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           TheyhadresistedhiseffortstoblowthemoutbecausetheygenuinelybelievedtheAustralianfightingmanhadnopeersaveaGurkha,andiffaithisnine-tenthsofpower,theyhadcertainlyprovedthemselvesformidable.

           "BloodyPoms,"saidJims."WhatweneedinNorthAfricaismoreAussies."

           Thechorusofagreementwasinterruptedbyanexplosionontherimofthedugoutwhichblewthelizardintonothingandsentthefoursoldiersdivingforthemachinegunandtheirrifles.

           "Fuckin’Dagogrenade,allsplintersandnopunch,"Bobsaidwithasighofrelief."IfthatwasaHitlerspecialwe’dbeplayingourharpsforsure,andwouldn’tyoulikethat,eh,Patsy?"

           AtthebeginningofOperationCrusadertheNinthAustralianDivisionwasevacuatedbyseatoCairo,afteraweary,bloodysiegewhichseemedtohaveaccomplishednothing.However,whiletheNinthhadbeenholedupinsideTobruk,thesteadilyswellingranksofBritishtroopsinNorthAfricahadbecometheBritishEighthArmy,itsnewcommanderGeneralBernardLawMontgomery.

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           FeeworealittlesilverbroochformedintotherisingsunemblemoftheAIF;suspendedontwochainsbelowitwasasilverbar,onwhichshehadtwogoldstars,oneforeachsonunderarms.Itassuredeveryoneshemetthatshe,too,wasDoingHerBitfortheCountry.Becauseherhusbandwasnotasoldier,norherson,Meggiewasn’tentitledtowearabrooch.