As we swing off our last thought is not concerned with the bitterness of defeat. We think of our comrades quietly sleeping on Anzac. They gave their lives gladly, proudly, for Australia and the Empire. They showed the world that Australians could live and fight and die like Britishers. There are many sad hearts on the transports to-night. And there are very many breaking hearts back in dear old Australia. But old England has showered so many good gifts on her Colonies. The Colonies will not grudge this sacrifice for Empire.
Maybe our feelings are best expressed in the words of "Argent," written at the end of the most glorious failure in history:—
ANZAC
Ah, well! we're gone! We're out of it now. We've something else to do.
But we all look back from the transport deck to the land-line far and blue:
Shore and valley are faded; fading are cliff and hill;
The land-line we called "Anzac" ... and we'll call it "Anzac" still!
This last six months, I reckon, 'll be most of my life to me:
Trenches, and shells, and snipers, and the morning light on the sea,
Thirst in the broiling mid-day, shouts and gasping cries,