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The Kia ora coo-ee : the magazine for the ANZACS in the Middle East, 1918
The Editor's Bivvy
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The Editor's Bivvy
Letters from France show that the "K.O.C." is keenly appreciated by the boys on the West-ern Front. Here is an extract from an epistle to our Secretary: "All who have seen the paper vote it the best of the kind yet printed; and I'm sure all the boys on this side wish it every success." From a leading Australian newspaper comes the following, which should make our contributors feel proud with themselves: "Lite-rary and artistic work produced at the front under the innumerable difficulties that beset such an enterprise is always welcome for the sake of the indomitable cheerfulness it displays. The latest publication ("K.O.C." April issue), how-ever, deserves success on the score of native merit alone. The editors and the contributors are to be sincerely complimented on the class of work they have produced."
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Glance at the upper half of the first column on page one, and you will notice that two fami-liar names are missing. Frank Reid, late field editor, has gone to Australia on transport duty. Staff Sergt. L.S. Griffiths, owing to pressure of other duties, has retired from the post of sub editor and is succeeded by Trpr. M.E.L yons, who has already contributed several clever sket-ches to the "K.O.C." over the pen-name "Taini". Trpr. Lyons, who, by the way, weighs just under 16 stone and stands six feet four in his socks, is an experienced journalist. When he enlisted, in 1915, he was on the staff of the Christchurch "Sun".
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"The Jackass", the First A.G.H. monthly, has flown over here from France, and is a very welcome migrant. The new journal is dated June, '18, and appears in a pale yellow cover with design by Pte. C. Leyshon White, art edi-tor. Pte. J.R.W. Taylor is the literary editor. We congratulate both on the magazine and hope that it will live to become a rare old bird. A sister contributes the best item to No. I, a description of The Aussie Bird: "The Aussie Bird is migratory, or a bird of passage. It was first known to be migratory about the year 1914-15 They are strong and vigorous, but of a very wary disposition, and are exceedingly diffi-cult to tame. They are also gregarious and are usually found in little colonies, called either Stationary or See See Esses. They are very sensitive at feeding times, and on the approach of a stranger will stand in front of their food and try to conceal it, uttering plaintive little noises and cries which sound like 'Get Out!', 'Go 'way!', 'No tea!' The Aussie Bird is very fond of leaves."
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"The Musallabah Mirror", the rarest magazine in the world, has been sent to our bivvy—not as a gift, mark you, but on loan. If it doesn't return intact to its owner's hands within a reasonable time, he's coming down our way with a hand grenade. This is the one and only copy of the "Mirror;" it is Vol. I, No 2, dated 9th. May, 1918, from The Camel's Hump—price, P.T. 10.. It consists of eight small pages. The text is neatly written in black lead-pencil, with decorated title in indelible, red and blue pencil. The frontispiece is a map of Australia in ink, on tracing paper. Produced in the 1st. Battalion, ICC. Orderly Room, this curiosity of journa-lism is worthy of immortality. The editorial says: "The Musallabah Miracle or Mirror. Vol. I, No. 2, now makes its bow to an astonished world. It has easily the largest circulation in the Jordan Valley. This being the only copy extant, please be careful. Vol. I, No. 1 was thrown into the incinerator with other rubbish —perhaps it's just as well". Under "Iron Rat-ions" we read, that "F. Bentos having been granted compassionate leave, J. Maconochie will fill his place." A page is devoted to "Verse or Worse", and another to "Most Probably Worse". Advertisements also occupy a whole page; but we refrain from quoting any. Why give "Mirror" advertisers free space in the "K.O C?" If—but it seems impossible—there is any other regimental paper with such claims to distinction as the "M.M.", we shall be glad to see it.
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The Jaffa Gate.
Number four of "The Cacolet", journal of the Australian Camel Field Ambulance, has been born. It is bright and cheerful, and well illus-trated, with sparkling humor on nearly every page. The editor seems to have done the lion's share, and all his work is good. We are happy to welcome him no was a regular contrib-utor to the "K.O.C." He filled page three of this issue.
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Dvr. Fred Coleman, Maoriland artist, blew into our bivvy the other day, on leave from "Aotea". He brought a big batch of sketches, some of which are reproduced in this issue; others will appear next month. Sergt. Otho Hewett also dropped in with a portfolio. Both artists, in spare time, are busy on drawings for the magazine, and each is designing a cover. We hope to have more drawings by Sergt. O.H. Coulson for forthcoming issues. A series of unique photographs of rural life in Palestine may also be available. They cover a wide range of sub-jects, and are masterpieces of photographic art.