Conquerors of the desert

Eight illustrious months at Tobruk and a highly successful campaign amid the wastes of Alamein entitled the men of the AIF to this distinction [i.e as "Conquerors of the desert"]. This film gives a few glimpses of how the troops have adapted themselves to desert conditions where life goes on day by day almost as featureless as the sands in which they dwell. Stalemate times are wearisome to men of intense action. Still the boys manage to keep their feet well up and to dream of better things in store. This chap is dreaming of an imaginery oasis where dates bend lusciously from feathery palms and even shaving with blunt blades is just too delicious a repast for words. This luxuriant barbers pole is alas the only one in the Alamein sector. Scenes include; shaving, washing, sewing, a concert party, card playing, book binding, sketching, Jimmy Robertson collecting hens' eggs, reading "AIF news", and mess parade.