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Western Mail, Thursday, 31 October 1929, p. 2.
"Plugstreet!"
Ploegsteert Wood was familiar to most battalions, of the A.I.F. and it was one of the most interesting actors of the line. It had figured largely in the newspaper accounts of the fighting in 1914 and 1915. Even in 1917 there were abundant proofs of the seesaw nature of the fighting in the early days. Dotted here and there through the wood were wooden crosses denoting the graves of the victims and pathetic reminders of their deficiencies in equipment were the cloth caps which in about every case adorned the graves. A scrutiny of the particulars scratched on the crosses revealed the names of some of the crack regiments of the British Army. In the parapet too of the front line were several notice boards denoting the presence of the remains of soldiers. Near the western edge of the wood was a log hut with the walls covered with drawings, regimental crests and others, by the artists who had been in occupation. It is said that Bruce Bairnsfather was the originator of some of them, and that at "Plugstreet" he got the initial inspiration which made his later work such a notable factor in the maintenance of that national and military morale so essential to winning a war. The wood was rich in tradition before 1914. One West Australian soldier, while engaged digging a support trench, uncovered a hoard of about fifty silver and copper coins. Unfortunately he distributed them among his mates. One I saw was dated 1027, and the lot would probably have been of considerable value to the collector of ancient coins. "Plugstreet" was a fairly quiet front for the Aussies, and, generally speaking, is a pleasant memory.
Western Mail, Thursday, 31 October 1929, p. 2.
"Plugstreet!"
Ploegsteert Wood was familiar to most battalions, of the A.I.F. and it was one of the most interesting actors of the line. It had figured largely in the newspaper accounts of the fighting in 1914 and 1915. Even in 1917 there were abundant proofs of the seesaw nature of the fighting in the early days. Dotted here and there through the wood were wooden crosses denoting the graves of the victims and pathetic reminders of their deficiencies in equipment were the cloth caps which in about every case adorned the graves. A scrutiny of the particulars scratched on the crosses revealed the names of some of the crack regiments of the British Army. In the parapet too of the front line were several notice boards denoting the presence of the remains of soldiers. Near the western edge of the wood was a log hut with the walls covered with drawings, regimental crests and others, by the artists who had been in occupation. It is said that Bruce Bairnsfather was the originator of some of them, and that at "Plugstreet" he got the initial inspiration which made his later work such a notable factor in the maintenance of that national and military morale so essential to winning a war. The wood was rich in tradition before 1914. One West Australian soldier, while engaged digging a support trench, uncovered a hoard of about fifty silver and copper coins. Unfortunately he distributed them among his mates. One I saw was dated 1027, and the lot would probably have been of considerable value to the collector of ancient coins. "Plugstreet" was a fairly quiet front for the Aussies, and, generally speaking, is a pleasant memory.