Aussie: the Australian Soldiers Magazine

[xenith]

I have a copy of the second issue of Aussie: the Australian Soldiers Magazine but it's a badly (hurriedly) done copy so if I want to share anything, I'd have to type it up and the interesting bits are long. However I did type up a couple of smaller things including the editorial (below) and I've also thrown in some other bits that are (hopefully) readable. Enjoy :)




"Aussie" Carries On
Aussie falls in again, gratified and encouraged. He feels that way because it has been strikingly indicated to him that his advent in the Aussie Army in France is welcome. And there is every indication that his sojourn will be a happy and useful one.

He has received many letter of praise and appreciation, and some of criticism. He is grateful for both. But he values most the criticism. It is the more helpful. As he told you when he was first taken on strength of the A.I.F., Aussie belongs to you. He wants to give you want you want, not to tell you what you want. But in order to give you what you want you must tell him what you want.

Objection has been taken to his monicker. Some say that Aussie is not a nice word. But Aussie is the name that has been practically universally adopted by the Australian soldier for himself. "Aussie" means "Australian Soldier" and "Australia." Its short and friendly-like. One seldom hears the word Australia or Australian used over here in our general conversations. Therefore, it is not for Aussie to judge whether it is a good word or a bad one--whether it is soul stirring euphony or a lingual catastrophe. It is used by his cobbers and that's good enough for Aussie.

Others don’t like our slanguage. But Aussie would remind these friendly critics that there is a lot of slang in the talk of our Army. And whatever defects our Aussie vernacular may have it certainly has the virtue of being expressive. Aussie merely aims at being a dinkum Aussie--and a dinkum Aussie uses the language of the Aussie. He doesn't want to be a literary stylist. The history of the Aussie army is being given by Official War Correspondents. Aussie wants to give its spirit--and that can be done by allowing you to say the things you want to say in your own language and your own way.




Couldn't Get Out of the Groove
An M.T. Officer fell ill last winter with lung trouble. He was repaired in England, and then transferred to a Camel Corps somewhere in Egypt. He had not been on the new job long when one of the camels "konked out" and became sick. And this is how the ex-M.T. Officer applied for an evacuation:-

To the Camel Transport Office.

I wish to evacuate Camel W.D. No. 608. Single Hump, Dual Ignition, 4 h.p. with defects as under:

Eyes loose in sockets.
Knees not tracking right.
Wind Flapper not seating.
Hump worn and scabby.
Tail shaft out of alignment.
Torque rod badly torn.
Chassis bent.
Ten teeth missing from top chewing gear.
Will not pull in reverse.
Water joint leaking.
Tyres worn.
Half horn missing.
Steering faulty.
Offside hind leg not firing right.
Left elbow twisted.
Bonnet weak and bent.
Rising joints very stiff

I shall be agreeable to accept one double-eared Donk in lieu thereof.

H.R. FELLONHISNAVEL. O. i/e Workshops,
No. 109 Camel Corps.