australian and British official negatives taken by the following official photographers--Capt. F. Hurley, Lieut. E. Brooks, Lieut. H. F. Baldwin, and Lieut. G. H. Wilkins, A.F.C._

INTRODUCTION

At Christmas, two years ago, as a result of the hard work of its Editors and other members of the A.I.F., we were presented with an excellent production in the form of the "Anzac Book." That was our second Christmas at war. We are now approaching our fourth, and let us hope it may be the last one during which we shall find ourselves fighting. Our kind friends have again come forward and presented us with a book, not quite so ambitious as the "Anzac Book" was, but one which we hope will convey to those whom we left behind in Australia, and who we know are thinking of us, some idea of our surroundings on the battle fronts of the Australians; and which carries with it our whole-hearted hopes and good wishes for those at home.

With it, I feel I have the privilege of sending my most grateful thanks to all for their past work, and my best of good wishes to every member of the A.I.F. for the future.

FRANCE,
_28th September, 1917_.

The Jock: "Weel, Anzac, and what are ye going to do when the war's ower?"

Frozen Bill: "Me? I'm goin' to the centre of Australia for two bloomin' years to thaw out."]

It was across exactly such a spot, but wider, that the Australians charged when first they entered heavy fighting in France before Fromelles, on July 19, 1916.]

Just after midnight on July 23, 1916, those Australians who had been brought South and put into the Great Battle of the Somme, attacked and took this village. A few walls and rafters were then remaining.]

A reinforced concrete entrance to a cellar and German dug-out. The surrounding house had long been blown away.]

Captured on August 4 after two heavy fights.]

They were blotted out here by bombardment.]

Looking towards Pozières, which is about a mile away beyond the crest.]

Brother Dost Thou See Them

A Soldier of the Cross (Iron)

Come Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs

He Liveth Long Who Liveth Well (The Battalion Q.M.S.)

Throw Out the Life-line

One There Is Who Loves Thee

Knocking Knocking Who Is There

Where Is My Boy Tonight.

What Means This Eager Anxious Throng (The Rum Ration)

W L King
60{th} Batt
A I F

Hymn Titles Adapted.]

The Padre: "Are you an R.C., my lad?"

The Hard Case: "No, I'm a machine-gunner."]

Anzac: "Well, to tell you the truth, digger, we've cut it right out."]

"What does that noise remind you of?"

"'Ome on a Saturday night."]

The two splendid men who are serving in this picture were both killed when the Town Hall at Bapaume was blown down by a delayed German mine.]

"Well, thank God, at least there are no flies!"]

1st Anzac: "Blime, digger, we're stiff. Beer's all froze."

2nd Ditto: "Wonder if they'll sell it by the block."]

John P. Davis

A.I.F

(53{rd} Bn.)]

The Duckboards.]

The Butte; When we were able to look back on it.]

The latter part of the winter was very bitter, with six weeks' continuous frost, but immensely preferable to the mud of the earlier months.]

On February 24, 1917, the Germans were found to be evacuating their lines on the Somme. This photograph shows men getting coal from the old German railway dump, which all the Winter had been in No-Man's-Land before Le Sars. The Butte of Warlencourt appears in the background.]

It had been blown up and burnt by the Germans.]

A mine with delayed fuse was under the building at the time this photograph was taken. It blew up a few days later.]

Most of the trees throughout this country were cut down by the Germans before leaving.]

Even in the best trenches the mud was a problem.]

The Boy: "Hello, Bully Beef!"]

"I was eatin' Christmas puddin' in the mud,
When a whizzbang 'it me collar wiv a thud,
An' I honestly expected that me bits 'ud be collected,
But my luck was in--the beggar was a dud."]

Showing bits of the old "camouflage" for screening it on top, and the sockets for machine-gun ammunition let into the rear face of it.]

"Yesterday two of our pigeons failed to return."]

Billjim: "'Ow do yer git into the bloomin' bath, digger?"

Orderly (thoughtfully): "Do yer see that tap? Well, crawl up through it."]

1. Fritz: "Vill ve not another strategic retreat make when I haf nice fixed up my dug-out?"

2. Christmas Cheer--A Dud.

3. Après la Guerre--Another Dud.]

Wounded waiting to be taken to the dressing-station.]

THE GIRL HE LEFT BEHIND.

(With apologies to Capt. Bruce Bairnsfather.)

Drawn by Will Dyson.]

The dug-out was some feet below the surface of the ground and the concrete roof and wall were over 2 feet thick.]

Note the great thickness of concrete above the entrance.]

PRINTED BY CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED, LA BELLE SAUVAGE, LONDON, E.C.4 F. 1000. 1117

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