I have been involved with the project for about six months now and really enjoy the research I’m doing. However, until the first DIG meeting I had no idea what fun I was missing!

Like most of you, I expect, I had delved into the main sites a bit, but sometimes items

seemed either boring, not what I was looking for or just irrelevant. Then at the first DIG meeting I listened to Paul’s wonderful talk about going beyond the basics and looking more into the war diaries and maps.

I’d previously had a quick look but didn’t realize the importance. However, with Paul’s example still ringing in my head, I went home and logged on to the Australian War Memorial site, and followed the route to the diaries.

This time, I kept clicking and got to the Battalion and Brigade notes for my favourite Digger, and then went even further to the appendix....there were the maps! Well, I soon found out exactly where my lovely soldier had fallen, and even the Casualty Clearing station that he would have been taken to, if he ever made it that far. A lot of the story made more sense....all the jigsaw fell into place. Aerial maps, meticulous battle plans down to the last detail and write ups by officers every day, with so much more information....I was hooked.
 

Also, there were details of a “Sports Day" and a “Race Day” for the troops, held at a Chateau for those having a short break from the front. There were Siamese races, greasy poles, swimming competitions...not only was each man wanting to win for himself, but for the sake of his unit, it was so important. Huge sums of money were available to the winners...up to a 3 guineas in some events, but that was to be shared between all the unit.