Original subtitles

(THEME MUSIC)

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

I'll have a bloody question asked in Parliament, that's what.

Oh, another week of this and me souvenirs won't fetch nothing.

Man'll be ruined.

Any sign or relief yet, mate?

No, they were due 10 hours ago.

We'll be out of here soon, boys.

(Coughs)

You alright, Bill?

There's this beautiful dusky maiden in a grass skirt

walking up the beach from the coral reef...

(Laughs)

...carrying two of the biggest trout I ever saw.

When I open my eyes, what do I see?

Bloody Flanagan.

Hell of a time to be thinking of a fish dinner.

Who said I was thinking of a feed?

(Laughs) You've got to look after yourself, Bill.

(Coughs) Nick off.

It only hurts when I laugh.

Did you hear? Canadians on our left took Passchendaele yesterday.

(Sarcastically) Hooray.

Come on, mate. It was a bloody good effort.

What for? We've shot our bolt. A blind man'd know it.

All we've done is create a bog 12 miles wide behind us.

Guns can't get up, or supplies.

No guns, no advance.

We just about had it won, hey? Yeah.

Fritz is laughing at us now -

him in green fields and we're stuck here in the mud.

Nothing changes.

Hey, any news of Dingo?

No. I reckon he's shot through for good.

And I don't reckon he'd have bothered taking those German prisoners

all the way back either.

Roly, you could've gone back and had that re-dressed, you know.

No, thanks, Sarge.

Probably be drowned if I tried to get back by myself.

Won't be long now, mate.

Hey, Sarge? Yeah?

Is it true they're gonna bring boats in and row us out?

Who told you that, Pud?

Next time anyone tells you something,

make sure they cross their heart first, alright?

(ARTILLERY FIRE APPROACHES)

Hello there.

(EXPLOSION)

8th Australian Battalion?

Lieutenant Arbuckle, East Lancs.

Where the hell have you been, chum?

Where's the officer?

I'm it. I asked where you've been. You're 10 hours late.

Oh, you wouldn't believe it.

This staff officer bloke says it's 1.5 hours to come up.

And I can tell you, we've been 11 hours on the go.

My lads are done up,

them that got here.

Welcome aboard, Mr Arbuckle.

Name's Flanagan.

Follow me and I'll show you around.

I'll see if I can get a strong drink for you and your men.

It would be greatly appreciated.

(EXPLOSION)

(POIGNANT MUSIC)

(EXPLOSION)

Well, come on, Strawb, are you with us or against us?

Listen, mate.

I'd be alright if I could get me feet out of the flaming stirrups.

Another old joke like that and I'll shove you right back in.

(EXPLOSION)

Who's he?

That's General Kiggell, Chief of Staff to General Haig.

Don't get his car muddy, will you?

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

(DISTANT EXPLOSIONS)

Oh, my God.

Did we send the men to fight in this?

SHIT!

(Men sing) The first staff officer

Jumped right over the second staff officer's back

The second staff officer

Jumped right over the first staff officer's back

The first staff officer

Jumped right over the second staff officer's back

The second staff officer

Jumped right over the first staff officer's back

They were only playing leapfrog

They were only playing leapfrog...

(Men sing) A Garden of Eden just made for two

With nothing to mar our joy

I would say such wonderful things to you

There would be such wonderful things to do

If you were the only girl in the world

And I were the only boy.

(CROWD APPLAUDS)

I am not happy with Marie.

Oh, it's alright. He's a good kid.

Well, that's as may be, but he's a soldier in a war.

I do not want to see her hurt.

Madame. Ah, bonsoir.

Pat, how's business? Oh, couldn't be better, me boy.

House special.

Crikey, how much do I owe you? No charge, mate.

I'm struck dumb, mate. That'll be a first.

Listen, er, heard anything about a move?

No, but they reckon it's gonna be called off, mate.

The battlefield's completely bogged.

I could use a couple of weeks to get these books into shape.

There is nothing wrong with them. It's the French normal system.

Oh, yeah, see, but the Australian system's completely different.

How come your mathematics always come out more for you?!

I hate to see lovers quarrel. Well, you see, you don't allow...

Since Passchendaele,

they've given us light duties, warm billets, good tucker.

What's going on?

I'm beginning to get suspicious, you know what I mean?

Mmm.

Maybe that's what the fatted calf felt like.

PAT: Well, if it isn't me old mate, Sergeant Watson.

Looking for something, are you?

Somebody. Flanagan.

What for?

We all know what for. The colonel wants to see him.

Haven't seen him.

Yeah?

Don't look now, but here comes ol' sunshine.

Uh-huh. G'day.

G'day, Sergeant. You want to see me?

How'd you guess?

The old man wants to see you right away.

Well, boys, see you in the spring.

Look after that, Pat.

Well, at least they can't shoot him. He only knocked the officer out.

Can't we do something?

He saves our lives and they throw the book at him.

That's the army.

There must be something.

Mum's the word, just like we've been doing.

Captain Young states in his report that someone - most probably you -

struck him unconscious in an unprovoked attack

during the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge.

What have you to say?

It was dark, sir, and a lot was happening.

I know what it was like.

Have you anything to add? No, sir.

The Regimental Sergeant Major questioned a score of soldiers

who would have been in plain view of the incident.

Not one of them saw anything.

Do you find that amusing, Flanagan?

No, sir.

Captain Young, it now remains for me to decide what action to take

in regard to Sergeant Flanagan.

Please withdraw to the Adjutant's office.

Certainly, sir.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

You know that the maintenance of discipline

must always be a paramount aim of the army?

Yes, sir.

And relations between officers and other ranks

is the key concern of military law,

and breaches of this law attract the harshest penalties?

Do you know why this should be so, Sergeant?

I hope you do.

Without these constraints, an army would only be an armed rabble.

It is not mere theory, Sergeant.

There have been reports of unarmed German prisoners

apparently shot dead behind Australian lines.

I understand, sir.

Then why?

I did what I thought was right at the time.

I still think it was, sir.

I have here a recommendation for an award for gallantry

signed by the Adjutant.

It concerns your attack on Pillbox Emma

and your steadiness in consolidating the company on its final objective.

There can be no thought of forwarding it now.

Get out.

Sergeant, you know and I know

that you should be court-martialled, but that's impossible.

You got brains, Flanagan. You know why.

Firstly, you could call 50 of the best soldiers as witnesses

to testify for you.

Captain Young could call none.

Secondly, it would appear that the authorities

had brought over to France

a man incompetent to command men in battle.

There'd be no way of suppressing a scandal.

Now, go before I change my mind.

Since there's no black mark on your conduct sheet,

you may as well have these.

If you ever come before me again, I'll cut off the crown jewels.

(JAUNTY MUSIC)

Well? Is the old man gonna court-martial you?

No, mate, worse than that.

Maybe we can buy your way out of it, mate.

What they did was make me an officer.

(All laugh)

They are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Just as well we've got a navy. Ha-ha.

(Men sing) Why was he born so beautiful?

Why was he born at all?

He's no bloody good to anyone

He's no bloody use at all.

(Sighs) Thanks again for everything.

They said I wouldn't have pulled through without you.

(Man coughs)

I'm going to miss you.

Come on, love. Be a sport.

I only want to get you to...

I know precisely what you want!

And this behaviour must stop forthwith!

Don't get off your bike, missus.

Missus?

Return at once to your ward

or I'll put you in charge of the military police.

Well, blimey, I've never been in charge of anything in me life.

Oh, since they arrived, this hospital's been sheer bedlam,

and it's getting worse.

Absolutely reprehensible...

Well, Sister Baker, I didn't expect to see YOU here again.

We don't seem to have much trouble with them, ma'am.

No?

Ah, but then you're... Australian too, aren't you?

In any case, visiting hours are over.

The hospital boat-train leaves in 10 minutes.

Out! Please go out! Out you go!

Alright, hang on, leave this to me, boys. The Cleary charm.

Er, excuse us, um, mum... missus, er...

(All laugh)

Ma'am. Oh, ma'am.

I know it's after visiting hours, but we wanted to see our mate

and you like a bit of a sport.

Oh! (All laugh)

Colonel!

COLONEL!

What's wrong with her? My stitches.

If I survive you blokes, I'm bound to beat the guys in England.

It's the nurses, I'd be worried about.

Yeah.

Any word on Max?

He's fine, mate. It's just a bit of eye trouble.

Yeah. Yeah, no worries.

Mate, congratulations.

Well, er, thanks, mate.

Bit of big brass with us now.

He's learning how to eat with a knife and fork.

Shut up, Cleary.

You can tell by the pockmarks around his mouth.

Well, begging your pardon, sir, we'd best be going.

The matron seems a bit upset.

Yeah, well, um...

We'd just like a... a minute or so with our mate.

(Laughs) Oh, the originals.

The class of 1914.

Uh-uh, not me, remember. I was a Gallipoli reinforcement.

Oh, yes, a bloody new chum. That's right.

Well, see you back in Aussie, buddy.

Oh, I don't know, I might get this old wing back together in England.

Oh, we've talked about that. You can go home now.

You've earned it.

You go dust off the red carpet for when we come visiting

when this nonsense is over.

Yeah, all together. Yeah, that's right.

Alright, sir?

(Quietly) Yeah.

Cough medicine. (Laughs)

Don't drink it all at once.

Wait for me at home, Marty.

Do what you're bloody well told for a change.

(POIGNANT MUSIC)

We know what you did for him, love.

I'll miss him like blazes.

But I want him to go.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

Don't you ever lose?

No point in losing, mate.

Anyway, I've got all of Dingo's debts to make up.

Yeah, well, we won't be seeing him again.

I'd like to see him.

I don't care so much about him deserting.

It's the five prisoners he shot.

Yeah.

Right, who's in, then?

Up. Now, this is what I call a war.

Me too.

Keep it like this and I'm in for life.

Boys. Morning, Skip.

You alright, Pud?

Yeah.

Why's he working?

Oh, he's skint.

And we're paying him sixpence an hour.

Sixpence?!

Alright then, ninepence.

Anyway, it's the... chain of command.

Oh. Bet he hasn't even had a drink. Neither have I, for that matter.

Oi. Your worse than the bloody overseers.

Anyway, you're an officer.

Very true, Lance Corporal, and by all rights

I should be putting you to work.

Oh. Ta.

I thought you were going to an officer's training course at Amiens.

So I am. After we finish the water bottle, that is.

Any more?

No, thanks. Nope.

Pay 20s. PAY ME!

About bleeding time!

Why's it all so peaceful, do you think?

Maybe Fritz has run out of ideas. That'll be the day.

I wonder if he's up to something.

They're keeping very quiet about it if they are.

Rate our generals are going, it'll take six months

to put the British Army together again after Passchendaele.

Better to keep it this way - play cards and wait for our pension.

Yeah, we were saying that in Gallipoli three bloody years ago.

Mmm, long time away from home.

Shh!

What is it? Hey, listen.

(BIRD SINGS)

Up there.

Oh, yep. Now, this is what I call a war.

MRS BAKER: Reverend!

I got a letter today from Kate.

Stand, Sugar.

Come on over in the shade.

"Dear Mum, thank you for your letter..."

Oh, I got me neighbour to write it for me.

"What you're asking is just not possible.

"I've got my duty here.

"Men are hurt every day - dreadfully hurt -

"and I can do something for them.

"There aren't many women in Australia who have the chance,

"but I have.

"I've got personal reasons too.

"Maybe one day I'll have some good news for you - wonderful news -

"but there are times when I doubt it.

"But, either way, leave me alone, Mum.

"I miss Dick too, but he is dead,

"and my business is with the living before they die too.

"Say a prayer for me, Mum, or have a drink, or both.

"Your loving daughter, Kate."

I don't think I quite understand, Mrs Baker.

What did you say in your letter?

I asked her to come home.

But why?

Because my husband's dead, so's my boy Dick, and Kate's all I got left.

And I want her. I need her, Vicar.

The wounded need her too.

"Honour thy father and thy mother." That's one of yours, isn't it?

Well, it's one of God the Father's anyway.

"Love thy neighbour as thyself."

That's one of God the Son's.

I reckon that's what she's doing.

Good news one day, she hopes,

only there's times when she doubts it.

Sounds exactly like loving your neighbour to me.

(Laughs nervously)

(CHURCH BELL RINGS)

Ah! (Laughs)

Surprise.

I wangled a weekend leave.

Good, good.

How is it?

Oh, it'll be alright.

(Sighs)

I just had to see you before you sailed.

Colonel Leg says he could have you on a boat home in three weeks.

Yeah... (Clears throat) ...well, I've, er...

I'm not going to Australia.

What?

I'm seeing Keith Murdoch about a staff job.

You promised me you'd go home.

You promised me.

Yeah, I know, but when I thought about it...

I'm not in bad shape. I could manage a staff job.

You're a liar.

You're a bloody liar.

You've got a chance to go home.

A lot of men would envy you that.

Love, I can't go back.

Not till this is over.

You know, it's only my arm out of action, not my brain.

I can be of some use here.

You really want to be with the boys, don't you?

Yeah, of course I do.

I don't know a damn thing about you anymore.

How can you say that?

Well, when I came here, you didn't kiss me.

You didn't even say hello. What are you talking about?

We've got to finish the war first.

Why 'we'? You mean 'you'. Personally.

Maybe I do. I mean, I don't know anymore.

I've been fighting for 3.5 years now. Just like me.

Kate, I've got to go back.

I've got to see this through.

Go, then.

Shove off and play soldiers.

Go to hell, Marty.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(Sings) Apres la guerre est finie

Tous les soldats sont partis

Estaminet avec vin ordinaire

Apres la guerre est finie...

(Chat indistinctly)

Apres la guerre est finie

Tous les soldats sont partis

Estaminet avec vin ordinaire

Apres la guerre est finie.

Very good.

Waiter!

Ta.

You're asking a hell of a lot, you know?

Well, I think I deserve it.

I signed on for the duration, after all.

Well, I'm going to need a damn good reason.

If there's one thing that the troops hate

more than Fritz and the weather, it's the staff.

Not your divisional men,

but those champagne-sippers up at high headquarters.

The troops see their greatest threat

as coming from these incompetent base officers

who understand nothing of the fighting man's needs.

Now, if I was to become a staff officer,

I mightn't be able to change much as a junior

but I could sure as hell protest against schemes

which are downright bloody murder.

I mean, believe me, the situation's beyond a joke.

Some British units have openly stated

that they'd rather shoot at the staff than Fritz.

In the French Army,

the staff officers are no longer game to wear their armbands.

I see what you mean.

Look, I'm going to tell you something.

And this is most confidential.

The five Australian divisions are to be unified. Finally.

Under their own command.

Really? Mm.

We've been arguing with Haig for two years for this,

for the right to fight alongside our own.

So who gets command?

Hopefully White. Maybe Birdwood. And Monash has his supporters.

Well, I don't suppose you could get me a posting with one?

Oh, Monash, perhaps.

His third division's taken some pretty heavy knocks.

I mean, the man's a good enough administrator. Or so I hear.

That might be the best I can do for you.

(GENTLE FRENCH MUSIC)

Hey, soldier. Fancy a girl?

What's wrong? You've been at the war, mate.

(TENSE MUSIC)

You've got a choice - firing squad or we finish it now, mate.

Yeah. Come on, Flanagan.

(Groans)

(DOGS BARK)

(Grunts)

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

It's alright.

Martin isn't coming home.

Yet. What do you mean? Of course he is.

He had his medical board, they said he was unfit for active service.

They told him.

He's managed to get himself a staff appointment.

Oh, I see.

Well, that isn't so bad, is it? Yes...

I mean, it isn't dangerous.

He used to write and tell us in his letters

the staff never went near the front.

Miles back in some chateau,

drinking champagne and eating pheasant.

It isn't so bad, is it? Thea, please, listen.

Martin's letter is in many ways a remarkable document.

The work of a Christian man.

If I may say so.

He's done enough!

(POIGNANT MUSIC)

Mrs Baker wants her daughter back and I want my son.

You know, there was a time

when I thought that Martin might marry Kate Baker.

And I wouldn't have minded...

...anything, as long as he came back to me.

Rupert might have, but he'd have come round.

Nothing's too good for the returning hero.

How is Rupert?

You must ask him when you see him. I don't.

See him, I mean.

He's always away on war work.

And when he's home we... quarrel.

What about?

Oh...

...patriotism.

Conscription.

How vile is the Hun.

God's will.

It's...

...so much better when he isn't here.

Excuse me, George, I...

...I don't mean to embarrass you.

Martin and Kate Baker.

Now, there's a marriage to look forward to, Thea.

(Whispers) Yes.

But I'm so afraid he only thinks of death.

That's why he can't leave the place where...

...death is so busy.

(SOMBRE MUSIC)

(Sobs)

To the Prime Minister.

As you are aware,

our request for reinforcements for 1918 was 600,000 men.

To date, we have received no more than 100,000 Class A men.

I have to inform you that this is placing a great strain

on the fighting capacity of our infantry.

Whatever you or your advisers

regard as a decisive front in this world war,

I am bound to say that the Germans regard it as here in France.

My intelligence sources have already identified

some additional 60 German divisions in movement to France from the east

following Russia's collapse.

The odds have swung dangerously in Germany's favour.

It's obvious they intend to go for a knockout blow at an early date.

I trust that whatever the future holds,

we will both be able to say we did all in our power

to guard against a catastrophe.

Trying to scare me, is he?

Well, if so, he's failed.

He has more men in khaki now than he had this time last year.

The military Moloch's appetite is unabated.

But remember, Prime Minister, they're mostly support troops,

not infantry.

Well, I will not endure

Haig's profligate use of manpower any longer and that's that.

In any case, Hankey,

the army would be on the defensive most of this year.

We are waiting for the Americans.

That may be longer than you think.

At this moment, not 10 months since they joined the war,

the Americans have fewer than seven divisions formed.

And remember, Prime Minister, we and the French

have to supply all their artillery and most of their aeroplanes.

Yes, but their numbers.

There are immense numbers, certainly. But they're raw and untrained.

Well, let's go back to the possibility

of opening up a second front in the Balkans.

(ARTILLERY BLASTS)

There's no need to do a moonlight flit. We've paid the rent.

The Boches. The Germans are miles away.

Not anymore.

Here, Pat, is this place selling grog or not?

It certainly is, Bill. What do you want?

Three cognacs.

Non!

Don't be silly. Here.

Help yourself.

You're panicking over nothing. There's no need to go walkabout.

I am not playing, Pat, believe me.

The Boches are coming, and I am not waiting to say hello.

Here, this is your share. Up to last night.

I still reckon old Field Marshall Haig

ought to put her on the payroll.

She's got a spy network on the other side.

Oh, certainement.

This is not necessary.

The Hun's been a good boy for weeks.

Ha! (EXPLOSIONS)

Those aren't our guns.

Oh, they're miles away.

(EXPLOSIONS)

Wherever it is, mate, it's on for young and old.

(EXPLOSIONS)

(EXPLOSIONS BECOME LOUDER)

(MELLOW MUSIC)

Just in case.

G'day.

Thought you was a looter, sir. Or Fritz, sir.

Germans that close, are they? They're all over the place, sir.

Looks like it could be the big breakthrough this time.

Amiens could go any time.

Know where the Australian divisions are?

Afraid not, sir.

I'll ask inside.

Sir, place is empty, officers have gone.

Where are you going? Back to Calais base HQ, sir.

We could give you a lift if you like.

No, thanks. I'm going the other way.

Get that junk out of the car.

Don't you obey orders in the British Army?

Cheer up, lads. It's not your fault.

That's not what the colonel will say.

I'll tell you what...

...l'll give you a receipt for the car and for one bottle of brandy.

Thank you very much, sir. That'll do nicely.

Very hot on paperwork is the colonel, sir.

Very hot.

Captain Barrington, sir.

Oh, Barrington. Yes.

You're the fellow that Keith Murdoch had foisted onto me.

You're a little early, Captain.

Yes, sir. I thought I'd better get here quickly.

No-one seems to know what they're doing in Amiens.

No-one seems to know what they're doing along the entire Somme front.

The British Third and Fifth Armies appear to have disintegrated.

Sir, we have a line now.

It's a bloody nightmare.

Jerry's advanced so fast that all our communications are overrun.

We can't find the British Corps headquarters.

Our division's moving fast but I don't think it'll get here in time.

We must have detailed information on the German positions.

Well, I know this part of the country very well, sir.

Do you, now? Yes, sir.

Oh, an original 8th Battalion man.

Yes, sir.

And a DCM.

Commissioned in the field? Yes, sir.

And you know this country, you say?

Yes, sir. I could go forward and find out where the Germans are.

Right, quick as you can.

Search along the Villers-Bretonneux road here.

Yes, sir.

SOLDIER: Come on, lads. Put your backs into it.

You two blokes over here.

Engineers?

Yes, sir.

Where's your officer?

We were tunnelling, sir.

Mr Ryecroft hurt himself in an accident.

We sent him by ambulance a few hours ago.

We've been on the move ever since, sir.

Fritz is pretty close, huh? Pretty close, sir.

About two or three miles.

So, er, what are you doing now?

We've been on the run since yesterday

and we've come far enough, so we're digging in.

Good men.

(Yells) Good men!

You wouldn't care to stay with us, sir.

Be a pleasure and an honour, Sergeant. Keep digging.

Sir.

Right! You heard the officer.

We're staying here, so get dug in.

General Monash as quick as you can.

Tell him I'm making myself useful here until he decides otherwise.

Dig this in much deeper.

Yes, sir.

I couldn't help noticing that you were on the staff.

I wondered if this was a planned resistance.

I think my chaps are a little tired,

but there's still a lot of fight in them.

Follow me.

Come along, chaps.

MacDonald, that's not the way to dig!

Had a pretty tough time, huh? Yes, rather.

The whole front-line company was wiped out in the bombardment.

Then Jerry worked his way behind us.

Specially trained men called storm troops.

Better add a bit of depth in. Dig it in all the way along here.

(MOTOR HUMS IN DISTANCE)

MAN: Tank! Down, men!

Come on, get down!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

A tank!

(Laughs)

It's alright, it's only a tractor. Keep digging.

(Men chat and laugh)

I saved this from the Boches.

I saved this from the Boches.

Where are they?

You have a little time still.

They are about 3km behind. Merci.

Come in, Keith bach, come in. Very cheerful, sir.

No, I'm not. Sit down.

Bad news?

The worst. The very worst.

Then why so cheerful?

Pas devant les domestiques. Ah, not before the servants.

It sounds better in French, even my French.

Oh, I must stop making these stupid jokes.

God knows I've got nothing to joke about.

What's happened, sir?

I rather think I got my wish.

It looks as if I may have reason to get rid of Haig.

But at rather too high a price.

What price would that be, sir?

It is all too possible that we may lose this war.

The Germans have broken through on two fronts now.

A breakthrough, you say?

And no amount of military persiflage will persuade me otherwise.

What about the French strategic reserve

formed by you and Clemenceau?

Are they committed? Hah!

As his commanding general says,

"All I have is the pennant on my car."

And as for the rest of our military experts,

Foch is making heroic speeches to himself in the mirror,

Petain is catatonic and wants to surrender,

and General Wilson is proposing battle plans

as long as he doesn't have to take the responsibility

for carrying them out.

And Field Marshall Haig?

Haig has lapsed into a silence, unusual even for him.

Can it be that he is actually on the brink of admitting

that he may have made a mistake?

Is there any reserve, sir?

Yes.

The five Australian divisions.

The Canadians, and a few battered English ones.

What are you thinking?

That the heartless British are about to throw

your Australians back into the breach again?

(MILITARISTIC MUSIC)

There doesn't seem to be much choice, does there?

A note from Captain Barrington, sir.

"The Germans are advancing along the Corbie Road in strength."

Position approximately here.

Well, why didn't he report in person?

He says he found a few fellows with guts enough to dig in,

so he thought he should dig in too.

Really?

What are staff officers coming to?

SOLDIER: Hurry up, lads. We haven't got all day.

Mind if we join you, sir?

Looks like you've had enough for the time being.

The truth is, sir, we can't walk much further.

And we'd rather fight than wait for Jerry with our hands up.

Any of you drive a car?

I can, sir.

Could you drive this car?

Would be a pleasure, sir.

Come on, dig, lads. Jerry won't wait for us.

Drive to the nearest advance dressing station,

use the chit for the MO

that explains how you got the car.

Oh, cor.

Thank you very much, sir.

Thank you for the offer. Good luck.

Cheers, sir.

Hop in.

Mind the clutch. I'll give it a start.

Right!

ROLY: You get used to a lot of waiting about in the army.

But this was different.

We'd read of the German breakthrough near Amiens,

the loss of the towns that had cost us so much blood and sweat.

Bullecourt, Bapaume, Pozieres, even Albert.

The mood among the boys was changing from amazement to anger.

Our division was the only one

that hadn't been put in against the Germans down south.

We couldn't understand why.

By all accounts, Fritz was very close at that moment to winning the war.

(TRAIN SHUNTS, WHISTLE BLOWS)

About bloody time!

Come on, boys. Kip's over.

Wonder where they're going to take us now, Pat.

Get your gear together!

Move it!

(DISTANT RUMBLING)

Keep it up, men.

Uh, monsieur, could you please try and?

Soon you will have company, monsieur.

They are very close now. And my people are very tired.

Would you please try and get your people near the road edge?

You are asking too much, Capitaine. They are not soldiers.

We cannot sacrifice our families. Surely you realise that.

Well, our soldiers are coming.

I hope so. You are not many to hold back the German army.

But they will come. Believe me.

Which soldiers? Your countrymen? That's right.

Very soon. Very soon!

II dit que les Australiens arrivent tout de suite!

(All shout gladly)

Les Australiens!

(lrish accent) Is that right, sir? Your blokes are coming?

God help me if I'm wrong.

Sir, could you inspect the gun emplacement we've set up?

(All continue shouting) (RUMBLING CONTINUES)

Come on, men. Get your weapons ready. The Germans are coming.

(DISTANT MARCHING BAND MUSIC)

'Pompey' bloody Elliott!

(MARCHING MUSIC CONTINUES)

(All cheer and speak excitedly)

MAN: Bravo I'Australie!

MAN: Bravo I'Australie!

You beauty! Bravo!

(Whistles)

(All cheer)

I was saying to monsieur le cure we do not worry now.

It is safe to go home.

Ah! We know you Australians from 1916.

You will stand and fight. Is that not so?

Oui, monsieur. Oui.

MAN: En avance! En avance!

Where did you come from?

Far side of Amiens, miss.

Well. You believe in travelling in style, don't you?

It was an Aussie officer gave us the car, miss.

Which Aussie officer? He was digging in, up on a hillside.

Him and a lot of our lads. All sorts, there was.

Uh, Royal Engineers, East Kents,

Durham Light Infantry, Gordons - all sorts.

Funny, though - he was the only Australian.

I'll tell you something else was funny and all.

You do that. I could use a good laugh.

Well, this officer. He was on staff. Red armband, all of that.

Except he didn't act like he was on staff, did he?

No, he acted like he knew what he was doing.

Not like he was on staff at all.

What was he like? Very nice to us, miss.

A proper gent.

Did you get his name? No, miss.

Yes, we did.

He gave us a chit on account of the car.

(Sighs) Martin Barrington.

Captain.

Might have known.

(SOLEMN MUSIC) Come on.

(TRAIN RUMBLES)

So where are we this time, Kaiser?

Hazebrouck. Hazebrouck?!

But that's where we started from yesterday.

It's a bloody stuff-up again.

Oh, no, it's alright.

How many of you blokes have been in the army for four years

and still don't get the army's sense of humour?

What?

What are you blithering about?

Well, it's logical, isn't it?

It's two weeks past 1 April, right?

Uh-huh.

Staff's always two weeks behind with everything.

This is an April Fool's Day joke.

Drive us round in circles. You got it?

(Men groan)

The officers are getting down for a stretch.

I suppose they need to. Must have stiff backsides.

Riding round all day on them big fat cushions, hey?

There's a Pommy officer coming to speak to them. Brass hat.

OFFICER: Gentlemen, I am instructed to inform you

that the expected German attack in the north has commenced.

Bloody hell. Flanagan was right.

Yeah, he's always bloody right when he says we'll get shot at.

Armentieres has already fallen.

The enemy are pushing hard against Calais and Dieppe.

If they succeed, we will be cut off from Great Britain.

I am further instructed to inform you

that the First Australian Division

is the only formed body of troops between here and the Channel ports.

So it's all up to you. Good luck!

(Sighs) We bloody need it, mate.

That's for sure. MAN: OK, everybody out!

Alright. Roll up! Roll up! It's on again.

Seems funny going off to fight without Marty, doesn't it?

(Scoffs) Nah, he's better off where he is, Roly.

Where is Marty, anyway? Where the staff always are.

Tucked up in some chateau with a bottle of champagne for a nightcap.

How's it going up this end?

Making life difficult for the Germans at 1,700 yards, sir.

Good! Much activity?

Oh, targets are a bit sparse. I think they've changed their minds.

Men! Keep the ammunition up to this end!

MAN: Bring up more ammunition.

MAN: I'm looking for a Captain Barrington.

Yes. Ah. Driscoll. 10th Brigade.

Martin Barrington. The word from on high.

You can knock this foreign legion off.

Sir, we're only meant...

You've shaken Fritz, so the brigade's moving forward.

You're being stood down - with many thanks.

Oh, there's a verbal message too.

Uh, a certain general wants a certain captain

back on his staff again.

Toot sweet! Back to being a staff officer.

You can tell your kids what you did in the Great War!

What about you? Oh, don't worry about me, sir.

I'm regular. I'm here because... I'm here, as they say, sir.

Good luck. Thanks. Thanks, sir.

Wish I was going with you.

Off you go.

I'll look after them.

There's a stragglers collection point further down the road.

They're not stragglers.

They're some of the best men I've fought with...

Sorry. I'll look after them, right?

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)

Sir.

Gentlemen, the dress standards of this headquarters are declining.

I must speak to the chief of staff.

The British are already convinced we're all bushrangers

and I hear you've been running a private army of Tommies.

How were they? Good men, sir.

Only some of their top brass were...

Well, there's a quotation from Napoleon that covers it.

"There's no such thing as a bad soldier, only bad officers," eh?

Yes, sir.

Yes, a pity about the British.

The draw their officers from a narrow social class.

Oh, some of them are good.

But in a war like this, there's not enough of those to go round.

It's cost them dearly.

Now, Barrington. You were sold to me on the basis of your brains.

It's about time we put that to the test. Now, look here.

We've given the Germans a bloody nose right there.

Temporarily.

They still outnumber us four to one,

but if we can keep them unsettled for, say, 48 hours,

there'll be time to bring up the extra Australian divisions.

I intend to do this with a series of local counterattacks.

I want you to do a study of the ground

where we can achieve the greatest success at the smallest cost.

Have the appreciation in front of me in three hours.

Sir.

(Men talk indistinctly)

...where the Germans are and what we can do about it.

Same again, mate.

CLEARY: Same again - it's always up to the brass hats, Roly.

Yeah.

(British accent) Good God. Corporal Wallace.

You're wrong, mate. Don't call me 'mate'.

Your name is Wallace.

As a matter of fact, it's Harris.

Corporal Wallace, West Kents.

No, mate. Corporal Harris, 8th Battalion, 1 st Divvy, AIF.

You killed your officer and deserted your regiment in Afghanistan.

This would be a stupid place for a deserter to be, wouldn't you say?

You're under arrest, Wallace.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(English accent) You're taking a bit of a chance, aren't you?

I mean, just suppose you're right? Just for the sake of argument.

Here's me with a rifle.

There's you.

No-one else about.

You won't get away with it.

I'll report you for this.

(MENACING MUSIC)

(BIRDS AND INSECTS CHIRP)

There's a place like this between Ballarat and Daylesford.

There's bugger-all between Ballarat and Daylesford.

There's a place just like this up on the Wimmera.

Yeah, I know the place. It's near Natimuk. This is exactly the same!

Yeah, only the Wimmera's full of gum trees and dust.

There's not much grass there,

and the air's chocka with parakeets and galahs.

And all you can hear are cicadas. And the smell's different.

The light's different, 'cause here, the sun's a big orange bastard.

Takes about 1.5 hours to set.

And, of course, you don't have Germans charging through your fence

every 20 or 30 years.

Yeah, but aside from that, Pat,

you gotta admit it's bloody like the Wimmera!

(Scoffs)

Captain Hayden and the company ser' major

have been sent to form a nucleus.

You are now Acting Company Commmander.

Hell of a bloody time to spring this on me.

Couldn't you have run a raffle or something?

You'll deploy your men

in defence of the Nieppe Forest area here, to the south-east.

You are to hold this line here.

From there to there? Correct.

(Whistles)

Any friendlies in front? The Guards Brigade.

Last heard of surrounded, but fightin'.

So do we know how Fritz is operating?

Yeah. They've worked out new tactics.

A combination of artillery

and this flying wedge arrangement instead of a mass attack.

The machine-gunners and bombers in front,

general advance behind 'em.

When did they start all this? Two days ago.

They'll be buggered. Our blokes are fresh.

I wouldn't think they'd be too buggered, mate.

They've hardly been opposed since day one.

No, they're well-trained.

Well-supplied, reinforced and confident.

We're in for a bit of a stoush, I'm afraid.

We'd better get on with it, then.

The orders are that you're to hold your position at all costs.

If necessary, down to the last man.

Good luck, eh?

Well, sir, if the men break position,

it won't be to go back that way.

Good man.

Bill! Skipper.

You've just been promoted Acting Company Ser' Major.

But I don't want...

We'll use that farmhouse up there until we get organised, alright?

(MILITARY TATTOO PLAYS)

Kaiser.

Right. So that will be our line. A series of posts.

Got the picture, then, Bill?

Couldn't be simpler.

We're on a battalion front, need 600 men, easy.

We're going to defend it with a company.

And after the knocks we've taken,

the company consists of exactly 97 blokes who can still walk.

Like I said, it's easy.

Ah, but then you're smart. I must be. I'm one of the 97.

We can do it, you know. We've got to do it.

(Shouts orders to the men)

Beautiful, isn't it, Smithy?

Not a sign of wire or mud.

Do me, mate.

Yeah, I feel like a kid on me first Sunday school picnic.

What? You're not worried about what might happen?

Worried? Paying me six bob a day for this.

They make all me decisions,

provide free transport to the appointed place

and throw in three meals a day.

No, you compare this to humping a swag around the outback,

under the blazing sun, 100 miles between pubs,

nothing but the crows for track mates.

Gawd, I miss it. (Chuckles)

You got a good field of fire? Got fields of fire to burn.

Never seen so many fields of fire.

All we need's a few guns to fire, mate.

Ser' Major to you.

Want to watch this one - he's a stickler for the rules.

Still a bit of Pom in him.

Right.

See these branches - I want them laid on top

so none of this fresh soil shows.

Now, the secret of this sort of scatter defence...

Camouflage and concealment. That's right.

Now, Bluey's post is over there.

Where abouts, Bill? I can't see it, mate.

You're not supposed to see it. Neither is Fritz.

Now, Bluey can cover your front and you can cover his, if need be. OK?

It's called... Mutual support.

What the hell's happened, Cleary?

You pinched somebody's field manual? Nah.

I'd never admit to being a pro, but some of it rubs off on you.

You know, like a lump of sh... Don't say it! Just dig.

Hey.

You were a baitlayer in your time, weren't you?

Oh, yeah - I'm not a bragger, but I was voted best shearers' cook

at Big Willandra and Cudjingie.

Good. Once you're dug in, you can report to company headquarters.

You've just officially become chief spud barber.

(Laughs)

Never trust the bastards once they get a bit of rank.

More branches on the left flank. MAN: Major, Major!

Where do you think you're going? Come here!

Into that line. MOVE!

Straggler collection point over there.

Now, the only thing back there is the English Channel. We're staying here.

Move, son!

More earth on that parapet, Perkins!

More cover here.

Sergeant Major, can we be part of this?

The Guards.

Certainly you can, son. Everybody's invited.

Where's the Guards now?

Mostly dead where they stood, sir.

Help dig in over there, lads.

How's the digging on your flank, Bill?

Oh, coming along nicely.

Message from Battalion reckons we can expect them in 2-3 hours.

Put your head down for a couple of hours.

You might be glad of it later. Yeah, I will.

Wake me in an hour. Right. Off you go.

Company's on 50% stand-to.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)

Oi.

Thought you were spud-bashing.

Oh, I hired an assistant.

Hey, look what I found.

So what?

Now, if they had something in them, well...

Mate, they're silk.

You beauty, Pat! (Laughs)

That's your colour, Blue.

MAN: Better get a postcard and send it back to them, Bill.

(All laugh) (GRAMOPHONE PLAYS)

It's a bit of a funny time for playing dress-ups, isn't it?

(Whistles) Get into 'em, dopey. They're silk.

The only thing lice won't live in. You're right!

He had a ton of stuff up there. Must have had a harem, that bloke!

Yeah, and a dirty old bugger as well.

(Men snigger) Look at this!

(British accent) Who's in charge here?

Skipper. I am, sir.

(GRAMOPHONE PLAYS OPERA)

You going to make a fight of it, lad?

Yes, sir. Good man.

Get me a rifle. Sir, you can't go into the line.

You haven't got time to argue with me, Lieutenant.

Pat, get the colonel a rifle and show him your position.

STAND TO! STAND TO!

Move!

(ARTILLERY FIRE)

In there, mate... uh, sir.

(GRAMOPHONE PLAYS IN DISTANCE)

You ripper!

Now, pick your targets, lads.

If Bluey gets into trouble, cover him.

If this goes right, you're on a stripe.

As fast as you can, Tom.

(ARTILLERY CONTINUES)

(DISTANT RUMBLING)

(RUMBLING CONTINUES)

(MILITARY TATTOO PLAYS)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(Horse neighs)

(GUNSHOTS)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

Haskins. Flanagan.

Care to join our picnic? Jolly good.

Rest will be here any moment. Welcome aboard.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(Men in distance laugh)

(Men speak in German)

(MUSIC INTENSIFIES)

Cease firing!

Cease fire.

(SILENCE)

Kommt ihr. Vorwarts.

(HEAVY ARTILLERY AND RIFLE FIRE RESUMES)

Cease fire!

Stay where you are!

Come back!

Bill, detail a party and collect whatever weapons you can find.

Get the wounded to the rear quickly.

The rest of you stay put.

Phew! End of round one.

MAN: Aha! We've beaten the buggers!

In a pig's ear we have, mate! That was just the warm-up!

It will take them half a day getting the guns up for the main event!

I say, would you care for a mouthful of brandy?

That's, uh, very civil of you, mate... uh, Colonel.

Yes.

Thank you.

Cheerio, old chap.

Jolly pleased to have met you.

Thanks for the help. Drop in any time.

(Shouts) Good work, boys. Time for a brew.

Colonel. Jensen! Oh, bless my soul!

Have you been in this, sir? Yes, sir.

Best day's work in a long march, eh?

Nice to make a stand of it.

It appears some of our chaps are still hard at it off to the east.

Well, we'd best go and join them.

Can't let these colonial chappies do all the work.

Lance Corporal, tell your commanding officer

that the first battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers

fought to the last man.

Lead on, Jensen.

(REFLECTIVE MUSIC)

(EXPLOSIONS)

Ranging shots. Right, this is the main event.

You all know what the story is. We're here to stay.

Now, every individual position must hold.

We lose one, we lose the lot.

If one post gets into trouble, the other post fires in assistance.

And as last resort, I'll commit company reserve, alright?

Who's got the Tommies? I have.

How are they? They'll do.

Right, you keep an eye on the Lewis gun positions.

If they get knocked, we're stuffed.

Tom, phone line through yet?

Wasn't two minutes ago, but they're working like buggery.

Alright, to your positions. Keep your heads down.

If you can't find me when the line's through, get it to Bill.

Until we get artillery support, we can only hold.

How long can we do that? Till we get artillery support.

You are now the company reserve.

Stop fiddling with that rifle there, man!

(TENSE MUSIC)

Mr Flanagan's last hope.

The plan is we're going to stay here.

It's a perfectly good plan, and we won't have the Germans bugger it up.

So make every shot count.

Wonder which bloody way they'll come this time.

I don't know.

But they won't hit the same place.

(EXPLOSION)

Just answered my question - back door. Good luck.

(TENSE MUSIC)

(Shouts commands in German)

Where'd they go?

(FOREBODING MUSIC)

They're using their brains this time.

Bill! Sir!

The left flank! Get the reserve up now!

Sir! On your feet! Go on, at the double!

(HEAVY MACHINE-GUN FIRE)

Now they've got us pinned here.

Hold on. Wait till he gets settled.

(Thoughts echo) Go! More stirring deeds are what won the Empire.

Bluey's game! What about the rest of ya? Come on!

(TENSE MUSIC)

G'day, Blue, ol' mate.

As union rep, I gotta warn you about taking this war on by yourself.

(FOREBODING MUSIC)

Wait for it.

Phone's through. About bloody time.

Guns - SOS, sector 12, 1416!

That's our position! You've given them our position!

Where do you think the Hun are?

(Shouts) Take cover!

(TREE CREAKS AND FALLS)

Whose artillery is that?!

It's ours. Innit lovely?

Up 100 and rip into 'em!

Hold onto your hat, mate.

(BOMBS WHISTLE)

(GUNFIRE SLOWS THEN CEASES)

(SILENCE)

How are you doing, Roly? Fine, Kaiser.

I could do with a drink.

Fat chance of that round here, mate.

Good on you, Tom.

Buy you a beer for that, mate. You're on.

Special award from General Cleary.

VC... and bar.

Thanks, Pat. Get it into ya.

Thanks, Pat.

Treat him gentle when you take him back to the aid post.

Sergeant Major... Harris?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

I'll report to my colonel

that today I saw an Australian sergeant major in action

who would've been a credit to the Buffs themselves.

Good luck, Harris.

Good luck to you, sir.

(UPLIFTING MUSIC)

I'll notify HQ that we've been successful.

Right, and another number two for Bluey.

Good job, boys.

G'day. Got any tucker to spare, you blokes?

You buggers get outta here.

We'll look after the food.

We fight and you eat.

That's a piss-poor arrangement.

Where are the rations? There should be rations in here.

Hey, Roly. Come and have a look at this.

What's it say, mate?

(Shouts) Hey, listen to this.

What is it, Roly?

"Order of the day - 11 April, 1918.

"From the Commander in Chief, Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig."

Hear? It's from Haig.

"There is no other course open to us but to fight it out.

"With our backs to the wall

"and believing in the justice of our cause,

"each one of us must fight to the end."

Backs against the bloody wall? That's bullshit!

Been livin' in chateaus too long.

What are you doin' bringin' us this stuff?

(COMICAL MUSIC) (Laughs) Onya, Pat!

God, they'll put him on a charge.

Well, Ser' Major... Well, skipper.

You did alright out there today.

I've done it before, haven't I? Have you?

You know I have. It's none of my business.

Stone the crows.

Everyone's been after my secret for the last four years.

Now I want to tell it, you don't want to listen.

Come on then, get on with it.

I joined the British Army back in 1900.

Boy soldier.

Boer War. All that.

What regiment?

The Buffs.

Royal East Kents to you.

Struth! You and Kaiser were taking a chance going back to Kent on leave.

Most of the blokes I knew were dead.

Killed at Mans before you and me even got to Gallipoli.

Besides, I've been taking... a bit of a chance...

...ever since I shot my platoon commander.

You what?!

You've done a bit in that line yourself, ain't ya?

Captain Young back at Broodseinde? That's right.

Well, I didn't kill him, mate.

Are you saying you wouldn't have?

If he'd gone on getting us all killed like mine did?

Where'd all this happen?

North-West Frontier.

1907.

He led us into a Pathan ambush.

Tried to run away, leave us to it.

I'd just been made up to sergeant.

I was a good soldier.

Keen.

I was gonna be Company Sergeant Major.

But you're Company Ser' Major now, mate.

If they catch me...

...l'll hang.

I reckon shootin' your officer's the cause of that.

Makes the others a bit... touchy, you know?

Yeah.

Just remember one thing, Bill.

You belong to us now, mate, and we're not gonna let you go.

An Anzac hath joined together, let no Pom put asunder, mate.

Come on, let's go and join the party.

(Whispers) Yeah.

Yar!

Oh, must you?!

Is that all the welcome I get?

How long have you got?

Till tomorrow.

I can arrange it.

Matron owes me a favour.

Just give me five minutes to get changed.

Mm-hm, and then the long lunch.

It's a French custom, among other things.

Anyway, that's enough of my repetitive hospital routine.

Tell me what you've been doing these last weeks.

Uh, you know. Usual stuff, officer stuff.

How many sets of underwear does the Buff unit need, per man, per day...

Liar.

I said liar.

Alright, I heard you.

A group of wounded Tommies turned up

in a car with a chit signed by Captain Barrington.

Oh, did they?

And furthermore, they told me about this Australian officer

who was digging in for some mad last-ditch stand.

Oh, what are you? A perpetual school boy?

Kate, I only tried to help...

When you pulled strings to stay in France,

you said you were going to be safe... on staff.

You're frightening the daylights out of me by being right up...

Just stop it.

(SENTIMENTAL MUSIC)

Kate, in amongst the shambles of that retreat

were some men who hadn't lost their self-respect.

Men who were looking for someone to focus their courage.

Now, what? Would you expect me to walk out on that?

Bloody hell.

There's gonna be more unprincipled men left alive

at the end of this war than the other kind.

So?

So why should my man be one of? Oh, yours, huh?

Yes, mine.

Until a more cynical generation comes along.

Thank you very, very much.

So help me, I think I'm stuck in the old-fashioned kind.

(GENTLE PIANO MUSIC)

C'est la guerre. C'est I'affaire.

(ROMANTIC STRING MUSIC)

Anyway, it's all arranged.

The boss is being promoted, and I have to go with him.

The boss?

Mm-hm. He's now commander of the whole Australian Corps.

Ah! Monash?

Yes, I went up to Corps headquarters -

you can't even hear the guns from there.

That's marvellous. Oh, yes, isn't it?

Probably end up giving out blankets and long johns.

Oh, glory be!

(Quietly) Ou est la cle? Ah.

Numero 11.

You had this all planned. Mm-hm.

Well, I'm planning to be a staff officer and, like the boss says,

"Reconnaissance, forethought, planning."

Number 11 is a lovely room.

God help me, Matron. I'm being seduced.

Fate worse than death, Sister. (Giggles)

(ROMANTIC MUSIC)

Bill! Smoko, mate.

(Men mutter indistinctly)

Where do you reckon we're headin'?

I dunno - it's a question I gave up asking the army years ago

for my peace of mind.

Jeez, this countryside.

Yeah, I know. It's like the bloody Wimmera.

What happened to you? Drop two bob and find sixpence?

And your mate.

Mr Flanagan. Mm.

Tell this youngster where you think we're going

so we can all get some peace.

The best furphy I've got is that we're headed south for the Somme.

There, you happy now?

What's the matter, mate?

Uh, I don't know. It's the weather.

I don't suppose it would be

the whereabouts of the estaminet's stocks and profits, would it?

Picked it in one.

Oh, mate, it was a gold mine. Yeah, it was.

Yeah, and beside that, bit worried about the girls too.

I don't reckon they'll be that far behind us, mate.

How do you figure that out?

Well, this is the first time all the Aussie divisions

are going to be together in one camp.

So?

Will Madame stay north with the shilling-a-day Tommies,

or will she follow the six-bob-a-day warriors south?

She's no dummy. That's right.

I'm back in business. You bet.

You were slippin' there for a minute, Pat.

Must be your old age, mate. Oh, senility. I feel great.

Hey, Bluey? Give us a bit of a song, mate.

Uh, bugger it. I'll sing one meself.

(Clears throat) Oh, God.

(All sing) Up to me waist in water Up to your eyes in slush

Using the kind of language that makes the sergeant blush

Who wouldn't join the army? That's what we all inquire

And don't we pity the poor civilian sitting by the fire

Oh, oh, oh, it's a lovely war

Oh, oh, oh, it's a lovely war

Who wouldn't be a soldier, eh?

Oh, it's a shame to take the pay

As soon as reveille has gone

We feel just as heavy as lead

But we never get up

Till the sergeant brings

Our breakfast up to bed

Oh, oh, oh, it's a lovely war

What do we want with eggs and ham

When we've got plum and apple jam?

Form fours, right turn

How shall we spend

The money we earn?

Oh, oh, oh, what a lovely war.