Least We Forget - ANZAC Day

[Cdre Gibs]

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae



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.

Least we Forget.

[Boris]

Your making me feel guilty now.

First year in ages that I haven't gone to an ANZAC dawn service...

at least I attended the subsim forum service!

[bill clarke]

I marchaed with 28Sqn this morning in Canberra, outside the AWM.
Proudly wearing my fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers medals, as well as my own solitary long service medal, oh well.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

I wish I could have been there with you all.

I hope that you will accept my respects and my salute gents.

Cheers mates

[Tazzie]

We had a good turn out here for today's march which was led by the navy vetrans and a large corwd cheered them on.

[bill clarke]

I wish I could have been there with you all.

I hope that you will accept my respects and my salute gents.

Cheers mates

We do and thank you very much.

[Harry Buttle]

I marchaed with 28Sqn this morning in Canberra, outside the AWM.
Proudly wearing my fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers medals, as well as my own solitary long service medal, oh well.

Then you should apply to receive the recently approved Australian Defence Medal -

http://www.rfd.org.au/documents/medalapp.pdf

Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Bruce Billson, announced on 30 March 2006.

“Her Majesty the Queen has approved the official regulations and design for the award that aims to recognise current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) Regular and Reserve personnel, and volunteer and National Servicemen, who have served since the end of World War II,” Mr Billson said.

“The Australian Government is committed to recognising the outstanding contribution to our proud military history made by Australian men and women in uniform.

“After extensive consultation with veterans’ organisations and the wider community, the government has decided to broaden the eligibility criteria to include former ADF members who completed their initial enlistment period, or four years service, whichever is the lesser,” Mr Billson said.

“The criteria also recognises National Servicemen and those who could not serve the four-year qualifying period because of the ADF’s workplace and enlistment policies of the time.

“The expanded criteria also includes those who die in service or are medically discharged due to permanent injury and unable to reach four years or complete their initial period of enlistment,” Mr Billson said.

“Although creating any new medal is an extensive process which includes consultation, design and testing, Royal approval and manufacturing, the medal is an important tribute to those who have given so much for our country.

“Presentation ceremonies by senior military officers and Federal parliamentarians are expected to commence in mid-2006 as the medals become available. I encourage all those eligible to submit applications and supporting evidence as soon as possible to receive the recognition they deserve,” Mr Billson said.

--------------

If you have the Parramatta star, you are entitled to the ADM.

[Boris]

After extensive consultation with veterans’ organisations and the wider community, the government has decided to broaden the eligibility criteria to include former ADF members who completed their initial enlistment period, or four years service, whichever is the lesser,” Mr Billson said.


Damn, missed out by 6 months, i could have got a medal, :cry:

:rotfl:

[JScones]

Got the application form right in front of me now and it will be on its way to DHA tomorrow. :yep:

My Dad's a bit frustrated though - every time he gets his medals remounted, they throw him a new one!

Anyway, Lest We Forget.

[bill clarke]

I marchaed with 28Sqn this morning in Canberra, outside the AWM.
Proudly wearing my fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers medals, as well as my own solitary long service medal, oh well.

Then you should apply to receive the recently approved Australian Defence Medal -


If you have the Parramatta star, you are entitled to the ADM.

Hi Harry, as a serving member I should get it automatically (as I understand the eligiblity critera), I have the newer version of the DFLSM I will have to apply for one for my father's service too. I also had to apply for the ASM 45-75 for him, took 40 years but the Defence dept finally recognised 78 fighter wings time in Malta between 52-54 as warlike.

[Cdre Gibs]

I'm humbled that I'm in the good company of so many sons/daughters of ANZAC's. 8y's of service with in the RAAC and still serving now as an Instructor of Cadets but for the Australian Navy Cadet Corp (would you believe :lol: )

We had a great turn out for Dawn service at Kings Park overlooking Perth as the sun came up. The march through Perth kicked off at 09:30H and was the biggest turn out that I can ever remember, but sadly the rain came in with a vengence and the midday service was called off. The Lads an Lass's all still marched through the down pour and the crowed stayed an cheered, but as usual it was the polly's who chickend out.

To all who have served their country and those still servering far from home - Thanks.

[JScones]

I'm humbled that I'm in the good company of so many sons/daughters of ANZAC's. 8y's of service with in the RAAC and still serving now as an Instructor of Cadets but for the Australian Navy Cadet Corp (would you believe :lol: )
Hang around for 15 years and you'll also get teh Cadet Forces Service Medal.

[Boris]

Looks like most of the Australian forum members are defence/ ex defence... interesting

[Beery]

So what's the SH3 connection? :hmm:

[bill clarke]

Better clarify this, my great grandfather served in the Boer War, and my grandfather in the WWI, but they were in England at the time, my father served in WWII in the RAAF, as am I, 21st year this August.

[Karl-Heinz Jaeger]

Stopping by to pay my respects to our ANZAC brethren down under.

:up:

[JScones]

Me=2RNSWR, AABC and AIRTC Officer of Cadets. Received Australia Day Medal in 1999 for service to the Aust Government.
Dad=21 years in RAInf (tours to Vietnam, Malaya, and Darwin Cyclone recovery, opened door for the Queen when she visited QLD in 1970). Received Australia Day Medal in 1987 for service to the Aust Government (not too many Father/sons do that!).
Great Uncle=20Bn AIF - died at Villers-Bretonneux July 1918. A true ANZAC.
Great, Great Grandfather=81st Regiment of Foot (North America, Bermuda and Gibraltar) and New Zealand Fencible.
Great, Great, Great Grandfather=52nd Regiment of Foot (yes, Battle of Waterloo - he was a Bugler) and New Zealand Fencible.

Not bragging, just mighty proud. :smug:

[Cdre Gibs]

So what's the SH3 connection? :hmm:

Lets see, ANZAC Day is a day of Rememberance for all those who served and payed the ultimate sacrifice (came into being after Gallipoli, but now encumbence's all who served in all wars and inbetween, and are still serving today) in WWI and through the ages, including WWII.

Silent Hunter III is a WWII sub game that for some is a way to "be there" and indoing so pay respects (after a fashion) to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Now I wonder where the connection is !

[Boris]

Not bragging, just mighty proud. :smug:

me... not so proud :oops:

Spent three years as an officer cadet at ADFA studying a Bachelor of Arts, before graduating and going on to the Royal Military College.
Half-way through my time as a staff cadet at Duntroon, I finally had it with the Army, cracked and was surprised to be finally kicked out for trying to go AWOL. :o

My Great Grandfather served the Kaiser...

My Grandfather on my mothers side was mislead by the Fuehrer, along with millions of others. He got captured in Leningrad, and was released in 1948

Grandfather on my fathers side... also served the Wehrmacht, but only after escaping a year in Stalin's army. He was lucky enough to be captured by the Ami's at the end of the war.

Just realised although I'm an Aussie I have very little connection to ANZAC day.

[Cdre Gibs]

Borris.

I cant speak for the other's, only myself. To me it doesn't matter that you succeeded, but that you tried. The life of a soldier is not for all, but at least you stood up and had a go.

To me that alone speaks volumes about your character, in that you had the forthought to try to do service for you country.

The same can be said of your relitives regardless of what side they were on. There is no disrespect in 1 serving 1's own country, no matter the time frame nor the politics. A person can only try to do the best that they can and do it with honor.

I can salute my enemy for his Valour, Courage, Duty and Honor from 1 soldier to another. To do so brings no shame.

[Swede]

on what day do the axis soldiers get an honorary remembrance?
On what day do people have a quiet minute for the thousands of germans, and others who fought in ww2? On what day do we remember all the men who were cowardly hung after the war only because they were on the loosing team?

Dont get me wrong, im not putting down the brave allied soldiers, but i think its a shame that people think of all axis soldiers as "nazis". They were every day men, who fought for their country, just like kiwis, ozzies who fought for what they thought was right. There is no right and wrong, people choose their own truths. But one truth remains, men on both sides died in an awful war, but only one side gets honoured.

[Cdre Gibs]

In fact you are wrong there my friend, on ANZAC Day we not only remember our fallen comrades but we also remember ALL who fought and died. It has been a tradition now for some time that a Dawn Service is held at Galliopli Bay with the Turks in attedance. Its a very moving service in rememberance for ALL those that fell.

Today still we not only have those who sered in the ADF but from may counties that march and attend the midday service.

[JScones]

I once had the pleasure of meeting two ex-Luftwaffe pilots after an ANZAC Day parade in Sydney (some of our Unit went to play two-up at a local pub and they happened to be there). Couldn't quite understand them, but my word they had our full attention and utmost respect.

[joea]

on what day do the axis soldiers get an honorary remembrance?
On what day do people have a quiet minute for the thousands of germans, and others who fought in ww2? On what day do we remember all the men who were cowardly hung after the war only because they were on the loosing team?

Dont get me wrong, im not putting down the brave allied soldiers, but i think its a shame that people think of all axis soldiers as "nazis". They were every day men, who fought for their country, just like kiwis, ozzies who fought for what they thought was right. There is no right and wrong, people choose their own truths. But one truth remains, men on both sides died in an awful war, but only one side gets honoured.

Excellent post Swede, except for the parts I put in bold. What soldiers were hung just becasue they lost? If you mean Himmler et al. well sory they don't deserve rememberance, also for the fact they led their own countrymen to death. :hulk: Allied armies did punish (including execution) some of their own soldiers for crimes (looting murder etc.) Some fo the big criminals on the Allied side got away of course.

Your point about recalling ordinary soldiers on both sides is correct, and as Cmdr Gibbs said for example Turks and ANZACS celebrating together.
:)

[Boris]

Borris.

I cant speak for the other's, only myself. To me it doesn't matter that you succeeded, but that you tried. The life of a soldier is not for all, but at least you stood up and had a go.

To me that alone speaks volumes about your character, in that you had the forthought to try to do service for you country.

The same can be said of your relitives regardless of what side they were on. There is no disrespect in 1 serving 1's own country, no matter the time frame nor the politics. A person can only try to do the best that they can and do it with honor.

I can salute my enemy for his Valour, Courage, Duty and Honor from 1 soldier to another. To do so brings no shame.

Thanks for you kind words.

This is a far cry from the parting words of my commandant who (paraphrasing) said that I should be ashamed that I have only taken from my country and given little in return, and that one day I should consider repaying my debt to this country.

I attempted to break my service obligation five years before it should have ended, when I realised that a career as an officer in the army no longer interested me and that therfore i could not be an asset to the army.
I wanted to leave for a whole number of reasons, needless to say my whole outlook on life had changed a lot from the straight out of school guy that i was when I joined.

I planned to try everything to get out, without having to pay the exorbitant amount of money that the government wanted for the early severance of my service.
In the end an opportunity presented itself when my mid-year leave was denied. I had planned on (already booked) taking a trip to Europe with some of my Army mates and to see my family.
I decided to try and go anyway, since at this stage I was no longer in training and had little to lose. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), somehow the staff got wind of my intentions, and the night before my trip I recieved a direct order not to leave the base and to parade at 0730.

By that time the next morning I was at Sydney Airport, having taken a bus overnight from canberra. When my friends arrived 9ish, by plane, they confirmed my hunch that the MPs were at Canberra Airport looking for me.
We checked in our luggage, got through customs and onto the plane. Most passengers were seated and the crew was ready to close the doors, when I heard my name spoken. I looked up to see a badge in my face, accompanied by the words "Australin federal police, come with me please sir"
And that was that... the MPs flew me back to Canberra, where an angry Colonel tore me a new one and told me I would be kicked out.

:) It's all a good laugh in retrospect now, and a bit of an adventure at that.

[Boris]

on what day do the axis soldiers get an honorary remembrance?
On what day do people have a quiet minute for the thousands of germans, and others who fought in ww2? On what day do we remember all the men who were cowardly hung after the war only because they were on the loosing team?

Dont get me wrong, im not putting down the brave allied soldiers, but i think its a shame that people think of all axis soldiers as "nazis". They were every day men, who fought for their country, just like kiwis, ozzies who fought for what they thought was right. There is no right and wrong, people choose their own truths. But one truth remains, men on both sides died in an awful war, but only one side gets honoured.

Excellent post Swede, except for the parts I put in bold. What soldiers were hung just becasue they lost? If you mean Himmler et al. well sory they don't deserve rememberance, also for the fact they led their own countrymen to death. :hulk: Allied armies did punish (including execution) some of their own soldiers for crimes (looting murder etc.) Some fo the big criminals on the Allied side got away of course.

Your point about recalling ordinary soldiers on both sides is correct, and as Cmdr Gibbs said for example Turks and ANZACS celebrating together.
:)

Agreed.

The fact is that war is **** <Edit: That's not how I phrased it, lol> (probably an understatement), and soldiers should not be remebered for shooting at the enemy, but for the hardships they were forced to endure.
On exercises, whilst in th Army I often heard people complain. I just thought to myself... What would it be like if it were ten times worse and six years long.[/b]

[tbarak]

Gibs you may want to edit your original post, look closely at the first line, the last word should be replaced with "grow".

I live in Canada and our culture's appreciation for Canada's war effort is shoddy and embarrassing. When I visited Europe working on a documentary about a Canadian war hero, everyone in the French village (where the crew was hidden by the Resistance) knew the story about Mynarksi and the Lancaster crew. All the war memorials dotting the fields along the roads were amazing while here in Canada most people are clueless about it.

But the tragedy is that the world has not learned that Wars do not solve anything. Bush is willing to kill his own young men for oil and money, just the same way the past leaders did to their own, for glory, territory and the other spoils of war. I agree the common German soldier had no grandiose visions of world domination. They paid in blood for the arrogance of their elitist leaders. Seems things never change. There doesn't seem to be enough senseless deaths in the world to wake people up.

[Cdre Gibs]

Gibs you may want to edit your original post, look closely at the first line, the last word should be replaced with "grow".

The Poem is word for word as quoted by the Australian War Memorial.

http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/customs/poems.htm#fallen

if they have it incorrect, somebody had better tell them (just not me)!

[bookworm_020]

Just to note, former Axis personal also march with the rest on ANZAC Day. I saw them go by in the march in Sydney.

[tbarak]

Oops, my mistake, it is actually "blow". I chalked it up to a typo as I though "grow" made more sense. Apologies mate, you were right. I will banish myself to a double watch on the bridge during a storm.

Lest we forget.

[Harry Buttle]

There is no right and wrong, people choose their own truths. But one truth remains, men on both sides died in an awful war, but only one side gets honoured.

Only one side gets honoured because they weren't the side defending the mass murder of Jews, minorities, communists and trade unionists.

The honoured didn't join up to extend their countries lebensraum, to establish a 1000 year reich, nor to exterminate the untermensh.

They joined up to defeat the barbarians, protect their homes and liberate the oppressed. that is why they are honoured.

Don't try the "the Germans didn't know" nonsense - Mein Kampf was written well before the war. the Germans knew.

Moral equivalence makes me sick - there is a right and wrong - murdering 6 million Jews is not a matter of personal truth. it is evil. if you can't see that, then it tells us a great deal about you.

[Cdre Gibs]

Ok guys, lets not spoil the intentions of the thread and keep it civil pls. Thx

[Der Eisen-Wal]

Lest We Forget the brave men and women of ANZAC.


I live in Canada and our culture's appreciation for Canada's war effort is shoddy and embarrassing. When I visited Europe working on a documentary about a Canadian war hero, everyone in the French village (where the crew was hidden by the Resistance) knew the story about Mynarksi and the Lancaster crew. All the war memorials dotting the fields along the roads were amazing while here in Canada most people are clueless about it.


I know, its really sad. While my family were not here at the time and had nothing to do with the war effort in Canada, I am proud of it's people and it's heritage in arms. I wish only more people would remember their own roots.

[kiwi_2005]

A family of a NZ ANZAC hero of ww2 wants to sell the medals, the govenment is trying to stop the family from selling them, they got offered 5.5 million from a UK collector. If this family want to sell the medals they have every damn right too. The govenment stepped in to look like they care about what happens to our veterans. Theres more to the story but i dont think it wise to put it up till the case is closed.

[Boris]

for 5.5 million!!?

For that kind of money I'd sell them!

medals are just trinkets. The most honorable soldiers are the humble ones who think nothing of medals.
Like Charles Upham, VC and bar... always refused to wear his medals

[bill clarke]

Borris.

I cant speak for the other's, only myself. To me it doesn't matter that you succeeded, but that you tried. The life of a soldier is not for all, but at least you stood up and had a go.

To me that alone speaks volumes about your character, in that you had the forthought to try to do service for you country.

The same can be said of your relitives regardless of what side they were on. There is no disrespect in 1 serving 1's own country, no matter the time frame nor the politics. A person can only try to do the best that they can and do it with honor.

I can salute my enemy for his Valour, Courage, Duty and Honor from 1 soldier to another. To do so brings no shame.

Thanks for you kind words.

This is a far cry from the parting words of my commandant who (paraphrasing) said that I should be ashamed that I have only taken from my country and given little in return, and that one day I should consider repaying my debt to this country.

I attempted to break my service obligation five years before it should have ended, when I realised that a career as an officer in the army no longer interested me and that therfore i could not be an asset to the army.
I wanted to leave for a whole number of reasons, needless to say my whole outlook on life had changed a lot from the straight out of school guy that i was when I joined.

I planned to try everything to get out, without having to pay the exorbitant amount of money that the government wanted for the early severance of my service.
In the end an opportunity presented itself when my mid-year leave was denied. I had planned on (already booked) taking a trip to Europe with some of my Army mates and to see my family.
I decided to try and go anyway, since at this stage I was no longer in training and had little to lose. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), somehow the staff got wind of my intentions, and the night before my trip I recieved a direct order not to leave the base and to parade at 0730.

By that time the next morning I was at Sydney Airport, having taken a bus overnight from canberra. When my friends arrived 9ish, by plane, they confirmed my hunch that the MPs were at Canberra Airport looking for me.
We checked in our luggage, got through customs and onto the plane. Most passengers were seated and the crew was ready to close the doors, when I heard my name spoken. I looked up to see a badge in my face, accompanied by the words "Australin federal police, come with me please sir"
And that was that... the MPs flew me back to Canberra, where an angry Colonel tore me a new one and told me I would be kicked out.

:) It's all a good laugh in retrospect now, and a bit of an adventure at that.

Boris good on you for having the courage of your'e convictions, and good on you for sticking it to the Army (I'm a RAFFIE) :rotfl:

[tbarak]

I thought about enlisting when I was younger but the thought of being ordered to my death for a useless cause, just to pad the career of an under-worked, overpaid politician or bureaucrat didn't sit well with me. One day these guys are running a small family business, or bean counting for some consultancy firm or lobby group, the next day they're the head of the armed forces, having never served or having no clue about warfare or the well being of the fighting men. They give them shoddy equipment, half the troops can't meet the physical requirements, the politicians get richer and the poor die on the battlefield. Four Canadians just died in Afghanistan, and for what? Unless the enemy is on my boarder I would never fight in a war.

Better to sit in a country club (read prison), play golf, ride horses, get a free university degree then be employed through one of the myriad of government programs designed to reward society's misfits since they're downtrodden. Back to the documentary, after searching for government funding for three years to make a film about Canada's three airforce Victoria Cross winners, I gave up. The government has since funded films about lesbians, a porno called "Bubbles", a movie about that ******* Trudeau, lots of projects to do with aboriginal issues, and lots of films about hockey players. There was one government sponsored series called the Valour and Horror, which for six hours reinforced the claim that Canadians undertook barbarism during the war, killing women and children mercilessly.

[joea]

Back to the documentary, after searching for government funding for three years to make a film about Canada's three airforce Victoria Cross winners, I gave up. The government has since funded films about lesbians, a porno called "Bubbles", a movie about that ******* Trudeau, lots of projects to do with aboriginal issues, and lots of films about hockey players. There was one government sponsored series called the Valour and Horror, which for six hours reinforced the claim that Canadians undertook barbarism during the war, killing women and children mercilessly.

:nope: :nope: :nope: