"Yes, sir."
"How?"
"I was examining a bomb, sir, to find out how it was made and it went off to my surprise, sir!"
There was not even a twinkle of the eye accompanying the response, yet I was not certain that this big fellow from the bush had been wounded in that way. I suspected him of a quiet joke.
"Throw them at the Germans next time," said the general.
"Yes, sir. It's safer!"
Returning after that long morning of characteristic routine, as we passed through a village where Australians were billeted one soldier failed to salute. When the general stopped him his hand shot up in approved fashion as he recognized his commander and he said contritely, with the touch of respect of a man to the leader in whom he believes:
"I did not see that it was you, sir!"
The general had on a mackintosh with the collar turned up, which concealed his rank.
"But you might see that it was an officer."