Billjim What is a Billjim? "Billjim" was a name apparently given to an Australian Light Horseman (some became Cameliers) by Norman Lindsay in his comic strip of the time - every second male was named either Bill or Jim! The author can vouch for that, because Pete's maternal great grandfather was William "Bill" Murray and paternal great grandfather was James "Jim" Hogan (a pioneer of Byron Bay). Note also the awesome poem "Billjim" by Edward Dyson ('1865 - '1931) reprinted below. Their horses were called "Walers" because they were a special breed from New South Wales. The Billjim are the quintessential fair dinkum Australian. They encapsulate the true-blue Aussie spirit that we should be teaching our children to aspire to. They were resourceful, no mucking around - get the job done. To the chagrin of the establishmen it was the uncouth Australians that pulled off the greatest prize in modern history, executed by the most successful cavalry in modern history. Thus, the Billjims, even at an international level, are the most successful group of Australians in our history as a nation. Yet no Australian today has ever heard of them. Their deeds have been carefully displaced by the sham-makers. What does that say about the quality of our leaders and the way we teach history in this country. Why aren't they on John Howard's must know list of Australian History? Take a good look at the photo above. The Billjims camped outside of Damascus. Look at these guys they're all volunteers, their farms and families back home are going to blazes. Here are these Australians, half-way around the world, not sightseeing, not an insignificant military unit. Rather they are the spearheading force, without them there would be no Israel. Yet they will end up getting nothing, no Mel Gibson movie, no ABC documentary, no street or bridge named after them in Israel. Nothing. If they knew they and their families would end up getting shafted would they still have volunteered? Anyway, find out more about the epochal achievements of the Billjim, and help get them the long overdue recognition they deserve by making a contribution or ordering your Billjim gear (tin mug, "billy-can", and lots more) at the AOA Project page.

Billjim & Waler
(From the memorial in the Sydney Botanical Gardens)

Billjim Edward Dyson ('1865 - '1931) DOWN to it is Plugger Bill, Lyin’ crumpled, white ’n’ still. Me ’n’ him Chips in when the scrap begins, Carin’ nothin’ for our skins, Chi-iked as the ’Eavenly Twins— Bill ’n’ Jim. They ’ave outed Bill at last, Slugged me cobber hard ’n’ fast. It’s a kill. See the purple of his lip ’N’ the red ’n’ oozy drip! Ends our great ole partnership— Jim ’n’ Bill Mates we was when we was kids; Camp, ’n’ ship, ’n’ Pyramids, Him ’n’ me Hung together, ’n’ we tore Up the heights from Helles shore, Bill a long ’arf head afore, Fine to see! Then it was we took a touch— Simple puncture, nothin’ much; But we lay ’N’ we stays the count, it seems, In a sorter realm of dreams Where the sun infernal gleams Night ’n’ day; Boilin’, fryin’ achin’, dumb, Waitin’ till the stretchers come, Patiently. I hangs on to ’arf a cup. Which I wants ole Bill to sup. Damn if he ain’t savin’ up His for me! When they come to lift my head I am softly kiddin’ dead, For a game, So’s they’ll first take on his gills. Over, though, me scheme he spills— Bli’me, this ole take-down Bill’s Done the same! But he isn’t kiddin’ now, And it knocks me anyhow Seein’ him. We was both agreed before, Though it got ’em by the score, Two was goin’ to beat this war— Bill ’n’ Jim. Mate o’ mine, yiv stayed it through. Hard luck, Bill—for me ’n’ you Hard ’n’ grim. They have got me Cobber true, But I’m stickin’ tight ez glue. . . . Bill, there’s one who’ll plug for two— It is Jim! This poem has been preserved by a fair dinkum Australian University newcastle.edu.au

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Billjim
Australians of Arabia
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Potts Point NSW 1335