A.N.Z.A.C. By W. Otho Hewett. (Colour)Frontispiece
FACING PAGE
LIEUT.-GEN. SIR W. R. BIRDWOOD[x]
“AT THE LANDING AND HERE EVER SINCE.” By David Barker. (Colour)[22]
“KITCH.” By C. Leyshon-White. (Colour)[32]
ABDUL. By Ted Colles. (Colour)[58]
ANZAC SKETCHES. By David Barker. (Colour)[66]
SOMETHING TO REMEMBER US BY. By Ted Colles. (Colour)[70]
MAP OF ANZAC. Drawn by Private R. T. Goulding (N.Z. Inf.)[90]
THE NEW STAR. By Ted Colles, after F. J. Leigh. (Colour)[96]
THE SILVER LINING. By C. E. W. Bean. (Colour)[122]
OUR REPTILE CONTEMPORARY. By David Barker. (Colour)[134]
“APRICOT AGAIN!” By David Barker. (Colour)[142]
EACH ONE DOING HIS BIT. By W. Otho Hewett. (Colour)[164]

INTRODUCTION
By SIR W. R. BIRDWOOD

It is my privilege to have been asked to write an Introduction for The Anzac Book, and to convey the cordial thanks of all the inhabitants of our little township here to those who have so kindly given us the free use of their brains and hands in writing and illustrating this book in a way which does as much credit to them as the fighting here has done to the Force. We all hope that readers of our book will agree in this, while those who are more critical will perhaps remember the circumstances under which the contributions have been prepared, in small dug-outs, with shells and bullets frequently whistling overhead.

It may be of interest to readers to hear the origin of the word “Anzac.”

When I took over the command of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in Egypt a year ago, I was asked to select a telegraphic code address for my Army Corps, and then adopted the word “Anzac.” Later on, when we had effected our landing here in April last, I was asked by General Headquarters to suggest a name for the beach where we had made good our first precarious footing, and then asked that this might be recorded as “Anzac Cove”—a name which the bravery of our men has now made historical, while it will remain a geographical landmark for all time.

Our eight months at “Anzac” cannot help stamping on the memory of every one of us days of trial and anxiety, hopes, and perhaps occasional fears, rejoicings at success, and sorrow—very deep and sincere—for many a good comrade whom we can never see again.

I firmly believe, though, it has made better men of every one of us, for we have all had to look death straight in the face so often, that the greater realities of life must have been impressed on all of us in a way which has never before been possible. Bitter as has been my experience in losing many a good friend, I, personally, shall always look back on our days together at “Anzac” as a time never to be forgotten, for during it I hope I have made many fast friends in all ranks, whose friendship is all the more valuable because it has been acquired in circumstances of stress and often danger, when a man’s real self is shown.

In days to come I hope that this book will call to the minds of most of us incidents which, though they may then seem small, probably loomed very large before us at the time, and the thought of which will bring to mind many a good comrade—not only on land, but on the sea. From the day we were put ashore by Rear-Admiral Thursby’s squadron up till now we have had the vigilant ships of His Majesty’s Navy watching night and day, in all weathers, for any opportunity to help us. We will all of us look back in years to come on Queen Elizabeth, Prince of Wales, London, Triumph, Bacchante, Grafton, Endymion, as well as such sleuth-hounds of the ocean as Colne, Chelmer, Pincher, Rattlesnake, Mosquito, and many others, as our best of friends, and will think of them, their officers and ship’s company, as the truest of comrades, with whom it has been a privilege to serve, and as the best of representatives of the Great Fleet and Service which carries with honour and ensures respect for the British flag to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Boys! Hats off to the British Navy.

It may be that, in thinking of old “Anzac” days, the words of the Harrow school-song will spring to one’s mind: