Marching
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Marching
My daughter (7 years old) is participating in the ANZAC Day commemorations. I've informed her she's marching on behalf of her Mothers Brother, My Dad, her Great Grandfather and 2 Great Uncles. 3 of the five are still alive and 2 were pilots. 1 didn't make it back. Shot down in PNG. Wreckage never found.
Please mention a relative if it applies.
Lest we forget.
D
Edit: To correctly reflect the sentiment. Thank you Crescent. You're quite right.
Please mention a relative if it applies.
Lest we forget.
D
Edit: To correctly reflect the sentiment. Thank you Crescent. You're quite right.
Last edited by Defenestrator; 20th Apr 2012 at 11:05.
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Kids marching for relatives
My youngest is in cadets and in the caterfalk party for a number of services. He will be wearing my fathers medals and he asked if he could wear mine!
I might have another look at the will. I don't want to give him too much incentive..........
I might have another look at the will. I don't want to give him too much incentive..........
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Protocol
This raises the question: What is the protocol for descendants of service personnel wearing service medals at an official event (such as Dawn Service)?
My nephew holds the medals awarded to my father, and we have often talked about this, although we have never bothered to follow it up to find out the official line.
At one stage I was told by someone purportedly 'in the know' that such medals may be worn by descendants of the recipient, but are worn on the right, not the left.
Can anyone confirm/deny/set the record straight?
Le Vieux
My nephew holds the medals awarded to my father, and we have often talked about this, although we have never bothered to follow it up to find out the official line.
At one stage I was told by someone purportedly 'in the know' that such medals may be worn by descendants of the recipient, but are worn on the right, not the left.
Can anyone confirm/deny/set the record straight?
Le Vieux
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Well Done all for allowing Youngsters to participate in ANZAC Day ceremonies.
Relatives Only may wear the medals of related family members to Dawn Services and ANZAC Day Parades (note not school ceremonies not conducted on the 25th April - not sure if this has changed recently). Medals are not to be of the mess (miniture) style but full size. The Medals are to be worn on the Right Breast (only actual recipients may wear on the left Breast). Medals must be removed after midday.
Hope that helps.
Lest we forget
RSL amnd RAAFA member
Relatives Only may wear the medals of related family members to Dawn Services and ANZAC Day Parades (note not school ceremonies not conducted on the 25th April - not sure if this has changed recently). Medals are not to be of the mess (miniture) style but full size. The Medals are to be worn on the Right Breast (only actual recipients may wear on the left Breast). Medals must be removed after midday.
Hope that helps.
Lest we forget
RSL amnd RAAFA member
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From Defence Honours and Awards:
Although not officially sanctioned, a protocol has been accepted that family members of a deceased recipient may wear that person’s medals on commemorative occasions such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. In these circumstances, the medals should be worn on the right side to show that the wearer is not the original recipient.
There is no limitation or formal policy on what occasions they should be worn. In essence, the wearing of forebear's medals on the right breast is a convention passed down over the years that is largely dictated by the occasion and (ideally) a measure of decorum fitting the event. They should not be worn lightly or where it would be inappropriate to do so.
Cheers,
BM
Although not officially sanctioned, a protocol has been accepted that family members of a deceased recipient may wear that person’s medals on commemorative occasions such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. In these circumstances, the medals should be worn on the right side to show that the wearer is not the original recipient.
There is no limitation or formal policy on what occasions they should be worn. In essence, the wearing of forebear's medals on the right breast is a convention passed down over the years that is largely dictated by the occasion and (ideally) a measure of decorum fitting the event. They should not be worn lightly or where it would be inappropriate to do so.
Cheers,
BM
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Percy William Milton (Grand Father) A strapping lad of 85kg, 6ft 1 and a half inches!
Enlisted Goulburn NSW 1st February 1917.
20th Infantry Battalion (5th Brigade) 2nd Machine Gun Company.
Medically disharged (wounded, right leg amputated)
Fought at Bullecourt, Menin Road, Poelcappelle, Hangard Wood.
Returned to Australia, started a family, died of pneumonia in his 40's. More likely lung damage from chemical weapons?
R.I.P. Digger. The respect I have for you and your generation cannot be measured. Reflect on what it means to be Australian and the sacrifices they made for us..............
Lest We Forget............
Enlisted Goulburn NSW 1st February 1917.
20th Infantry Battalion (5th Brigade) 2nd Machine Gun Company.
Medically disharged (wounded, right leg amputated)
Fought at Bullecourt, Menin Road, Poelcappelle, Hangard Wood.
Returned to Australia, started a family, died of pneumonia in his 40's. More likely lung damage from chemical weapons?
R.I.P. Digger. The respect I have for you and your generation cannot be measured. Reflect on what it means to be Australian and the sacrifices they made for us..............
Lest We Forget............
Although not officially sanctioned, a protocol has been accepted that family members of a deceased recipient may wear that person’s medals on commemorative occasions such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. In these circumstances, the medals should be worn on the right side to show that the wearer is not the original recipient.
Dr
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George "Curly" Trevethan 2/7 Div Cav - saw action on Sanananda Road, evac'd with malaria January 1943, sadly deceased last year.
Just want to point out ANZAC Day is a commemoration as opposed to a celebration.
Am choosing to leave the march and medals to the ones who earned them myself, but am part of the 2/7 Div Cav Association in respect of my grandfathers service.
Lest We Forget
Just want to point out ANZAC Day is a commemoration as opposed to a celebration.
Am choosing to leave the march and medals to the ones who earned them myself, but am part of the 2/7 Div Cav Association in respect of my grandfathers service.
Lest We Forget
If you weren't the recipient, don't wear them - IMHO!
My grandad survived Gallopoli, and then the Western Front, came home with one eye, one lung and an attitude towards ANZAC day that lasted his long lifetime. Needless to say he never marched again after discharge. That his medals still survive is a miracle and if any of his offspring had the temerity to wear them in a government sponsored march the old geeza would turn in his grave.
Best we regret.
I respect the fact that others may not share my sentiments .....
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I respect the fact that others may not share my sentiments .....
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I'm with you, DIVOSH, but IMO it's up to the RSLs to make the call. If the vets are happy to have non vets marching, it's their gig.
My grandfather never marched, despite a hefty WWII stint. When I was a kid I once asked him why he never marched; his answer was 'Oh darling, I wasn't really brave. Not like Freddy, Paul etc'. This was despite shrapnel in one leg that he still carries around and at least three overseas deployments. Not a bad effort for a bloke who writes poetry and puts up with possums raiding his kitchen via the cat flap because 'they're probably hungry.'
They're a different breed.
My grandfather never marched, despite a hefty WWII stint. When I was a kid I once asked him why he never marched; his answer was 'Oh darling, I wasn't really brave. Not like Freddy, Paul etc'. This was despite shrapnel in one leg that he still carries around and at least three overseas deployments. Not a bad effort for a bloke who writes poetry and puts up with possums raiding his kitchen via the cat flap because 'they're probably hungry.'
They're a different breed.
Last edited by Worrals in the wilds; 20th Apr 2012 at 09:51.
Nunc est bibendum
If you weren't the recipient, don't wear them - IMHO!
What I don't like- and we're starting to see more and more of- is relatives almost 'blinging up' on relatives medals. I've seen 2 and 3 rows of relatives medals. There has almost become a sense of 'my relative did more than your relative'.
IMHO, only returned soldiers should be marching on Anzac day.
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It's all about respect and rememberance. My youngens get it. It matters little where the medals are worn.
Lest we forget.
Lest we forget.
Last edited by Defenestrator; 20th Apr 2012 at 12:50.
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As far as I know the only service relative I had was my great uncle who flew Sunderlands in WW2. I did participate in ANZAC day parades as a member of the AIRTC and on a few occasions was privileged enough to form part of the Cenotaph guard. I won't ever forget the time a veteran sought us out after the parade and just came up to give us a pat on the shoulder and a "good job lads".
My thought at the time was "All I did was stand in the sun for 20 minutes for them, who knows what they did for me".
My thought at the time was "All I did was stand in the sun for 20 minutes for them, who knows what they did for me".
It would soon be a very short parade, if some of the above comments were to be implemented.
My Dad was wheeled about in a wheelchair for the last two parades of his life,
and the RAAF Squadron 451 Officers and men (Western Desert) have just about all gone.
Only a couple left now....its sad, but that's life....
My son wears his Grandad's medals, as the 'old man' so wished it to be...
I just drive the old veterans who can't walk the distance any more...in the parade.
Lest we forget.
My Dad was wheeled about in a wheelchair for the last two parades of his life,
and the RAAF Squadron 451 Officers and men (Western Desert) have just about all gone.
Only a couple left now....its sad, but that's life....
My son wears his Grandad's medals, as the 'old man' so wished it to be...
I just drive the old veterans who can't walk the distance any more...in the parade.
Lest we forget.
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Fair enough. Like I said, it's your march.
That's nice of you. I'm all for wheeled transport for the old blokes, I know the march becomes very difficult as guys get older, particularly if it's warm.
I just drive the old veterans who can't walk the distance any more...in the parade.
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A topic such as this one is always going to rouse strong emotions.
Anzac day is many things to many people; The meaning of Anzac day is very different for veterans of WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and more recent conflicts. It's not helped by the modern phenomenon of politicising everything possible to make an event such as this "Everything to Everybody".
So yes, I have a problem with relatives (with or without medals) marching anywhere on Anzac day (flag parties excepted).
Am I wrong? I spent some time last year at a lunch for WWII paras and they were disgusted with what they called "the circus" that was the parade. As far as they were concerned only returned soldiers should march. In my experience, this is a common opinion amongst WWII veterans.
I have no problem with that. IMHO, a shorter meaningful parade is better than a drawn out parade that is pandering to modern tastes by including anyone who feels that they've a right to march because their great-grand uncle fought in WWI (and I know people who feel exactly that way).
I have. Most soldiers I've met prefer the relatives to wave and clap as the parade passes.
I suggest you read Aussie Bob's entire post again! I don't share his sentiments, but I see where he is coming from.
DIVOSH!
Anzac day is many things to many people; The meaning of Anzac day is very different for veterans of WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and more recent conflicts. It's not helped by the modern phenomenon of politicising everything possible to make an event such as this "Everything to Everybody".
So yes, I have a problem with relatives (with or without medals) marching anywhere on Anzac day (flag parties excepted).
Am I wrong? I spent some time last year at a lunch for WWII paras and they were disgusted with what they called "the circus" that was the parade. As far as they were concerned only returned soldiers should march. In my experience, this is a common opinion amongst WWII veterans.
It would soon be a very short parade, if some of the above comments were to be implemented.
I have never met a serving soldier who takes offense at relatives marching...
Is this supposed to be funny champ?
DIVOSH!