ANZAC Day

Gil Martin · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:58 am Post subject: ANZAC Day

I saw on another site that this commerates ANZAC Day. Perhaps Vince can verify this and add a few comments. All the best...
Gil

slimjim · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:17 am Post subject: Re: ANZAC Day

Gil, its always good to remember so we never forgot those who sacrificed.

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries. Anzac Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga.

from Wikipedia

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 11:46 am Post subject: Re: ANZAC Day

tikkat3 · Super Member Joined: Jul 30, 2006 Posts: 800

At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
we will remember them.

'Lest we forget'

fnuser · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: ANZAC Day

The only two contacts I had with the Aussies and Kiwis were positive experiences, Experience teaches appreciation, I'd salute them, but it doesn't take much for me to get all gushy with a fellow vet, any excuse for another round, ya know?

fnuser · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: ANZAC Day

where's weirsy?

tikkat3 · Super Member Joined: Jul 30, 2006 Posts: 800

Vince will be talking when he gets back from the Dawn Service

wiersy111 · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: ANZAC Day

Any chance I get to honor another Vet is always welcome. I will always take the time to honor those that served ahead of us and those that stand beside us today. All to often the sacrifices made by our brothers in arms are forgotten, and it is their sacrifices that has our World what it is today. This round is on me, raise your beer in toast of our honored friends!

Cheers

Vince · Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 5:12 am Post subject: Re: ANZAC Day

Well guys...finally home (its 2130hrs)...been a loooooong day, but a rewarding one.

One thing I have learned today...the best way to honour a Vet is not to put him on a pedestal...but to simply walk up to him, shake his or her hand, and say...Thank you for your efforts and sacrifices mate. Be prepared for some misty eyes though.

Well done Slim, yes 25 April commemorates the landings at Gallipoli during WW I. It was not just an Aussie and New Zealand "affair"...there were British, French, Canadian and Indian troops involved as well. It is easy to think that we are commemorating a victory, when in fact it was a resounding defeat at the hands of the Turks. What we are actually remembering is the sacrifices made by so many, and also the forging of an unbreakable bond between Australia and New Zealand.

The landing was a bit of a debacle because the British ships dropped the ANZACs at the wrong beach. What should have been a tough, but winnable fight, up gently sloping ground, turned out to be a battle to get off the beach and into the lea of the steep mountainous hills. Foxholes, trenches and dugouts were dug into the sides of the steep ground to try to gain some protection from the hellish cannon and machine gun fire. It was almost a turkey shoot for the Turkish soldiers.

The battle showed the strengths and weakness of many leaders and also produced the father of modern Turkey, and a brilliant strategist and leader, Kemal Attaturk. His words to the families of the fallen allied soldiers will live forever in the minds and hearts of, amongst others, Aussies and New Zealanders...

Engraved forever at ANZAC Cove are these words from Kemal Ataturk, the Commander of the Turkish 19th Division during the Gallipoli Campaign and the first President of the Turkish Republic from 1924-1938:

Those heroes that shed their blood
and lost their lives.
You are now living in the soil of a friendly country
therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies
and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side
here in this country of ours.
You, the mothers,
who sent their sons from faraway countries
wipe away your tears;
your sons are now lying in our bosom
and are in peace.
After having lost their lives on this land they have
become our sons as well.

Ataturk 1934

Certainly in my mind, these are the words of a compassionate and honourable leader and foe. A man who deserves saluting.

The Ode is recited most every night in RSL Clubs around Australia, and also at Memorial Services for the fallen. I have highlighted in BOLD the section that is recited:

The Ode comes from For the Fallen, a poem by the English poet and writer Laurence Binyon and was published in London in the Winnowing Fan; Poems of the Great War in 1914. The verse, which became the League Ode was already used in association with commemoration services in Australia in 1921.

FOR THE FALLEN

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children
England mourns for her dead across the sea,
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow,
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again,
They sit no more at familiar tables of home,
They have no lot in our labour of the daytime,
They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires and hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the night.

As the stars shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are stary in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

LEST WE FORGET

Salute

Cheers, Vince

Vince · Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 5:22 am Post subject: Re: ANZAC Day

An extremely moving poem titled simply....SIR

SIR

Sir - would it help if I shed a tear
I swear it’s the first time since this time last year
My spine is a tingle - my throat is all dry
As I stand to attention for all those who died

I watch the flag dancing half way down the pole
That damn bugle player sends chills to my soul
I feel the pride and the sorrow - there’s nothing the same
As standing to attention on ANZAC Day

So Sir - on behalf of the young and the free
Will you take a message when you finally do leave
To your mates that are lying from Tobruk to the Somme
The legend of your bravery will always live on

I’ve welcomed Olympians back to our shore
I’ve cheered baggy green caps and watched Wallabies score
But when I watch you marching (Sir) in that parade
I know these are the memories that never will fade

So Sir - on behalf of the young and the free
Will you take a message when you finally do leave
It’s the least we can do (Sir) to repay the debt
We’ll always remember you - Lest We Forget

Damian (Dib) Morgan 1998

(Dib Morgan is a young Queenslander from Condamine on the western Darling Downs. Sir is a vote of thanks to the men and women who have fought to defend the freedom that this country enjoys. Dib is determined to play his part in helping to preserve the ANZAC Spirit.)

Cheers, Vince

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Vince wrote:

The landing was a bit of a debacle because the British ships dropped the ANZACs at the wrong beach.

Which proved something to the entire commonwealth, never listen to the British in war, actually the whole war proved that.

Dimitri

Vince · Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: ANZAC Day

The problem, as I see it, came from the old English "class" system.

A lot of the British leaders (Officers) were not soldiers...most came from the aristocracy and had no idea on how to wage war...other than the lessons handed down through the centuries. Not a good way to fight a war.

Far too many of them either inherited their rank due to Daddy's position or their rank was purchased by the family.

That is not to say that there were no good leaders...there were in fact some brilliant ones as the history books now show.

Cheers, Vince

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

I know Vince, hence why after the war the British changed that.

Dimitri

radar · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: ANZAC Day

Only just saw this forum guys,

As a Kiwi and a Service member I thank you Vince for explaining the whole ANZAC Day commemoration, shame some of our own countrymen and women didn't have the same respect.

Demitri:
Our country has an indigenous race - The Maori, they were used as cannon fodder by the British at a number of major battles including Casino, their contribution has cost our country in many ways socially, the best of the Maori were sent away to fight and only some came home.

I salute them all.

"Kia Kaha"
(Be Strong)
Radar

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

radar wrote:

Our country has an indigenous race - The Maori, they were used as cannon fodder by the British at a number of major battles

The British have proven they are quite good in sending other people to their deaths as cannon fodder.

And yes I knew of the Maori being the original inhabitants of New Zealand.

Dimitri