Australia in Arms —— A Narrative of the Australasian Imperial, Force and Their Achievement at Anzac

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ISBN: 9781331177531 出版年：2016 页码：397 Phillip F E Schuler Forgotten Books

One hot, bright morning early in the Dardanelles campaign, so the story goes, Lieut.-General Sir William Birdwood was walking up one of the worn tracks of Anzac that led over the hills into the firing-line when he stopped, as he very often did on these daily tours of the line, to talk with two men who were cooking over a fireplace made of shell cases. General Birdwood wore no jacket, therefore he had no badges of rank. His cap even lacked gold lace. Under his arm he had tucked a periscope. But the Australian addressed did not even boast of a shirt. Stripped to the waist, he was as fine a type of manhood as you might wish to see. He was burned a deep brown; his uniform consisted of a cap, shorts, and a pair of boots. His mate was similarly clad.Got something good there? remarked the General as he stopped near the steaming pot of bully-beef stew.Ye-es, replied the Australian, it's all right. Wish we had a few more spuds, though. Conversation then branched off into matters relating to the firing-line, till at last General Birdwood signified his intention of going, bidding the soldier a cheery Good-day, which was acknowledged by an inclination of the head. The General walked up the path to his firing-line, and the Australian turned to his mate, who had been very silent, but who now began to swear softly under his breath -You - fool! Do you know who you were talking to?No!Well, that was General Birdwood, that was, yer coot!How was I to know that? Anyway, he seemed to know me all right.