Author Topic: Lest we forget  (Read 6710 times)

Poddy

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Lest we forget
« on: April 25, 2010, 12:23:56 AM »

gr8-expectations

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Re: Lest we forget
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2010, 12:28:55 AM »

tellomon

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Re: Lest we forget
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2010, 12:44:05 AM »
"The B@zturd Love Child of Comix & a News Organization"

Liisa-Sx

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Re: Lest we forget
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2010, 01:50:58 AM »
   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 a glory that shines upon our tears.

    They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
    Straight of limb, true of eye, 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 contemn.
    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 day-time;
    They sleep beyond England's foam.

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

LEST WE FORGET

They said there would be cake....and there WAS!

*r3830*

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Re: Lest we forget
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2010, 12:10:54 PM »
Isn't it a sad thing! I joined a debate on the other place regarding children marching in the parade..... something that the controlling RSL (who seem to believe that they control the say on the freedoms applied to the people who served) had dictated that it didn't want to see. Gralbow, if you read this - I trust that you and yours have a wonderful day today, commemorating today in the manner that you wish - as 'free' Australians, who have most certainly earned that privilege.

But the icing on the cake..... I read today that the army had decided that veterans should not participate in the march in their uniforms..... in case they are recognised by someone. "Lest We Forget" seems to be heading towards something totally new - something that I believe to be totally offensive. If paranoia is to be the guiding factor in future marches... perhaps there will come a time that the day is not mentioned in company - and that any participation in this event is safely controlled from the inside of a pub.... or two.

And.... to Ray Martin, who has decided to start a 'flag debate' on this day.... another day perhaps - but most certainly not today.


*r3830*

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Re: Lest we forget
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2010, 12:50:51 PM »
Can you believe this! Bloody politicians! Pity they can't be put in a leaky boat.


No compensation for 100-year-old PoW Fred Collett - hero misses out

http://www.news.com.au/national/no-compensation-for-100-year-old-pow-fred-collett-hero-misses-out/story-e6frfkvr-1225857856453

Petition for Fred

http://www.petition.fm/petitions/helpfred/

wyzeguy60

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Re: Lest we forget
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2010, 12:58:31 PM »


Every year, Australians make the journey to the Gallipoli Peninsula to attend the ANZAC DAY Dawn Service at ANZAC Cove. Every year, all around Australia, many of us set our alarms and attend Dawn Services at our local RSL Club memorial.

In WW1, after the 8 months campaign at Gallipoli, Australian Troops entered the trenches of France and Belgium. Three years later over 52,000 were dead. In 1918, on 24/25 April, Australian Troops recaptured the Village of Villers-Bretonneux, and forced a German withdrawal. The significance of this battle was not lost on our Allies. The troops who retook Villers, were part of the 5 Australian Divisions urgently brought by rail from Belgium to prevent a German breakthrough. The German Armies had been reinforced by troops from the Russian Front. Russia had withdrawn from the war.

The German High Command had determined that if they could capture Amiens, the major city in The Somme, then drive to the coast, they would split the Allied Forces. They saw this as an opportunity to finish the war in their favour. Australian and British troops halted the German advance, and on 24/25 April, 1918, Australian troops recaptured Villers-Bretonneux and forced a German withdrawal.

It is significant that in spite of the fierce fighting that Australians faced at places such as Pozieres, Bullecourt, Mont St Quentin, Le Hamel and countless other sites, the major Australian Memorial is at Villers-Bretonneux. The size and solitude of the Memorial is overwhelming. Etched into the walls below the 32m high tower which dominates the area around for a great distance, are the names of over 11,000 Australian soldiers who have no known grave in France.

On 25 April 2011, it is the 93rd Anniversary of the Battle of Amiens, as it is known to the locals in The Somme. There are museums in Villers-Bretonneux, Bullecourt and Peronne that are dedicated to the diggers of WW1. The Victoria School in Villers-Bretonneux carries the sign in English "Do Not Forget Australia".

Australia has had Dawn Services at Gallipoli every year that we can remember. Of special significance was the 75th in 1990, and the 90th in 2005. However, up until 2008 there had never been an ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux, but following a number of meetings with the Government we, at Military History Tours Australia, were able to convince the Australian Government to conduct the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux for the first time on the 90th Anniversary of that special battle. The Australian public came to the fore and greatly supported this memorable event.

In Flanders' Fields

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
Scare 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.

Colonel John McRae

*wheels*

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Re: Lest we forget
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2010, 02:26:07 PM »
The Last Post.
http://www.awm.gov.au/media/last_post.mp3

Lest we forget.
Anzac Day, a time to pause and remember.
A day to show respect, to acknowledge and thank those who have served and those who are still serving in the name of their country.


Loco, our family has always had someone marching in the Parade, whether it's been as an ex-serviceman, current ADF member or as part of a school or scouting group. The Veterans that I have spoken to welcome the participation of family members and the community. Personally, I think that the Veterans should march at the front behind their flag followed by the others. I have a precious photo of a very proud man marching at point holding the hand of his grandson. That photo was taken during his last ever Parade and to him Anzac Day was not just about remembrance and mateship but also about the families left behind.

*CountessA*

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Re: Lest we forget
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2010, 12:41:08 AM »
Lest we forget...

We never should. We should never forget that the youth of Australia and New Zealand found themselves in hell, with dreams of glory turning into blood all around them.

Their hearts were of noble intentions. They were too young for what they experienced. Some - so many - never made it back. Some - so many - will never forget because of the horror of that time.

I salute their courage and their endurance. I honour their sense of honour and responsibility. Let us never forget that we are here in part because of what they faced.

"No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe; every man is ...a part of the maine; ...any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde"