Part 02: Rex Nixon letters, 21 May 1915-27 December 1916 - Page 492
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[Page 492]
Australian Commonwealth Military Forces
There are hundreds of slouch hatted soldiers in town
Doughty and debonair stalwart and brown
Some are from Weymouth, or Salisbury Plain
Others have "pushed" in the Western Campaign
Call them overseas soldiers or "down under men"
Declare that each one is as daring as ten
Call them Cornstalks or "Fernleaves" N.Z. all out for a fight
But don't call them Anzacs as that's not right.
The Anzac - Their ranks are but scanty all told
Have separate record illumined with gold
Their blood on Gallipoli ridges they pouredTheir souls with the scars are scored
Their souls with the scars of that struggle are scored
Not many are left, not many are sound
And thousands are buried in Turkish ground
Those are the Anzacs - The others may claim
Their zeal, their spirit, but none their name.