Australia/New Zealand ANZAC Day 2013

ChrisN

ChrisN

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I'd like to send a special greeting to all my fellow Australians and New Zealanders, who today are commemorating ANZAC Day. April the 25th is the day when we remember our Service men and women who died in conflicts, those injured and harmed, and their families. ANZAC Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War, in the disastrous invasion on Gallipoli in what is now Turkey.

It seems the world remains a very troubled place. I find some solace and hope in the words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey and its first president.

"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... you are now lying 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 far away 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."

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Thoughts with all serviceman and woman and their families. My son is a 19yo who is serving in NZ Army
and just missed out the final NZ Army posting to Afghanistan. He is toasting Anzac Day in the bar at Burnham in Christchurch.
My son Callum.

Callum David by BigHausen, on Flickr
Haka

Haka! by BigHausen, on Flickr

Callum and big Sis Nicollette

The Kids! by BigHausen, on Flickr
 
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Thanks for the post Chris. A special day for all Australians and New Zealanders to remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice over the years. My great grandfather died at the battle of Polygon Wood in Belgium during WWI, his body was never found.

Each year there seems to be less and less WW II veterans marching. When I was a teenager we used to take our cars to a an old (61) mechanic who lived down the road and let us use his tools and know how. Tough as nails but so generous with his time. He was a 'Rat of Tobruk' during WWII and served in the 9th Division http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rats_of_Tobruk I used to love listening to his stories, most involved annoying English officers. He died some years ago.

And thanks for posting those beautiful portraits, Dave.

Cheers - John
 
Thanks for the post Chris. My 12 year old son slept at his Scout Hall on Wednesday night and was at the Cenotaph in Martin Place at 3.30 am handing out Rosemary. It was his first Dawn Service and he found it very sad and moving. It's great to see the young kids appreciating the significance of the day, not just for remembering Gallipoli, but also all those who've paid the ultimate price in conflicts since then.

clay
 
Great post and i have heard the service at Canberra is very moving, you have better weather than when we have it
 
My father was one of the "Rats of Tobruk' and he was later critically injured at "Tel El Aisa" in North Africa. Survived after lying in the desert with multiple injuries for 2 days. He was 5 weeks past his 20th birthday. His younger brother and best friend my Uncle Harry was killed 2 months later in Egypt just a couple of months past his 18th birthday. Needless to say Anzac Day was sacred in our house growing up. My Dad always told me don't let anyone tell you there is something glorious about war; it's just terrible. He died in 1999 and I honoured him by having a pint in his memory yesterday.
 
Great post - the dawn service at Kranji in Singapore is an important reminder for us here. Thanks for sharing
 
alan davus said:
My father was one of the "Rats of Tobruk' and he was later critically injured at "Tel El Aisa" in North Africa. Survived after lying in the desert with multiple injuries for 2 days. He was 5 weeks past his 20th birthday. His younger brother and best friend my Uncle Harry was killed 2 months later in Egypt just a couple of months past his 18th birthday. Needless to say Anzac Day was sacred in our house growing up. My Dad always told me don't let anyone tell you there is something glorious about war; it's just terrible. He died in 1999 and I honoured him by having a pint in his memory yesterday.
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Thanks for sharing Alan. You must have been very proud of your father. Did he share much with you about the war? I find their experiences fascinating. So much history during their lifetime.

I have a 20 year old son and I just can't begin to imagine him doing what they did, all I see is a kid. But they did all that and more and they continue to do so now. Young men will always make the best soldiers, us older guys know we are not indestructible.

Cheers - John
 
ChrisN said:
It seems the world remains a very troubled place. I find some solace and hope in the words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey and its first president.

"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... you are now lying 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 far away 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."
Click to expand...

Those words are engraved in stone in front of the cemetery in Gelibolu. It's very hard to hold back tears whilst reading them and glancing out into the calm blue sea...
 
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