Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

Organisations

CAMP JOTTINGS

NOTES AT THE SHOW-GROUNDS

With the removals to the isolation camp at Ascot, and other transfers to the V.R.C. Racecourse and Broadmeadows, there still remain about 4000 men at the Agricultural Showgrounds, and a cheery lot they are, when the depressing surroundings are taken into consideration. Military training is not rendered more enjoyable by bad weather and the prevalence in camp of a dangerous epidemic in the form of meningitis. Every one is asking where this form of fever, which attacks the brain and spine simultaneously, came from. Little definite appears to be forthcoming in answer to this query, but as the epidemic has asserted itself in Egyptian and English as well as Australian camps, it is reasonable to suppose that the outbreak is due to the concentration of men generally, and that its progress is facilitated by overcrowding, lack of ventilation, and unclean surroundings. An unpleasant feature of the visitation is the fact that for every case of the disease notified, a dozen or a score of "contacts" are sent out of camp to be isolated.

It is not an easy matter to maintain a philosophical exterior under such handicaps, but the men in camp, in typical Australian fashion, have not only accommodated them selves to the circumstances, but have risen superior to them by displaying an exuberance of spirits which meets the visitor to the camp at every turn, and proves even more infectious than the disease referred to, although much more pleasant to contract. When drill is finished and discipline relaxed, the camp resounds with laughter and song, and jokes are bandied about among the men which impart picnic-like atmosphere to the surroundings. In the tents provided by the various religious denominations, patriotic songs are being sung, the choruses being given in such vigorous fashion that the strains are wafted far beyond the confines of the camp. First favourite at such impromptu gatherings is the pianist who can "vamp"--the man who can not only pick up an accompaniment that will harmonise with any song, but who grasps the tempo like a flash of lightning and is ready to transpose the composition into the particular key which fits the sometimes rather limited range of the vocalist. "Know this one? asks the prospective singer, and forthwith he proceeds to whistle the tune into the shell-pink ear of the pianist. "Think I got 'im," says the instrumentalist as he strikes a few chords and runs up and down the "ivories". "Got 'im a treat," agrees the vocalist. "Right oh! Fire away!" The song is '"The Lincolnshire Poacher," which did duty as a marching tune in the days of the Indian Mutiny, and has recently been resurrected by certain references by Rudyard Kipling. Its counterpart in one of Harry Lauder's songs is at once noticed, which renders the task of joining in the chorus simple.  Outside the tent the band strikes up and enlivens the proceedings.

At the rear of the Y.M.C.A. half a dozen gymnasts are punching a ball or performing on the horizontal bar, while others are indulging in rope quoits and other pastimes. The cry of "Next!" comes from two other tents in the vicinity where the camp barbers are at work on the hirsute adornments of the soldiers. There are several chairs going, but the sign "no waiting" is not in evidence. With the band playing outside, the military Figaroes' razors appear to keep time. A shave to the measured strains of "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" is a luxury, while a shampoo to the accompaniment of "Australia Will be There" is probably a fragrant memory which will be recalled when our boys are in the trenches and beyond the reach of the camp barber. 

It may not be an easy matter to detect omens in a ramble round the Showgrounds, but "signs" at least are not wanting. Every cattle or sheep pen has its distinctive title. Thus we note "Shin-bone Cottage," "The Stew Shifters," "The Kaiser Killers," and the "Die Hards." "Stew Pot Villa" is close to "The Jolly Beggars' Ranch," and in the vicinity the way to Berlin is indicated by an arrow pointing in a direction which leads one to a "pitch" where the succulent Frankfort and a roll may be purchased for a small silver coin. In conspicuous places in the pens may be seen photographs of winsome lassies - of wives, sisters, sweethearts. Truly with such appealing touches of nature even a cattle pen becomes mightier than the sword! "We live to-eat" is the motto posted by one double quartet of Sybarites. In another compartment more caution is exercised, and the juxtaposition of the two announcements is sinister. "Stew, bread, and jam to eat here," we read, and immediately below, "Death before dishonor." Soldiers are preparing their toilets in these strange places of abode, or brushing up their clothes in anticipation of leave, the while they indulge in chaff and banter with their comrades, the scenes in some instances recalling the humor of Mickey Free, the greatest humorist ever introduced into a military story by Charles Lever.

There is a canteen of the "dry" description where soft drinks may be obtained and eatables of various kinds purchased. It occupies the site of the bar, close to the main entrance, where town and country friends were wont to meet during the currency of the Agricultural Shows to revive old memories and friendships the while they poured down their throats firewater of various brands. The brands may still be recalled by the bold advertisements that adorn the walls and shelves, but only colorable imitations of the said firewater may be purchased here. A soldier who claimed to be able to adapt himself to any set of circumstances told our representative that it was really surprising the amount of enthusiasm that could be raised on Bux ale if people would only persevere. But another man present replied: "I like something with a sting in it, and the nearest approach I can get to it is ginger ale and hop bitters." Then he wiped his mouth with the back of a sun-burned hand, pointed to the advertisement for a favorite brand of whisky, and sadly murmured: "You may break, you may shatter the vase if you will, but the scent of the roses will hang round it still." But the dry canteen principle is not mere confined to the camp; even when on leave a soldier has to go far afield for alcohol. Both the Tower and Racecourse Hotels are picketed by the military police, whose instructions are to see that no soldier enters the licensed promises. The work of preventing liquor from entering the camp through the medium of visitors is not easy of attainment. Many attempts to smuggle through beer have been detected, and the amber-colored liquid is invariably destroyed; but spirits contained in the less obtrusive flask finds its way into the grounds more readily.

It is not generally known that practically every man now wearing khakee at the Showgrounds has paid for his uniform practically out of his own pocket. This is the result of the decision of the Defence Department not to issue uniforms till the troops have left Victoria. The result is that the men appear on parade wearing, for the most part, cardigan jackets and ultramarine overalls. The livery referred to being of a mixed variety, detracts from the picturesqueness of the march past, and matters are not improved in this respect by the delightful and bewildering wear in head coverings. All seasons of the year are represented, the "straw decker" marching side by side with the "boxer," and the soft felt cheek by jowl with the white Peter Pan, one of which is inscribed "made in Germany by a Turk." The disparity in the height of the men is another factor that - robs a march of its usual lustre. Taken on the whole, however, the men at the Showgrounds are a fine body, and with training should hold their own with those Australians who have already gone to the front, and a word should be added with regard to the general behaviour of the men. This is certified by the Chief Commissioner of Police as being so exemplary that not the slightest additional strain has been put on the local police. This is high praise, and it is endorsed by one of the local officers in this characteristic fashion: " The general conduct of the men in camp is so good that we cannot even tell when it is pay day."

The march past may be witnessed daily at 4 p.m., and a word may here be said for the band, which, only a few weeks in existence, already represents a very creditable musical combination. After the march in the public is admitted, and for an hour following family re-unions are the order of the day. As this particular hour arrives, hundreds of ladies arrive by tram car, each bearing a hamper of dainties for the soldiers, which must go far to relieve the monotony of the camp fare. In this connection the men from the country districts are not as happily situated as the boys hailing from the suburbs of Melbourne, but among Australian soldiers there is a communism that refuses to recognise private ownership of luxuries, and, to paraphrase one of our lighter poets, it is a case of 

"We'll be old friends together,

Through many a changing year;

We'll smoke each other's bacca,'

And drink each other's beer."