All language subtitles for Anzacs_e04_DVDRip eng

(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.