This page has already been transcribed. You can find new pages to transcribe here.

Transcription

[Page 169]

The 29th Div. has many times during these few months ceased to exist – wiped clean out. Their name shall never die though.

An incident happened at our mess at the Aus. Overseas Base Camp, which caused me not a little shame – At dinner one evening a subject was brought up – The virtue of the Ausn. as a Soldier and the rotten-ness of the Tommy – A Royal Artillery Officer – an Englishman was present – the guest of an Aus. mess. They became so rotten, that I, altho' only a junior Officer had to speak – I said that I thought such talk was evidence of base ignorance – and un-gentlemanly feeling, and that they should be called to a point of order – I told them that I thought the subject under discussion was not at any time a fit and proper subject for an Officers mess – and that as our Guest was an English Officer – the talk was most ungentlemanly – I tell you you this chap looked his gratitude – Some of the other officers were then bold enough to take it up.

One dirty beast said that he thought the subject proper – 'twas an Aus. mess – I said – Gentleman for about a month I was the only Aus. Officer in a mess of about thirty or fourty Officers (this was at Malta) and never once did I hear such a subject discussed – no comparisons were made. When Aus. troops were spoken of – it was in the highest terms – praise and appreciation –

Current Status: 
Completed