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[Page 8]
13th training was continued by going for another route march & incidentally getting lost in the maze of country lanes. The country-side here-abouts although the menacing roll of artillery comes constantly to the ear resembles much the same as it does in peace time. All the fields are cultivated, & the hop yards, hedges & roads are in good condition. As in other parts of France, old men, women & children do all the work. Australia does not mind lending a hand & passing down the country roads one sees a soldier at work ploughing or throwing sheaves from a straw stack. Most of the farm houses have been used since the beginning of the war for billeting soldiers with the result that the bourgeous are beginning to understand a little English. Our second billet is typical of the farm houses of the country. First is the house usually built of brick with a railing in front ranging from the this the front of this at right angles are the farm-houses the third forming the completing the hollow square. In the centre of this is the manure pit with its pool of water which in a warmer climate would spread disease for miles. Here wallow the farmyard pigs, great white lop-eared beasts which roll & grunt careless of rain or shine.
[Sketch of farm animals, captioned Scene on our parade at any time during 1st Fortnight of April]