Just months earlier, the first boatloads of Australian men had been sent away to the war, farewelled by vast crowds and with lots of dignitary-rich pomp and circumstance.

But now, Table Talk seethed, "Nobody of any official consequence thought it worthwhile to go down and meet the first lot of Australian wounded returned from the war.

"Neither the Governor-General nor the State Governor put in an appearance, nor yet the First Minister for Defence nor the second ditto, nor any member of the Federal Government. Even the general public showed a callous disregard for the broken heroes that will go down to history among many another proof of ingratitude for sacrifices by soldiers."

Elsewhere, this Table Talk reported that "some exciting stories of personal adventure under the attack of Zeppelin bombs are coming from London".

"The bombs burrow down to the very basements of houses and can leave weird gaping wounds in the earth where the structures had stood.

"One enterprising suburbanite took opportunity by the forelock, and to repair the fortune which had been shattered with his dwelling quickly ran up a canvas screen round his damaged premises and charged a curious crowd a penny a head to come and view the hole.

"By nightfall he calculated that he had almost recouped himself his loss, and reckoned that he had showed a point to those who have expended heavy sums on [bomb damage] insurance."

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