ANZAC Remembrance
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ANZAC Remembrance
I have, as many others of my generation have had, the privilege to live in a free country and have had the luxury to be able to openly visit the blooded turf of northern Europe where so much blood was spilled in the early twentieth century. That Men from half a World away were and still are willing to contribute to a fight that may seem to have little to do with them is tribute to their mettle as men and nation. I have finished my UK service with pride but can not help but notice that here in NZ almost every hamlet, village,town or as one might expect city has a memorial. As ever... immaculate.. I write this wearing my ANZAC poppy with pride and commend you when you are having a beer on Saturday night to drain a glass to the ANZAC, past present, future. By my calculation that is the time that the traditional dawn service will be happening in NZ. if you can't make it then i commend you to listen to Eric Boagle, a Jock who abhors war but writes a bloody good tune, incidentally, he also wrote young willy Mcbride, and a whole load of fun stuff too.
Eric Bogle ? And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda ? Video, listening & stats at Last.fm
Eric Bogle ? And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda ? Video, listening & stats at Last.fm
Last edited by Hubstrasse; 20th Apr 2010 at 07:38.
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467/463 RAAF Sqn
In Waddington village on Sunday 25th April, members of the 467/463 RAAF Sqn Association will meet at their memorial to remember the 900 plus members of the 2 squadrons who died in the fight for freedom. Not forgeting the other RAAF Squadron in Lincolnshire, 460 RAAF Squadron that flew from Binbrook. They lost over 1000 aircrew.
For the Australians, it was a war fought in Europe, yet many could not wait to get back and take on the Japanese.
On ANZAC day, I'll have a pint of Bateman's and raise my glass in thanks to those who did not return.
For the Australians, it was a war fought in Europe, yet many could not wait to get back and take on the Japanese.
On ANZAC day, I'll have a pint of Bateman's and raise my glass in thanks to those who did not return.
And will be along side the ANZAC's here in Whakatane for the dawn parade on Sunday morning. Will be able to share a glass with them for breakfast. They sure know how to remember their fallen.
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We hold a parade in Peterborough every year in celebration of Sgt Thomas Hunter, the "The Lonely ANZAC". Fought at Gallipoli and was wounded at the Battle of the Somme.
Whilsh being moved by train a military hospital in Yorkshire, he was taken off in Peterborough where he died of his wounds.
Whilsh being moved by train a military hospital in Yorkshire, he was taken off in Peterborough where he died of his wounds.
There is a large ANZAC cemetery in Brockenhurst (nr Lymington) where there was an ANZAC hospital, with about 100 graves of NZ soldiers from WW1. There is a Remembrance ceremony there each year. There were 26 paitients admitted to the hospital each day.
Google "New Zealand Graves at Brockenhurst" (orange.fr won't let me copy and paste!)
Google "New Zealand Graves at Brockenhurst" (orange.fr won't let me copy and paste!)
ANZAC
Visited the main Aus Memorial close to Albert on The Somme last year. Fantastic experience and recall graves of 16/17 year olds.
Truly humbling experience which brought a tear to the eye.
Bless You All.
TN.
Truly humbling experience which brought a tear to the eye.
Bless You All.
TN.
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The ANZAC will never be forgotten.
A special memory for Pte E P F Lynch of the 45th Bn AIF who despite fighting at Ploegsteert, Mesen, Passendale, Dernancourt, Viliers-Bret and Hamel managed to survive. An ancestor.
A special memory for Pte E P F Lynch of the 45th Bn AIF who despite fighting at Ploegsteert, Mesen, Passendale, Dernancourt, Viliers-Bret and Hamel managed to survive. An ancestor.
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He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the RSL,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his mates;
They were heroes, every one.
Although sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his mates listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife..
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honour
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days..
Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the RSL,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his mates;
They were heroes, every one.
Although sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his mates listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife..
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honour
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days..
Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
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TheNightOwl wrote:
Won't make it up to Melbourne, but will march in Frankston. Wasn't aware there was a PPRuNe lapel pin. Do tell more.
Which group do you march with? RAAF, RAFA or ??
Will you be there for the Dawn Service, Buster? I'll keep a weather eye open for you - I'll have my PPRuNe lapel pin on!
Which group do you march with? RAAF, RAFA or ??
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Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
They took memorials very seriously back then...and so they should have!
And they still care
For some many
Over 7650 burials in Reichswald about 2/3rds of whom are aircrew
Many of them from the Antipodes like my cousin
Jim of No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron
Ake Ake Kia Kaha (For Ever and Ever be Strong)
The 75 sqd crest is Crown Copyright
Last edited by Pom Pax; 24th Apr 2010 at 06:24. Reason: I posted thumbnails
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alisoncc
It's been a few years since the powers-that-be at PPRuNe organised the manufacture and sale of a special lapel pin, and I cherish mine.
I'm sure that, if you were to e-mail one of the Mods, he'd be happy to forward a query to the relevant person. Perhaps it might be a good idea to repeat the process for the newer members of the site, 'twould swell the coffers somewhat, I think.
As a UK ex-pat, an Aussie for 27 years, and a survivor of 22 years RAF service, I don't march with any group. My service was all in peace-time, and I would feel a fraud to march with people who put their lives on the line for their countries. However, I'll be at the Dawn Service proudly wearing my two medals!
Kind regards,
TNO.
It's been a few years since the powers-that-be at PPRuNe organised the manufacture and sale of a special lapel pin, and I cherish mine.
I'm sure that, if you were to e-mail one of the Mods, he'd be happy to forward a query to the relevant person. Perhaps it might be a good idea to repeat the process for the newer members of the site, 'twould swell the coffers somewhat, I think.
As a UK ex-pat, an Aussie for 27 years, and a survivor of 22 years RAF service, I don't march with any group. My service was all in peace-time, and I would feel a fraud to march with people who put their lives on the line for their countries. However, I'll be at the Dawn Service proudly wearing my two medals!
Kind regards,
TNO.
Earlier this year, slightly confused, ... somehow I thought that ANZAC day was at the end of January, so I went to the ANZAC cemetery at Harefield in west London. I took a few photos, which show just how impressive and well cared-for the graveyard is. It is adjacent to the main graveyard of a large church, and it is quite surprising how higgledy-piggledy the main graveyard is, and how neat and immaculate the ANZAC part is.
The graveyard is dedicated to those who were sent to the Harefield Hospital during The Great War for rest and recuperation. There are approx 100-150 graves in the graveyard. The headstones are all neatly lined-up, as if the old soldiers were still on parade.
Very sobering afternoon for me. I didn't take any details of individual headstones, just a few general pics, but as it's not too far away I could always do a return visit.
The graveyard is dedicated to those who were sent to the Harefield Hospital during The Great War for rest and recuperation. There are approx 100-150 graves in the graveyard. The headstones are all neatly lined-up, as if the old soldiers were still on parade.
Very sobering afternoon for me. I didn't take any details of individual headstones, just a few general pics, but as it's not too far away I could always do a return visit.
Last edited by Geezers of Nazareth; 24th Apr 2010 at 17:50.