One hundred years ago this week and with sometimes badly behaved Australians troops stationed in Egypt a balladist-columnist with Melbourne's jingoist Table Talk foresaw Australians fighting Turks. We know now he was right. Gallipoli awaited.
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"The Turkish advance on the Suez Canal has progressed. There seems a likelihood of the Australian contingent seeing action before it reaches Europe.
"We thought to try our hand at war on Otto, Hans and Fritz, To help [the French] to nibble them to little tiny bits; But since about the Pyramids we've stopped and dropped our kits, Abdullah Khan will do.
Though some of us on landing here went slightly o'er the fence, To be angels clad in khaki we are making no pretence. But you will not find us wanting where the shrapnel smoke is dense; We will show our mettle true.
And when the boys get busy under [General] Bridges, his brigade May show itself right dexterous and handy with the blade. If out of England's foemen there are angels to be made Abdullah Khan will do.
There are chances here in Egypt that some scrapping we may get, And though perhaps we'd rather they were Germans that we met, If we're looking for a handy place to stick a bayonet, Abdullah Khan will do.
So, if we may not meet the foe in snow-wrapped fields of France, Where little shells and heavy shells perform their devil's dance, And somewhere in a warmer clime we've got to take our chance, Abdullah Khan will do."
