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Out of all this comes I think a humbleness towards those chaps attended in their first moments, an awareness of knowing that they always put on a very brave front and conveyed so much in a look or simple gesture when given that first attention and a cigarette, and invariably never to acknowledge the possibility of a ‘homer’: the hardest part seemed to be having to leave mates behind-that thought of return.

—Mick (‘Doc’) Bradford, 22 Battalion stretcher-bearer

Men will even give their lives if only the ordeal does not last long but is soon over, with all looking on and applauding as though on the stage. But active love is labour and fortitude, and for some people too, perhaps, a complete science.

—Dostoevsky (The Brothers Karamazov)

The faith in the heart of a mustard seed is the faith of a mustard tree, the force in the heart of a drop of water is the force of a waterfall. And when one hopes, all mankind hopes with him. For I am all mankind and I am in every man.

—V. Anant (Birth of the Lord)

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The authors of the volumes in this series of histories prepared under the supervision of the War History Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs have been given full access to official documents. They and the Editor-in-Chief are responsible for the statements made and the views expressed by them.