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thank you

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October 1942

in the 10 months since Pearl Harbor most

of Southeast Asia had fallen to the

Japanese

Burma Thailand Malaya Singapore the

Philippines and now they'd set their

sights on New Guinea just a few hundred

miles from the shores of Australia

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we all knew that the battle for our

homeland would be won or lost in the

jungles of New Guinea

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from the first day of training McMurphy

and I had been mates

I suppose we were pretty different

he was a farmer with a wife and three

kids

I'd never met his family but I felt I

knew them pretty well

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I was a city boy footloose and fancy

free

Landing in five minutes

it's about three mile

from the airstrip to the staging camp

a new platoon Commander Lieutenant

McDonald been waiting for a set

now apparently

these are pretty fussy sort of like

so I want you on your toes

all of you

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a little bit blowy

here

hold it there you blocks all of that huh

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no worries should be right there

thank you

what the hell's going on

Melbourne's pop what's that horse race

horse thoughtful horse race not just any

horse RAC

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ES

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shut up

babe

all right come on there's got to be a

winner here somewhere over here

all right I suppose you've got your

ticket on it actually I don't so I don't

remember you've had 10 Bob on colonis

and 33-1

now I hope that some of that ends up on

the plate tomorrow so the most chance of

that father I'm Anglican oh

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Stand Fast

man

as you've probably gathered I'm your new

platoon Commander

Lieutenant Edward McDonald

actually I think you all know rather

more about me than I do about you

you're no doubt aware that we've got the

Japs pretty well boxed up

the Yanks have been floundering around

for weeks trying to push them through to

the coast

of course we all know why the Yanks

aren't much good at fighting they're too

worn out from chasing after our women

folk but we're going to show the nips

that they can't fool around with 700

boys from the aif

with a bit of luck we'll all be home for

Christmas

any questions

how far are the Yanks from the coast sir

approximately 12 miles

how long do your regular will take us to

clear it

it's assumed by the brass that we'll

accomplish it within a week a week

because I reckon I could do 12 miles an

hour a day good show Private you do that

and you can have a hot meal waiting for

the rest of us

I've got the left-handed some food

how are we all shaping up there good

thanks

a real banjo

enjoying your meal

good

my mom cooks

we raise our own mate

he's radio upset

Lieutenant it's hot too

First Time In Action to

yes it is actually

well I feel like I've been training for

this all my life

cadets at the king's school then

Military College I

am transfer

yes

nice to chat with you

come on boys

I reckon my whole grain could beat that

Blake in a fair fight

Melbourne cup night

I'd be out on the town tonight

even the girls are thrilled

real Romeo

they line up when they see me coming

oh modest too

I wonder how they're managing without me

there's plenty of Yanks to look after

that

it's all right for you you're married

yeah

geez I made a real Mongrel on myself the

day I left how come uh the family gave

me this

girls must have saved for weeks for it

Sally dipped into the Family Savings

to Beauty

yeah I gave him hell over

I wanted to have the money for himself

especially with me away

don't worry

I'll make sure you get back

Josh you're the one that'll need looking

after

father these men are going off into

battle

help them by giving them the strength

and the courage that they need

enable them to meet their danger bravely

keep them from disease and sickness

and bring them back safely to their

loved ones

let us pray

there you go to your mom

thank you

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he used to be a lifesaver at Bondi

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thank you

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mommy let me get down

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keep going

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thank you

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excuse me

that's right now

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thank you

the enemy are on their way

with the help of the Gods

Sato and I will kill them

if I must die

I will do my best to do so

with a noble spirit

for the emperor

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it's a transmission

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um

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Jess

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doesn't appear to be any movement

they might be all dead

let's check it out

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leave the drink on here

I'll cover you

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thank you

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hey McDonald

McDonald's

anyway

oh my God

it looks as if everybody's left mate

well there's nobody left shut up

just gotta tie this

stop the flood all right right

that'll stop it'll be right-handed mate

we're not finished yet we might be the

last ones here I'm bugging if I know but

I'll tell you what I'm gonna do

yeah listen there's a crater back there

he's back over there if I can get to

that now listen

I might be able to sneak around the back

of the Foxhole right yeah

and drop a grenade in just for a little

presence right right and you think you

can keep it covered

I'm going to the move right right

I'll be going

Nick

really

all right

on the count of three right yeah one

two

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three

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all right

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just hang on me I'm nearly there

I'm coming

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hello

ah

don't hate me I'm here I'm here mate I'm

here

yeah mate

come here oh my God

no

okay

you'll be right up I'll pick you up and

I'll get back to Henderson

no no no no mate no

I'll think of something oh I'll bet you

up

I'll get some fuzzy onesies to help me

get you back to the ammo

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before you know it you'll be back

you'll be patched up and you'll be going

home

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at the door

they'll be waiting for you

and the kids will not be there

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laughs

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cut off

all right

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thank you

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I got something here to keep me awake

I have always been willing to die at any

time

but nowadays somehow

I am full of the desire to go back home

alive

just once more

but I will put these thoughts behind me

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oh

hey come on come on come on yeah come on

come on get it come on

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God

you're starting to touch him

he was my best mate and you killed him I

don't want Johnny Depp's touching him

he died

so do we all

we Japanese are not afraid to die hey

does this make you feel afraid

is that

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CEO said it's only the female mosquito

that can give you malaria he said hell

man you've got good eyesight

more nips right

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how are you feeling

all right

you're a very lucky man

you know it was touch and go there for a

while

I called in to see you last night you

were tossing and turning

calling out in your sleep

is there something that you wanted to

talk to me about

I don't think so

not with me with God

sometimes it can help to talk things

happen

he knows

he understands what you've been through

it's still up here

I'm not letting you give me

don't you blame God for the war stand

only man can stop the war

you got an answer for everything haven't

talked to God Stan

let him hear your confession

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all right father

oh goodness

I confess

that I killed my best mate

put a bullet through his head

I confessed that I killed a [ __ ] out

there

he was lying on the ground helpless and

I stuck me bayonet through him and I

enjoyed it

I confessed that me rotten platoon

leader ran like a bloody rat and left me

mates to die

I confess so I'm not a man anymore just

like the rest of us poor bastards up

here we're all just animals

I confess that I hate the politicians

and the generals and the church all of

you for letting us become like that

there's no God up here because there's

no God anywhere

and I'm a bloody fool for believing all

the [ __ ] I've been fed for years

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don't lose your faith now Stan

Now's the Time that you need it most

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grab that other one over there

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and this one's still alive

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thank you

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come on hold really good come on take it

in take it in hold the son of a [ __ ]

down

come on

all right now

be all right and it's coming on

hang on to me

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this is

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come on

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we got another one coming in in five

minutes

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hello son

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lamingtons

did you see the Jets close up

what are they like don't appears to your

brother now Bob let him have his cup in

peace

I'm gonna go and tell everyone he's home

you've lost a bit of weight but you

haven't really changed

no

your brother's still full of talk about

joining up

he's not old enough yes he is

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how is Mick

he's dead

Nick

I'm always bestie

They're All Dead

tea will be ready soon

I've got a nice roast

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thank you

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okay

you can have all this junk if you want

gee thanks

what's this

nothing give it here

so where's your medals

you haven't got me

why not dad's got two

you did Kill Jabs didn't you

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what was it like

it's not like the movies mate

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as they demanded in rather loud tones

that the public boycott the restaurant

things got slightly out of hand we've

got a few Round Here placards began

throwing food stolen from the restaurant

can hardly wait to get to New Guinea

don't be so stupid I'm not being stupid

listen mate

the Japs are just about beaten up there

anyway

you'll only get yourself killed or

maimed so some general can get himself

another medal it's a waste of time it's

a waste of men I don't think it's a

waste of time to defend your country

nothing's worth what's going on up there

that's the sort of talk here from blokes

who haven't got the guts to fight

wake up to yourself you wake up to

yourself I know coward I'm talking sense

to you you're talking [ __ ] you

wouldn't have a bloody clue it's all

just a uniform do you

know what's going on he's going crazy

are you alright

yeah my mum I'm fine

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go and read a book or something but I

don't know it gets into you sometimes I

didn't even do anything just sit quietly

stand all right I don't know

go in and have a talk to him

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right when I come in

there

come in

you've had a rough time son

yeah

as I suppose the first war live war was

different

look I uh

I know we haven't talked much over the

years but

it's not because I haven't wanted to

it's because

of

they just didn't seem to be much point

in two of you man

but it would have helped if there'd been

someone

so I just want you to know

that I'm here

thanks Dad

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double

Jesus

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if you just want to relieve yourselves

Now's the Time

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you

enough

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thank you

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come on peace peace

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whether a bloody useless Lord are they

look

turn around

and peace peace like that

is

what's wrong with them

maybe they don't want us to see what

they've got

well bugger them I'm fasting

give them a demo breaker

show them what to do

good idea

you turn around

and you're pissed like that

peace

look at that

do it

we've already done it

now you do it

for what

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thank you

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thank you

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um

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two more

thank you

sorry

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thank you

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Dear Mrs Murphy I was with your husband

Mick when he passed away in New Guinea

I know this must be a hard time for you

and like me you probably don't want to

think too much about it

but I brought back some of his

possessions which I would like to give

you

please let me know if it's all right to

post these things to you with this

address

or should I keep them until you can pick

them up

if there's anything else I can do to

help I'd be glad to

Mick was my best mate

you're sincerely

Stan Davidson

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this is Murphy

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Stan

I can do that Mrs Davis

are you sure actually I do have to get

to work

it's been lovely meeting you popping and

see us again if you're down in Sydney

thank you you must come and see me if

you have your own Cara not much chance

of that

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I took these off me

um

before I be ready

he was Furious when we gave in his watch

because we'd spent the money on him

he talked about you a lot in his letters

he thought very early of you

he was a good mate

thank you

were with him when he died

you did

was a Catholic Vision that had been

taken over by the chaps

we were told to clear it out

I was wounded fairly early on

me

tried to get to me to help me

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quick

that was my worst fear

I met him when I was 16.

and I knew straight away he was going to

be my husband

there was just something about him

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he was a rare mixed germic

he was strong and dependable

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but real General at the same time

I wasn't an angel you'd like that

we could hate to think that we were

making him into something that he wasn't

wouldn't he

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I'm sorry

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next

malaria

yes sir

where was your last attack

last week

go to a doctor no sir

didn't say much point I knew what it was

and how do I know you're telling me the

truth

you don't

wounded

in the shoulder and the leg

by the enemy

come on boy

drop your tax

right

sorry son I have to make sure

you'll be classified V2

what's that

unfit for active service

you'll probably see the rest of the war

out doing to our Duty or

pushing a pen somewhere

yeah bloody drone guy

does mum know

yes she am

might be your posting

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they've made me a corporal

good boy

and on the report the prisoner of war

camp number 12 at cowra

prisoner of walking

what do you do there oh that's Southwest

of Bathurst isn't it I think they've got

a lot of eye tires out there isn't that

where your mate's wife lives

seems like it's got a place as any to

see outdoor

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Orly rain Clark Corporal Davidson

reporting for Didi

Davidson

yeah I'm here to guide the Italians

who do I see

what about

oh major Holden likes to make the new

arrivals

is he here

no

are you expecting him back yes

yes would you like to wait

he's out exercising his horse

there's a show coming off

thanks

stand easy corporal

do you know anything about the Geneva

Convention

not much sir

they laid down some rules to protect the

rights of prisoners of War

I ran this Camp by those rules

there are hundreds of thousands of our

boys in the hands of the Japs and the

Nazis if we break any of these rules

that gives them the excuse to do the

same I don't intend to give them that

excuse

do you understand yes sir

that's probably not necessary to say

this to you

Mr soldiers without battle experience

who Trigger Happy in my opinion

but I won't have this Camp turned into a

Battleground you familiarize yourself

with those rules

so there's a jab

yes it's one of the Prisoners the nips

made good cleaners

I thought the prisoners here were

Italian

yes most of them are but we've got 300

Japs here they're the ones you'll be

guarding your experience with them will

come in very useful

well I'm glad to have your board

Davidson uh Lance corporal Riley at

Shady reporters

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fresh fish three times a week

that's the depth compound over there

Koreans and four Moses and one on their

own

the itos are in the other two perfectly

don't need guards those High tires

lock them out my farts get back in the

camp

this is where you got this hmm

you mean for a nice place

french fried left in those

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left left right left

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thank you

76 report today two or six today

we'll probably start the camp

start the count

what do I do follow me Digger and start

counting

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four six eight

and eleven

twelve thirteen fourteen

seven nine

everyone

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not these two again come on up

come on get up

come on you have pork side monkeys I

said get up

you did

sure sure

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you two again

tell him to get back into line

you heard what he said get back in the

line and bloody stay there

YouTube be nothing but trouble since you

got here you've had enough chances

detention block this time

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I was very surprised by your conduct

this morning Davis and I would have

thought a man with your experience and

know how to handle the chaps

we very nearly had a nasty situation on

our hands so

I'd like to request a transfer

let me guard the Italians the Italians

my old mother could guard the Italians

Lance corporal Riley could guard the

Italians I need you in the Japanese

compound you've got to understand what I

went through in New Guinea

those animals wiped out my whole section

killed my best mate

I thought coming here would give me a

chance to get away from all that to just

forget it

relax cobra

I'll go and relax

it's my son

Robert

boy about your age

he's a prisoner of the Japs

when I first heard that I thought that

I'd never be able to face a [ __ ] again

I'm afraid I had to

and then I discovered that what they say

is true that the best way to get a

problem out of your system is to do just

that

face it

believe me son you can't run away from a

problem

you've got to stop some time

and it'll always be there waiting for

you

so stay

face it

and come to terms with it

will you give it a go

I suppose so sir

good lad

now I want you to take the rest of the

day off come back tomorrow and make a

fresh start

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I've been posted to the PO camp

the ruthless and the toothless

that's what they call the guards up here

well I'm one of them

Italians no the Jets

Stan how awful

can't you get a transfer I've tried they

wouldn't give me one

what are you gonna do

not much I can do

still got the farm

of course

we talked about it so much I reckon I

know exactly what it looks like

well I'm on my way home now would you

like to come and have a look for

yourself

I'll give you a lift I've got my bike

outside

motorbike yeah

again

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ah thanks Dan

competition Victoria

Hello Lucy

sound dog

Victoria the prisoner at the camp he

just works for me here during the day

without a guard

a lot of the Italian persons live on the

farms out here I don't know how I would

imagine

he used to work as a farm in Italy

before the war sit down

family owned land I've never seen much

of the Italians oh they seem quite a

happy Bunch not like the Japs they're a

surely not look at the creeps just

looking at them

hello

is that Daddy

is dead Mr Davidson was in the war with

your daddy this is Margaret and to raise

hello Shirley did you bring me anything

surely I will next time

could you take this tea out to Victoria

I'll do it you're too small you'll spill

it I'll take it I am not oh surely Mia

Cara Mary girls

shut up mom Michael shut up that's

enough to raise you can take the tea and

Shirley you take some cake all right

there you go

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would you like to stay for tea it's only

stew

Nick said you could make stew out of an

old army boot and make it taste good

things aren't quite that bad yet

that's grandpa's house in broken Hill

that's rabbit when she was a baby

and that's your daddy

daddy said you used to live in the hall

in the ground with him and he snored and

kept him awake that's not true

Mick used to read me bits of your

letters at night

I knew about Margaret winning the

Athletics medal at school

to raise coming top of the class

rabbit trying to cut her own hair

just about everything I reckon

did he tell you why I called a rabbit

delivered her

she decided to come early

he was frightened at first

but then when it all started he was

wonderful

and then when she was born

he held her in his arms and he cried

and he called me rabbit

that's right

he said you look just like a skinned

rabbit

it was the best made a man could ever

have

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knock it out

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thank you

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thank you

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thank you