Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/114/1 - June 1918 - Part 11

106      97
xxxx way was to go back to London.  So I
am going back w Bill Dyson (who is to finish some
lithos for Exhibn in Australia) tomorrow.
Thurs June 13.  Crossed to London.  M'Cay is
here, on the war path at last.  He was in to
see Murdoch.  Dodds is also in London – & Rosenthel
Frid June 14  Hughes arrives tomorrow in London.
Sat June 15.  Hughes & Cook arrived in London
today.  The train journey down, Murdoch says, ws 

106      98
most interesting.  On the wharf Cook saw Fisher
& shouted & waved at his old opponent "Hallo
Andrew!" "Well Joe!" Sd Fisher - they had
never spoken to each other in this language before.
In / train down there were these three "Billy,"
"Andrew" & "Joe" - that was how they spoke
to one another - all / way.  As they came to Crewe
Cook said: "Crewe - just before I went out to Australia
as a lad - I was offered a job in this place - it
ws just a toss up whether I took it."
"That wd have been a misfortune
for Australia, Joe!" Sd Fisher.  All three are 

^X pioneering enterprising

106      99
men born in the Old Country who went
out to Australia - & I suppose it is because of
tt ^x quality tt they came out on top.
M'Cay ws on / station in / crowd there.
Dodds & Griffiths both tell me tt he is quite confident
tt he is going to oust Birdwood as G.O.C. A.I.F
& get / job himself.  He is relying on Murdoch's
help, they say.  Birdwood is coming to London
himself on Monday.  Monash is coming later.
What a horrible rush - the honest & the dishonest
(& Birdwood is certainly one of the honest) -
Murdoch went to see Dodds tonight at
Howse's diggings & I went with him.  Howse is just back 

106      100
from France & is, I think, probably persuaded by
Birdwood & White.  Murdoch is a strong chap, certainly.
He had Dodds cornered.  We walked home w Dodds
& on / way Murdoch tackled him & drove him
from position to position.  Dodds ws very straight &
at times I almost hated to be there .  But Dodds cd not
hide, in / long run, / fact tt be really thinks
in most things we are right.  He thinks / Corps
& / men in it wd be safer under White than under
Monash & he is not at all happy at having Monash
there - yet.  He wants to give / new system a trial,
a month, perhaps more. He knows Birdwood's limitations.
Incidentally Also - he has foreshadowed an interesting move of A.L.H.
P.T.O. 

106      101
I had a most interesting letter from Trumble, A/Secy. for Defence,
telling me tt Senator Pearce had decided to recommend
me for 5 years from / end of the war as
Director of the War Museum at a suitable
Salary with liberty to write & publish my
books in / meanwhile.  But the history must
be subject to some sort of Censorship. "after
all, it is in some sense our official opinion,"
The minister says.  It is a job ^towds wh I have very
great leanings, & I think I will take it.

106      102

Diagram - see original document 

Heilly. 1. Caoles grave
2. Cemetery & [[?Ruere]]
3. Glas. , Price
4.  "           "
5 Maricourt [[notice]]
to preserve Birt.
6} Croquet at Treux Chau
7} & broken tree.
8. Where 6 Bde attack
 started.
 ___________________
9. Frog. Small Caterpillar showing W houses
of Ville
10 Ville from Big Caterpr.
 being shelled

______________________________
1. View over trench from
Coy HQrs.
2. View showing long grass
beside trench
3. L. m.g. post
4} View of possies in Kaiyares trench
5}
6} Shelling of Ville from
7} K trench
8. Germans minimal captd
by 22 Bn firing
9. xxx xxx
[* German plane shepherded by our
No 3 Sqn onto aerodrome *]