G'day Barry Finn,

Yes I would like to hear your story of Eric's writing TBPWM. There is a tale extant in Australia to the effect that Eric entered TBPWM in a song competition and it came second ... to a song, the name of which, nobody can remember.

G'day to Mick Lowe;

I did not like TBPWM when I first heard it (early 1970s) because I felt no wounded soldier could carry all that angst and stay sane. I have since been disproved - there have been soldiers - one virtually rendered dumb by the experience of the Gallipoli landing - who never found the voice to get rid of their bitter feelings until the Vietnam war, with its televised and syndicated graphic views of suffering and carnage, gave the public the understanding to hear them.

I do love 'No Man's Land' (which the Irish misname 'Green Fields ...'. I recite a Henry Lawson poem from c. 1916 'Scots of the Riverina', changing only to avoid a clash of family names and segue into 'No Man's Land' ... slow and unaccompanied. This can bring tears to the most hardened crowd!

Love to hear from you,

Bob Bolton