Ca Ne Fait Rien - Part 12

Conflict:

First World War, 1914–18

Subject:

Unit papers

Status:

Open for review

Accession number:

AWM2018.785.46

Difficulty:

Caution: sensitive content

The inclusion of words, terms or descriptions from historical records reflects the social and political attitudes of the period in which they were written.

Rien.
21-11-18

12-62
THEATRICAL NOTES
"A" Company gave a performance, yesterday evening at the Y.M.C.A. All the
world was notified of the impending event, by flamboyant posters, at
every Street Corner. Consequently, when the hour arrived, for the

performance to commence, the managers were somewhat embarrassed, by
the multitide, and variety, of their audience. The show opened with

a few selections, by our band, delivered with their usual verve and ésprit.
A slight hitch ensued, while the performers in the opening sketch,
prepared themselves. However, after a few moments, the "stars" of the
evening trooped on to the stage, and arranged themselves in various
dejected and undistinguished attitudes, around the platform. They
proceeded to 'converse in undertones, to the infinite delight of
the audience. At a given signal, the M.O. arrayed in full panoply,
was pushed on to the stage by a scene-shifter. A most diverting
turn followed, the words of the actors being frequently drowned
by the thunderous plaudits, of an entusiastic gathering. In the
midst of the final harrowing scene, Mr Southey was heard
audibly imploring, to be allowed to go off. This brilliant
turn being finished, the performers bowed their acknowledgments,of
the tolerant spirit in which they were heard, and hastily disappeared
A dance followed, which also passed muster. Next, came the best item
of the evening, which stood out amongst the others, like an oasis
in the midst of a Sahara of barrenness. Sgt Hammond gave a
passionate and inspiring portrayal of a Corporal of the guard. He was
ably seconded by Sgt Collyer, as a Sergt Major, although in this case
the effect was doubtless heightened, by the natural grandeur and
majesty of his subject. The guard itself, displayed much of the
torpor, and inertia, which usually marks these degraded creatures.
Altogether,a very satisfactory performance, and one which came as a
complete surprise to all. Among the remaining turns, we may
mention, in particular, the indefatigable efforts of two gymnasts,
who fell down, and got up again, with untiring perseverence. Mr
Trotters rendering of "Lasca", which would have been an immense
success, if the gallant officer, could have remembered the words.
The subtle humour displayed in an estaminet ~~scem~~ scene, by Mr
Burke, as an a madame, is also worthy of note. In short, the evening
was such a good one, that most of the audience were satisfied
long before closing time. God save the King cut the revelries
short, much to the disappointment of all.
So ended an unforgettable performance.

Bohain

22-11-18

"Ce Ne Fait Rien"

Published in the field

every Friday (sometimes)

by 6^th Bn. A.I.F. 12-63

Answers to Correspondents

Anxious want to know where the

largest trees in the World grow;

we have made full enquiries and

the T.O. says that he had a

sapling growing in his front yard

in a town in Vic. and after one

sticky night he came toddling

home about 3 A.M. and he tried

10 times to get from the front gate

to the door and each time he ran

into the sapling, so he thinks that

tree must have suddenly grown

into the largest tree in the world.

On the other hand we hear that

the Giant Red Wood of California

has the greatest girth, the Big

Eucalyptus of the Gipsland Forests

are the tallest but then we must

remember the Banyan tree of

India that ^covers many square acres

of ground, one tree in the Botanical

Gardens in Calcutta has over 400

trunks; these trunks are formed

by suckers which grow down from

the branches and take root as

they reach the earth.

Our Serial Story

"Masquerading Morton" or

"The Pulverized Paybook"

In a tiny Welsh Village on the North

coast of Greenland, M^rs O'Brien

the squaw of the War Chief of the

Sioux Redskins had a daughter.

He was born of poor but anything

but honest parents and showed

great ability and his fond parents

hoped that some day he would

be President of the United States or

get a job in the canteen.

To be continued

Who's

Which

in the

6^th

Hand Drawing - See Original Document

L/Cpl. Cook Broom

"A" Coy.

If you get up about 5 A.M.

and go around to the

cookhouse of A Company

you will find Broom

having his morning

shave, he always uses

one of the dixie lids,

comme sa. They ae

all the same, you can

use any of 'em for a

mirror. and as for the

brass work - well!

I'm told that they

never use a light at

night, the brass is

so bright that they

supply illumination

for the whole of the

company and also

the R.O.O.

"BUZZES FROM THE "B" HIVE"

Hand Drawing - See Original Document

A FIELD DAY = 2nd BRIGADE SALVAGE CORPS. (Alias

6th BATTN. "A Coy)

FORCE OF HABIT. 1920.

Hand Drawing - See Original Document

EX DIGGER (WHO HAS ABSENT-MINDEDLY

CUT THE LOAF INTO THREE)

"SAY, FLO, THERE'S A BUCHSHEE

THIRD OF A LOAF TONIGHT."

"AVIS"!

THE QUEEN OF THIS "HIVE" WILL BE

PLEASED TO "STING" ANY OF ITS PATRONS, FREE

OF CHARGE. REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE ON FIELD

POST CARDS. SHE UNDERTAKES TO STING READERS

FOR CASH, FAGS, MATCHES, & "GREENIES" & SHE ALSO

SPECIALISES IN "HUMMING" BEER, "POINT BLANK",

VIN ROUGE, INDIAN INK, IN FACT ANYTHING

APPLICANTS WISH.

DONT DELAY! -

WRITE NOW! -

COME ALONG AND RECEIVE THE "NIPS".

WE WANT TO KNOW:-

"WHO WAS THE GUY WHO RUSHED OUT FROM THE

BARBERS SANCTUM, ON TO THE C.O.'c PARADE &

WAS IMMEDIATELY TOLD BY THE C.O. TO GET HIS HAIR

CUT AGAIN'!

"WHO WAS CARRIED "SHOULDER HIGH" BY "W.A.A.C.S. IN

LONDON, "ON THE DAY ON WHICH PEACE WAS DECLAIRED" -

"IF IT WAS A TIRESOME TRIP UP FROM ROISEL & WHO

WERE THE N.C.O.'s WHO "CAME A THUD" OFF THE TAILBOARD

OF THEIR LORRY" -

WHO WAS THE Q.M.S. WHO INSERTED IN THE "DAILY MAIL"

THE FOLLOWING ADVERTISEMENT:- "WANTED" COMPANY

ONE -

"IF M^R TROTTER WAS WORKING HIS "NUTS" TO GET ON THE

INTELEGENCE STAFF BY TAKING THE PART OF THE "HUN"

IN "A" COY'S CONCERT THE OTHER NIGHT: -

Hand Drawing - See Original Document

FAMOUS MEN OF "A" COY

THE EX-SENTIMENTAL BLOKE.

Sars Poteries Published in the Field

29-11-1918 by the 6^th Aust Bn

"Ce Ne Fait Rien"

published every Friday (peut etre)

All the news of the week

All the wit of the weak

All the spice of the sixth

Hand Drawing - See Original Document

While on the move the Battalion had to

leave Bohain at a fairly early hour, therefore

reveille was to be sounded at 6.30 A.M. A certain

C.S.M. of "A" Company heard a passing lorry make

a noise like a bugle;- "Ah" sez é "la reveille and

lightly leaping from his little bed he awoke all

the company, dressed 'em, gave 'em their little

morning wash an' then looked at his trusty time

piece. "Voila" he cried "it is only 4.30 I've got 'em

up 2 hours too soon. Anyone lookin' for a scrap

can ask C.S.M. Oliver "Quelle houn est-il?" or

"Je vais me lever" and they will be quickly suited.

On Dit. It is

said that the Transport

section are doing the

work of M.P.s and are in

the habit of arresting

various things found

loitering, as a rule they

arrest horses and bags

of oats that have strayed.

that:- Lt Stafford was

asked while on the march

"What troops are in front

of us; he replied:- "The

5^th, 7^th and 8^th Bn's and ourselves.

that: while sitting beside

the fire the other day the

M.O. smelt something burning

The orderly said "Its alright

Sir, I've just taken a piece

of wood off and it's still

smoking. The M.O. was

partly satisfied but he

still felt uncomfortable

especially in the rear,

at last he couldn't stand

it any longer and jumped

up. Then he found he had

been sitting on the stove

lid and had burnt the

seat of his Whatsye'call'ems

that:- We're going to Germany

that:- We're not going to Germany

the:- We're going to "Aussie"

at the tout de suite

that:- We won't go for a

year.

that:- We're going to

Germany next month.

that:- what so they know

about it anyway.

that:- a certain sergeant

in C Company will be often

writing letters to Sars Poteries

after we leave.

that:- a corporal in don

Company has found a

bonne little bint.

Hand Drawing - See Original Document

Battalion

Beauties

Sergt.

Campbell

Cute Kid

Our Serial

Story

"Cowboy Claude"

"Ave 'e a Woodbine

Choom

The finest body

of trained men

in the World -

to wit:- the famous

6th Aust. Inf. Bn.

were route marching

towards the town

of Sars Poteries.

Soon after the noon halt for lunch

the road in front of them was

blocked for about une demi- houre.

and they were forced to halt.

Several Tommy G.S. Wagons drawn

by mules attempted to pass them.

The road was narrow and muddy

and the mules were'nt over keen

for the job; there were 6 mules

to each wagon and one set of

leaders refused to move, the

driver on the leading mules used

his whip on their aft section, one

of his mates advised him to "'it

'em on t' listener choom", this he did,

result:- 6 mules, 3 Tommies and one

wagon in a beautiful tangle in the

ditch. They got about 7 more

Tommies to reinforce them and all

using their whips together they

got all the mules out but one, he

lay on his back in the mud with

his feet sticking up in the air, he had

never been so comfortable in his

life before and although they

all used their whips together

and told him what they thought

of his ancestory, he refused

to even try to move,

besides he cound'nt

even if he wanted to

and he didn't care if

he stayed there forever.

They sent for 12 more

Tommies with 12 more

whips, but at this

stage the M.O. of

the 6^th stopped the

proceedings and got

a few men from the

6^th Transport, who

had the donk out in

about 3 seconds.

continued

Who's

which

in the

6^th

^12-65

Hand Drawing - See Original Document

Lieut.

Southey

the

Diligent

Demi-

Digger

Lt. Southey is a perfectly good officer

but he will dress like a digger in the

A.S.C., and a few days ago he took

his platoon to the M.O. to have their

feet inspected. That was alright as far

as it goes but I hear that the Quack

insisted on seeing his feet also"-

took him for a digger.

6^th BATTALION

A.I.F.

Ce Ne Fait Rien.

Published

Sars-Potteries

29-11-18

12-66

THE BOLD AUSTRALIAN

BOYS

EXTRACT FROM ANZAC BULLETIN.

The Defence Department has terminated the employment

of 72 Citizen Force Officers of military age, who could produce

no valid excuse for not enlisting for service abroad.

Not where the rifles speak:

Not where the bullets whine;

Not where the great shells rush

and shriek.

Over the firing line;

Not in the new won trench,

Where the dead men, sightless stare;

The tourist army, may face these

things

But our place is not there.

The fools have gone, and we

soldier on,

With the boys on the barrack square

We hear of war each day,

As a whisper borne from afar

And we blush with pride, when

the papers say

How brave we Australians are.

Our chests expand an inch

When a wounded man salutes,

As we pass to lecture on gallant

deeds

To our sixteen year old recruits

With a word thrown in, on the

crowning sin,

Of parading with uncleaned boots.

III

The untrained levies go

From factory, forge and farm

the foe.

The thousand miles from harm.

In peace or war, the same,

We give them weekly drill,

With second-hand tales, of the

harder game

Where bullets are meant to kill.

And what shall we do, when the

was is through?

Why! Keep on our soldiering still

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