Item 01: Eric Susman war diary, 1 January 1915-4 April 1916 - Page 180
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 180]
Australia's Army
Oh! a soldier's life is free from care,
He revels in cake and ginger beer;
For the law makes us all teetotallers here,
And a soldier mustn't get balmy.
We're not very clean, I own; but then
A wash isn't very easy when
There are only three taps to a thousand men.
It's a way we've got in the Army.
We get as you know the princely pay
Of five bright shillings for every day;
And I for one, would willingly say
Such a rich reward would charm me,
Were it not for the fact, which is sad but true,
That it's always a fornight overdue –
I swear that I'm not deceiving you –
It's a way we've got in the army.
As the A.I.F., of course, must eat,
We get 'dixies' loaded with wholesome meat;
But they seem to think that I'm so replete
That any more food would harm me.
For I always find – and I'm not alone –
That all that is left is fat and bone;
So I cuddle my empty plate and groan –
It's a way we've got in the Army.