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THE ANZACS.

TRANSPORTATION TO FRANCE. AN ANXIOUS JOURNEY. GENERAL BIRDWOOD’S APPEAL. LONDON, May 8. Nearly half of the Australians and most of the New Zealanders who are on the west front have seen fighting at Anzac or Western Egypt. Their losses at Gallipoli were so heavy that in order to make up the full quota destined for northern France with adequate reserves it was necessary to draw largely upon recent drafts from the Commonwealth and Dominion. When the expedition was being arranged there was much anxiety in some regiments, which feared they would not go. Many men "belonging to the Light Horse disowned their regiments, hoping to be drafted into the troops for France. None wanted to stay behind. About 900 of the Light Horse volunteered for the infantry in a single day. The last Australians left carrying the Anzac headquarter staff with Generals Birdwood and White. The voyage was practically without incident. Directly the men embarked they were supplied with lifebelts, which they wore all day. Boat drill was part of the routine, every man being allotted his station. The navigation officers had several anxious hours, but the men were unaware of the proximity of the deadly Submarines. Several false alarms were sounded to test the efficiency of the safety arrangements. The troops were required to stand by the boats, but the whole body were transferred without a single mishap, and only a few cases of sickness. On the last day of the trip a meeting was arranged on the troopship and General Birdwood addressed 3500 ment. A printed copy was distributed to every member of the force, together with the text of Lord Kitchener’s message to the expeditionary force in August, 1914. to live up to the ideal set out therein, fighting spirit and training, but a He proceeded: “You have made yourselves a national reputation as good fighters which has earned you the esteem of your comrades alongside of whom you will seen be fighting. You have two important qualities, the three. Without it the best fighting third quality, discipline, is essential to success. It is the greatest of the troops in the world would fail to roops in the world would fail to achieve success. You will be for a while faced with temptations in France, because you will probably be billeted in densely populated villages. Drink will, I fear, be obtainable in the villages,* which are mostly full of women and children whose fathers, husbands and brothers are fighting for their country against the common enemy. I have not the slightest doubt that you will respect the women, because I well know how repugnant the idea of offences against defenceless women is to every Australian and New Zealander. Against drink 1 wish particularly to warn you. I implore you to take hold of yourselves and in the case of every man absolutely to make up his mind and determine for himself that he won’t give way thereto, remembering that the honor of Australia or New Zealand is in his keeping. You know I am referring to a very small proportion. The great majority don’t want such a warning. 1 earnestly beg them to do all in their power to look after their comrades not having the same strength of mind. Remember that a few black sheep can give a bad name to a whole flock. Let’s make up our minds that the Australian and New Zealand forces are going to prove themselves second to none in discipline as they have already done where sheer hard fighting was concerned. See to this, boys. You know you are capable of it, and if you do,*you will return to Australia after peace and victory with an unsullied reputation which will go down to all times in your home.”

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIPM19160511.2.5

Bibliographic details

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7718, 11 May 1916, Page 1

Word Count
630

THE ANZACS. Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7718, 11 May 1916, Page 1

THE ANZACS. Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7718, 11 May 1916, Page 1

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