Harry Hawkins and Edith May Forshaw - 'All Australians Had Plenty of Money and Gold Teeth: a digger's diary: his daughter's memoirs', collated by Amy Auster and Arron Wood, 2002 - Page 12

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in English that we were not Australians because we did not have gold teeth.  She said that all Australians had plenty of money and gold teeth now that the 2nd Division was there before the 1st so you must blame them for letting that girl tell that tale.  The next weekend McDonald, Burke (now dead) A. Sands, myself and another chap I forget his name went off to Hazelbrook [Hazebrouck] without leave.  We got on alright till 9.20 P.M. Well this town had Marchial Law proclaimed in at by the French and nobody had to be in the streets after 8 P.M.  We did not know this we thought that if we could dodge the Tommy Red caps we were all right this all happened on the 9/4/16 and our Btn was moveing nearer the line in the morning 10/4/16.  We started from the place we were at for home one fell down in the middle of the cobbled road and skinned his nose and he is bleeding like a pig.  We got passed the M.P. Station and turned up a lane and we had a bottle of wine that was given to us and we broke 3 pokket knives trying to open it and then failed then 3 men came them down the lane and I asked them for a corkscrew.  And who should they be but the Mayer [Mayor] of the town and the Town Major and a staff of Red cap Police so they run us in.  But Arthur Sands got away.  And when we got to the station, Burke and McDonald were charged with drunk and A.W.L. the other chap and I was charged with A.W.L. So we we [were] all put into a cell for the night.

Next morning 10/4/16 we were in the office getting our name and Btns taken we seen our Btn march through the town on its way to Authersteen [Outtersteene] about 5 miles behind the lines.  Well it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good the Btn. had to march that 12 miles with full pack.  And us four being Prisoners had nothing but our overcoats to do the Journey with we were under escort and the Cpl in charge was not a bad fellow.  We were sitting on the side of the road when a Australian mounted Police came and asked me where I was going (well me likeing them like poison) I said I dont know then he asked me what Btn I belonged to I told him the 1st then he said where is your kit I said I dont know then he started well you better come with me.  And I told the Cpl that this pretty boy wants me to go with him and then the Cpl and him had a go he took the Cpl name but a wronge one then we left him whistleing Pretty Joey.  When we arrived at the Billet we was brought up before R.S.M. Pegg all he said was did we have a good time so we was handed to the Sgt of the Gaurd and put in the gaurd room then the Adjutant Ltn Edgirly [Edgerley?] came and had a few words and I may say they were sweet one to for he said you men know you are soldiers now and you have committed an awful crime be by being A.W.L. when your unit was to move off he said do you hear those guns and we could to very plainly. Some one said yes you may be taken out there and in the morning shot.  Then down came the orderly Officer Captain McKean and all he said was Sgt. let these men out under open arrest then the fun began for we had to go and find our kit which we done after some trouble. On the morning of 11/4/16 we was before our coy Officer Cpt MacKenzie   Burke and McDonald were remanded to the C.O. (Colonel Heane) they got No. 2 Feild punishment that is 14 days pay stoped never to leave camp do all fatigues and answer the Bugle every ½ hour from 6.30 to 8 a.m and 4.30 to 9.45 P.M. The other chap and I was