behind to clear up the
situation caused by the presence of these individuals in the native
community.

The 28th was not altogether free from characters of this sort. On the
eve of embarkation for Gallipoli a man was missed from his company. His
absence was duly reported in the proper quarter, but nothing more was
seen of him by his officers until January, 1916, when he marched into
the camp at Lemnos with other details. He remained with the Battalion
until the rumours of the Turkish advance began the preparations for the
move to the Canal. Once more he vanished, and just prior to the
embarkation for France information was received that he had been seen
near the Pyramids, dressed as a Light Horseman, armed with a revolver,
conducting a "two-up" school. The next indications of his whereabouts
came from Etaples, about the middle of 1917. From there he was sent to
England suffering from _debility_! He did not return to Australia.

Another original member of the Battalion, whose appearance and demeanour
gave a fair indication of his capabilities, could never be
satisfactorily brought to book. After the first action at Pozieres he
joined the stream of men returning to Sausage Valley, but the contrast
between him and those who had taken part in that heroic fight was so
marked as to make it fairly safe to say where he _had not_ been during
those trying hours. Some months later he was found walking down
Piccadilly arrayed in a frock coat and top hat. He retired to Lewes for
a term, was placed on board a transport after the Armistice, but got
ashore at Cape Town and, it is hoped, has not troubled Australia since.
One or two other similar types joined the Battalion later in the war and
their records varied but slightly.

It was the type of men indicated in the foregoing that neither General
Birdwood nor the A.I.F. desired should accompany the troops to France.
In order to be rid of them, instructions were issued that all
"undesirables" were to be returned to Australia. Unfortunately, in the
2nd Division, it was soon found that the C.Os. were not considered to be
good judges as to who were the vicious characters. A call was made for
the records of the men, and from those who had the greatest number of
entries in their "conduct sheets" the selection was made. This was
greatly deplored, for the reason that many men who were frequent
offenders in a minor way were excellent soldiers in the line. On the
other hand, the real undesirab