rned, who were employed in heavy pick and
shovel work and were far from being in a healthy condition.

Running from the bottom of Happy Valley to the main traffic trench, the
Battalion had excavated a new roadway. In honour of the first officer
casualty, this was named the "Jensen Sap" (Division took this as a
compliment to the then Minister for the Navy). In this was found, one
morning, the remains of a labour company of the Army Service Corps. It
was composed of men, recruited in England, too old for ordinary line
service and intended for work on the beach and piers. It was quickly
proved that they were quite unable to withstand the rigors of the local
climate. After losing many from the ranks through shell fire near Hell
Spit, they had been moved to the north. There at first they wandered
helplessly about, apparently quite unable to do anything for themselves.
The 28th men, who dubbed them "the Old and Bold," took pity and assisted
them to make their little bivouacs in protected places. The old
gentlemen were very grateful. One of them was the originator of a now
well known story. Seeing a Light Horseman passing along the main sap,
and wearing the distinctive head-dress, he hailed him--"Say, choom, be
them kangaroo feathers in your 'at?"

A few days of sunshine had followed the storm of the 17th November. Then
came cold and colder winds, which chilled to the bone. The sea was rough
and the landing of stores became impossible. Rations were cut down to
biscuits and bully beef, and water to 1/4 gallon per diem. In spite of
these privations, Battalion Headquarters had fresh "lamb" chops for
breakfast on one day. Having on the previous day seen the meat ration of
the Native Labour Corps browsing on the slope of Walker's Ridge, the
staff asked no questions, but made a mental note of a very
self-conscious batman and an imperturbable quartermaster.

[Illustration: HEADQUARTERS OF "C" COMPANY,
Happy Valley, 28th November, 1915,
Showing signs of the Blizzard.
_Photo. by Major R. C. Phillips._]

[Illustration: THE GREAT TRAFFIC TRENCH.
This ran along behind the left centre of the Corps line.
_Photo. lent by Mr. T. Pritchard._]

During the night of the 27th/28th November, snow began to fall and
daylight revealed the whole country covered as with a white pall. Many
of the Australians had never seen snow before and were greatly attracted
by this new experience. A few indulged in snowballing, others gathered
the new elemen