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[Page 72]
(66)
and saw the operas of "Aida" and "Thais". This is the Opera House where Madame Melba first sang in Opera, having created the role of Gilda in "Rigoletto" in 1888, so it was of interest to we Australians. A brass plate on the wall of the Foyer of the Opera records this event.
The next day we went by tram out to Waterloo (fifteen miles from Brussels) where we spent a whole day seeing all over the historic battlefield. It was indeed a great privilege to have done this. The guide took us to the top of the famous lion monument, from where a great view of the Battlefield can be obtained (it is almost a mile square) and he explained the whole battlefield, also the Battle of Waterloo to us, pointing out the various positions that were occupied by the English, French and Germans.
I had now seen where Napoleon was exiled and where he died (St Helena), his tomb in Paris and where he was defeated in Battle (Waterloo). The next day we saw the King's Palace (which was the German Military Headquarters during the occupation – the spot where Edith Cavell was shot, the famous Manniken monument in the gardens and many other sights. To give one an idea of how expensive things were here, I remember paying a franc (tenpence) for two oranges.
I would have liked to have gone on to Antwerp, but my leave was up and I was also short of money, so one morning we left Brussels by train and arrived at Paris next day.
Spent another day and night in Paris and next morning at 9 a.m. left the Gare du Nord by train and arrived at Amiens late that afternoon. Caught a train from Amiens and arrived at Abbeville after a two hours journey and walked from there to St Maxent.
Stayed the night with my Battalion telling the boys of the great time I had (very few had the luck to get to Paris or Brussels). Next morning walked over to Headquarters at Rambures and took up billets again with Madame, after my very enjoyable holiday. Came back with just enough money left to send a cable home to my parents telling them I was well and had been on leave to Paris and Brussels.
[Transcribed by Judy Gimbert for the State Library of New South Wales]