Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/109/1 - May 1918 - Part 7

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is jerked out, with his head over his
right shoulder as he looks down / line,
with his hands tightened & his shoulders
brace as he rips out each syllable:
 "A Coy will move to the right in column
of Route". "Form column of route." "Right"
The officers & sergeants move round to /
head of their platoons & He A coy moves
off to its mornings work amongst the
wandering courses of the Hallue River between

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the willow trees on the flats.
They come back 2½ hours later- climb up to
their lofts with their kit - sling it off their
shoulders, climb down from / beehives w
their mess tins [for the midday meal].
There is an interval of ease - the
walls of the bldgs around the yard are
lined w men leaning their backs against
them.  A "two-up" school has started in a
corner (pay day ws four days ago & the
stakes are getting low). It gradually attracts

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a dozen men including the man who never has
any money - the Irishman, the hard case o /
battalion - who is always broke.
A second parade - very much like / first -
breaks into this - the sergeants ^from / yard call their
platoons out: "Right_^-o oh Number Four!"
Out come the bees, off across the yard; parade
in / road: out across / meadows.
They came back at four. Tea is at five.
Work for the day is done except for the

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staff - the Q.M & Sergts no doubt have
further work to worry them.  But / men
are at their ease from now on. They have had
their days bread issued at 4 - the waggon came right into / yard -
A good many eat / whole bread issue tt night so the QM says.
The Regimental Band
The QM issues it - & jam - also ½lb cake of chocolate
to each man & a packet of biscuits bought
out o / regimental share in canteen profits
(we saw / biscuits being brought round ^to / billet by
two men in a blanket).
The Regimental band came yesty to

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play on the green back orchard of a
billet at / corner, where for A Coy's bde benefit.
Gradually abt 30 or 40 men collected around
it - sitting on / grass agst / wall - or
under / trees. The little band corporal
ws throwing his whole heart into his
conducting - straightening himself ^& his head up tensely w each
& working his forearm w hand  wrist bent & fingers
pursed like those of a girl in a fashion plate.

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One of the "diggers" in the Porch strolled across / road _^hatless, with a mess
tin in his hand saying
(generally - to the horizon as it were) "That's what I like
- a band on a fine day.  I'm going over to hear the
band".  And over he went, by himself, & sat leant
under against an apple tree on / grass - & listened to
/ band.
An old French Miller or baker or some
relic o / population o / place came out in his sh from on
of the outhouses to wh / orchard belonged - ^in his shirtsleeves, his head as
bald as Father Abraham's & his _^baggy trousers hanging sagging
halfway down to his knees - & started to argue
w an Australian driver who ws hold letting

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two horses feed (while he held their reins) off
the long grass o / orchard.  The Old Abraham
quivered w / rage of his argument, shook his
fist in / Australian's face, gesticulated with
long skinny quivering fingers - the Australian
Hand drawn pictures see original
looked at him in a stolid,
interested way, & stood made
absolutely no change in his
attitude or his occupation.
The old miller went away,
hopping excitedly over the _^low wet
patches in / grass & fetched a long stick like 

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a whip handle & mad came back w it
& stood making passes, as it were, with
it, as if to frighten / horses - & at last
went away shaking his fist, the Australian
never once having moved anything except
his head, or shifted his weight from one
leg to / other.
That proved an interlude to /
band - it attracted / lazy interest of
most o / men who were watching.

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The old man disappeared & / pair of horses
went on feeding.
The band ws / one official amusement
wh the company had - / _^whole effect o / world of
whole intellectual culture on their behalf.
For / rest they found their own amusement,
mostly in / yard or in / side street just
beside it.
This yard is / small world in wh A
Coy moves &  lives & moves.  What strikes you 

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at once is tt it is a world of strong
independent determined individuals in
wh anyone who ws not downright &
decided wd have a short always be left & go short of
anything tt he wanted. You hear no
half statements in tt yard; you never
hear "I think perhaps"  "it might be"
"Possibly" - you never hear any sort
of qualification.  Every statement &
downright, unhesitating, ripped out