Neddies were docile little beasts, and did a
great deal of transport work. When we moved out in August, orders were
issued that all equipment was to be carried. I pointed out a drove of
ten of these little animals, which appeared handy and without an
owner, and suggested to the men that they would look well with our
brand on. It took very little time to round them up, cut a cross in
the hair on their backs and place a brassard round their ears. They
were then our property. The other type of donkey generally indulged in
what were known as Furfys or Beachograms. Furfy originated in
Broadmeadows, Victoria; the second title was born in the Peninsula.
The least breath of rumour ran from mouth to mouth in the most
astonishing way. Talk about a Bush Telegraph! It is a tortoise in its
movements compared with a Beachogram. The number of times that Achi
Baba fell cannot be accurately stated but it was twice a day at the
least. A man came in to be dressed on one occasion; suddenly some
pretty smart rifle fire broke out on the right. "Hell!" said the man,
"what's up?" "Oh!" said Captain Dawson, "There's a war on--didn't you
hear about it?"
THE SWIMMING
One thing that was really good in Anzac was the swimming. At first we
used to dive off the barges; then the Engineers built Watson's pier,
at the end of which the water was fifteen feet deep and as clear as
crystal, so that one could see every pebble at the bottom. At times
the water was very cold, but always invigorating. General Birdwood was
an enthusiastic swimmer, but he always caused me a lot of anxiety.
That pier was well covered by Beachy Bill, and one never knew when he
might choose to give it his attention. This did not deter the General.
He came down most regularly, sauntered out to the end, went through a
lot of Sandow exercises and finally jumped in. He then swam out to a
buoy moored about a quarter of a mile away. On his return he was most
leisurely in drying himself. Had anything happened to him I don't know
what the men would have done, for he was adored by everyone.
Swimming was popular with all hands. Early in the campaign we had a
Turkish attack one morning; it was over by midday, and an hour later
most of the men were in swimming. I think it not unlikely that some of
the "missing" men were due to this habit. They would come to the beach
and leave their clothes and identity discs ashore, and sometimes they
were killed in the water. In this case there
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