THE TRUE STORY OF BRONCHO BILL.
O
By BRIGADIER-GENERAL W. R. LUDLOW, C.B.,
Area Commandant, Ouderdom, Zillebeke, Reninghelst.
Broncho Bill was an Australian outlaw from the Back Blocks. At the outbreak of
war he was doing five years' penal servitude, and had completed three years of his sentence.
I don't know what his offence had been, but his conduct in gaol must have been pretty
good, for in September, 1914, he was released to join the Australian contingent for
France.
At first all went well. The spirit of adventure was in his blocd, and this was the
greatest adventure he had ever been up against.
But after a time he found the discipline unendurable, and with a few choice spirits
to bear him company, he one day disappeared.
He was posted as a deserter, but his battalion was in a district abounding with forests
and caves, and search was hopeless.
When we had almost forgotten him, he one day paid us a visit. Breaking into some
officers' quarters he stole a uniform and several subalterns' chit books.
He presented himself with these at successive Paymasters' Offices, and not only drew
a monthly advance, but obtained other sums by means of advance books bearing the
forged signatures of brother officers.
With the money thus obtained he entered into a wild orgy of extravagance with his
boon companions. Their behaviour attracted the attention of the M.P. and the whole
party were placed under arrest.
Escaping from his escort, Broncho Bill left his companions to their fate, and the
prisoners' cage, and although the country was searched high and low no trace of him
could be discovered.
A few days afterwards an escort of M.P., under a particularly smart sergeant, pre
sented themselves at the cage, armed with an order for the conveyance of the prisoners
for trial by court martial. Everything was in order and the prisoners were handed over
and were never seen again, for that particularly smart sergeant was none other than
Broncho Bill himself, who had raised for the occasion a very special force of M.P. consisting
of his own pals.
Shortly afterwards mysterious fires occurred in the quarters of a certain French town,
accompanied by a series of most audacious robberies.
An informer told us that it was Broncho Bill again. The A.P.M. motored to the
town with a strong party of military police. A ring was made round the place and every
outlet blocked. The A.P.M. remained in person to effect the capture. As he was entering
the town in his car he was met by a squad of military police who saluted. The A.P.M.
gravely returned the salute.
After hours of fruitless search he found to his chagrin that the squad he had seen
consisted of Broncho Bill and his associates, who thus once more slipped through his
fingers.
Towards the end of 1917 he turned up again with the Australian Division at the
village of Neuve Eglise ready for fresh enterprises.
