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all that which has now been taken from us anyway, we might have made it to Europe! But who would have thought that the war was to last this long and that, against all promises, we were to be interned and even deported.
The Christmas present from the Australian government, paid for by the profits made in our canteen, consisted of roast pork with cabbage and a bottle of beer per man. It was little and it did not come from the heart. The committee had the dining hall i.e. the great hall adorned with fir-like greenery and we all brought out our Sunday best, so at least it looked like a special occasion. Taeufert [the diarist himself spells him Taeufert sometimes and Täufert at other times], as chairman of the committee, held a lengthy but not very inspired speech, concluding with a remembrance of the fatherland. There was a bit of music-making after dinner but otherwise most were lost in their own thoughts. I have spent quite a few Christmases without my loved ones, but this one was by far the most desolate. May God make it the last one in captivity.
5/1/1916. It’s a few days now into the new year. What will it bring? Hopefully victory of
the German