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the Shell Company.
After a few weeks as an assistant to the Military Director of Works, designing new army installations and defence works, I was appointed the Staff Officer for Engineers directly under the Chief Engineer of Eastern Command (Colonel Henry Bachtold).
I still lived at home, which entitled me to a sustenance allowance of three shillings a day, but journeyed to and from the Barracks in uniform by the Manly ferry to Circular Quay and then by tram to Paddington. Often I was working back late at night at my desk, giving evening lectures, or attending night conferences.
I had my lunches in the Staff Corps Mess, where I was made a member, pro tem. One night the Mess organised a reception to Noel Coward, who had arrived in the Australian zone to entertain the armed forces in the various camps and warships. Naturally he was being lionised tremendously. Madge attended this gay function and met him, and I, in my turn, introduced him to a bevy of young socialites, who told me that they were "dying to meet him". On conveying this message to the famous Noel he said that he couldn't possibly be party to such a tragedy, and came to greet them and be introduced by me forthwith.
In March of 1941, I was seconded from The Royal Australian Engineers to command the Ninth Pioneer Training Battalion at the big new Dubbo camp, with promotion to Lt-Colonel. As I was likely to be in the Dubbo Area for a few months, Madge shut up the house at Balgowlah, and Alan and she went to live at "Plevna", to be closer to me. About once a month they, and Madge's mother, motored across to join me, putting up at one of the principal hotels for a long weekend, or a few days. Mrs Gibson particularly enjoyed these visits, and usually I arranged for them to have afternoon teas in our officers' mess, and to be present at any special functions that were held. Our very old friends the George Bassets lived in a fine home on their big farming and grazing property only about three miles farther down the side road past the camp. this was a very happy circumstance, and "Genial" George and his