April 25th Anzac day

[wampum]

My Dad came from Great Britain in 1924,he was 16. I had 4 great uncles serve in the British Navy,during WW1. One uncle who was married to my Dad's sister,was in the British Navy and British Army,during WW1. In the second world war he served in the American Navy as a sea-bee. I had,2 other uncles serve in WW2. I and one of my brothers served in Viet Nam. I have great feelings for the Allied war vets,and give them nothing but respect. I never met my Great uncles,but still honor them and have a strong bond with them. My uncles I knew well, and loved them very much. They have all passed away now. I also respect and remember the British,Aussie,Kiwi and American troops that fought so hard and gave so much,This is one American that will not forget what they did.

[TimberMcPherson]

Another Anzac day rolls around.
My grandmother has had to be moved into a home, my family had to sort through her things. One of the things they found was my grandfathers medals, a little strange as they divorced in the 50's. I know that although he was a career soldier, after it all he distanced himself from it. And she really hated the war. Yet there they were, along with his fathers captains pips and his own majors crowns. Families huh?

Anyhow a bitter poem my an angry soldier poet.

Base Details

by Siegfried Sassoon
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath,
I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,
And speed glum heroes up the line to death.
You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,
Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel,
Reading the Roll of Honor. “Poor young chap,”
I’d say — “I used to know his father well;
Yes, we’ve lost heavily in this last scrap.”
And when the war is done and youth stone dead,
I’d toddle safely home and die — in bed.




Lest we forget.

[mga]

i was always fascinated by the way the british fought:

line them up and send them in. when they go down, line them up again and repeat.

[RandyMac]

They did know how to mow them down.

[derwoodii]

remembering defeats in war, nay celebrating victory's shall remind generations of its futility and horror, lest we forget.

The Lone Pine Pinus halepensis

[TimberMcPherson]

i was always fascinated by the way the british fought:

line them up and send them in. when they go down, line them up again and repeat.

It was a meat grinding waste of a few generations of men, done again and again by the British, Aussies, Kiwis, French, Belgians, Italians, Germans, Canadians, Russians and Americans.

What really gets to me is in the closing days when they knew the war was near over, allied deaths increased as MORE attacks were made as officers tried to get a final bit of ground for that little bit of glory before there toys were taken from them.
Some attacks occurred only hours before the armistice. One attack had the german yelling at them advancing men to stop and go back as the war was nearly over. But those advancing had there orders and the germans had to cut them down.
Criminal scum.

[DANOAM]

Some do. Many who don't, simply don't know, or they would. Those who would NOT, don't care about American servicemen, either.


Thanks for posting, Timber. Here's to the men of ANZAC!

"This day of days again we keep -
In memory of those who sleep
Away beyond the quiet sea.....
Away in far Gallipolli.

'Tis Anzac Day - 'tis Anzac Day..
Our soldier comrades far away,
They died in war - that we in peace
May live and love that war may cease".

This

[TimberMcPherson]

Got up this morning for dawn service, I WAS going to take my 2 year old with me, but she had already done her own 3 night raids on the rest of the family so needed the sleep. Just as well, the guy in charge of the cannon shot was a little to enthusiastic. I think the whole crowd jumps-im sure he was thinking "okay soft cocks, heres a taste". would have sent my little one into a huge cry.

I even sung the Austrailian national anthem. Onya diggers.

Lest we forget.

[wendell]

Thanks for the reminder.

[derwoodii]

I even sung the Austrailian national anthem. Onya diggers.

Lest we forget.

Thanks sport, i'm off to a 10 am service with ma 14yold son who joined the army cadets. His shirt n outfit all ironed to sharp edge they'd been practising the march drill last weeks.

[Groundman One]

[tdi-rick]

Lest We Forget.

[TimberMcPherson]

A russian war poem, keep in mind the fight they had on their hands and how many were lost

to Valentina Serova
Wait for me, and I'll come back!
Wait with all you've got!
Wait, when dreary yellow rains
Tell you, you should not.
Wait when snow is falling fast,
Wait when summer's hot,
Wait when yesterdays are past,
Others are forgot.
Wait, when from that far-off place,
Letters don't arrive.
Wait, when those with whom you wait
Doubt if I'm alive.

Wait for me, and I'll come back!
Wait in patience yet
When they tell you off by heart
That you should forget.
Even when my dearest ones
Say that I am lost,
Even when my friends give up,
Sit and count the cost,
Drink a glass of bitter wine
To the fallen friend -
Wait! And do not drink with them!
Wait until the end!

Wait for me and I'll come back,
Dodging every fate!
"What a bit of luck!" they'll say,
Those that would not wait.
They will never understand
How amidst the strife,
By your waiting for me, dear,
You had saved my life.
Only you and I will know
How you got me through.
Simply - you knew how to wait -
No one else but you.

1941

[derwoodii]

I even sung the Austrailian national anthem. Onya diggers.

Lest we forget.

Well sport today here had the NZ anthem played and we all did our oz best to give it respect & honor

I do like the, come at me bro line here.

Peace, not war, shall be our boast,

But, should foes assail our coast,

Make us then a mighty host,

[TimberMcPherson]

Another year and more soldiers pass from this life.

A good bloke I knew passed only a few weeks ago, he flew spitfires over England and hurribombers in the desert. Thanks Jack, it was an honour to know you, hope your finally with your squadron who you missed so much.


At Dawn Service they quoted this poem this year, and it looks like Im going to have to learn the Aussie national anthem, and it turns out my near 4 year old daughter doesn't like cannon fire.


Have you forgotten yet?...
For the world’s events have rumbled on since those gagged days,
Like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways:
And the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flow
Like clouds in the lit heaven of life; and you’re a man reprieved to go,
Taking your peaceful share of Time, with joy to spare.

But the past is just the same-and War’s a bloody game...
Have you forgotten yet?...
Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you’ll never forget.

Do you remember the dark months you held the sector at Mametz–
The nights you watched and wired and dug and piled sandbags on parapets?
Do you remember the rats; and the stench
Of corpses rotting in front of the front-line trench-
And dawn coming, dirty-white, and chill with a hopeless rain?
Do you ever stop and ask, ‘Is it all going to happen again?’

Do you remember that hour of din before the attack–
And the anger, the blind compassion that seized and shook you then
As you peered at the doomed and haggard faces of your men?
Do you remember the stretcher-cases lurching back
With dying eyes and lolling heads—those ashen-grey
Masks of the lads who once were keen and kind and gay?

Have you forgotten yet?...
Look up, and swear by the green of the spring that you’ll never forget.


Our last guys got out of Afghanistan only days ago, they lost of few last year, 3 in one attack. Here was there send off at home base.

2nd 1st Farewell Their Fallen Comrades With A Huge Haka - YouTube

Lest we forget