"An ANZAC Alphabet" by Henderson is one of the best loved illustrations in the ANZAC Book (pp. 115-18). It is a 4 page rhyming poem based upon the letters of the alphabet with rather crude illustrations of each letter of the alphabet along with a two line poem which illustrates various aspects of the soldiers' life at Gallipoli. This was not the only ANZAC alphabet which appeared in the ANZAC Book A second one "Another Attempt at an ANZAC Alphabet" (by "Ubique" [Latin for "everywhere"]) appeared a few pages later (pp. 146-47) but it was not illustrated and is less well known. It takes a roughly chronological approach to relating his experiences at Gallipoli and focuses more on the everyday hardships and fear faced by the soldiers.
I will display the Alphabets in three separate posts: a general overview of both; and a separate one for each of the Alphabets. The Henderson Alphabet will contain many images - of each page in the ANZAC Book and then the individual letters of the alphabet.
Another Attempt at an ANZAC Alphabet (by "Ubique," 21st Indian Mtn. Battery) [pp. 146-47].
A was the Anguish that spread o'er my face
When I saw the remarkable look of the place.
B's "Beachy Bill," who fired at my ship -
Punctured the funnel and gave me the "pip."
C was the"Crump" that went by with a screech
As I jumped from a lighter and fell on the beach.
D was the Daring I failed to display
When fragments of shrapnel came whizzing my way.
E was the Earth which I found in my hair
As I woke in the morning and crawled from my lair.
F were the Fleas, and also the Flies,
Who feed on a fellow wherever he lies.
G were the gripes that gripped me within -
The result of commodities packed in a tin.
H was the Hole that a howitzer made;
It would take me an hour to fill in with a spade.
I was the Idiot who stuck up my head
Before I was taught to take cover instead.
J was the Jam with our rations and rum -
We found it was almost invariably "Plum."
K was the Knowledge I quickly acquired
Of hiding whenever the enemy fired.
L was the Louse that lurked in my vest,
Reconnoitred my peson and tickled my chest.
M was the Monitor, firing at night,
Which kept me awake when “above” didn’t bite.
N was the “Night stunt,” with trembling heart,
Expecting each moment the Maxims would start.
O’s the 0.0. (Ordnance Officer); let’s give him a cheer—
It isn’t his fault that nothing comes here.
P are the Piers—see them shiver and shake
Whenever a launch makes a wash with her wake.
Q stands for “Quick,” to the tunnel we dash
When a horrible missile explodes with a crash.
R are the Rumours we hear every day
That the Turkish moral has quite faded away.
S is the gilded Staff Officer—who
Censors my letters and tears them in two.
T is the Taube that drones in the sky
(Thank goodness, I haven’t been ordered to fly!)
U is the Underground sap we expand—
There’s a twopenny tube to the Narrows in hand.
V is for Victory. How we shall sing
Rule, O Britannia, and God Save the King!
W the Wire we put round our works-
We generally find that it’s pinched by the Turks.
X the “X-periments” made with a bomb—
A neat little cross on a nice little tomb.
Y in the world have I ever been placed
In a trench of cold water right up to my waist?
Z is the mule corps recruited from Zion,
Bearers of water and rations of iron.
"Ubique," 21st Indian Mtn. Battery.
Posted: Sunday - July 01, 2012 at 07:50 AM
