In New Zealand and Australia tomorrow, 25th April is Anzac Day. The day we remember our fallen servicemen.
I believe there are servicemen that are members of this forum. My question is should your poppy be worn on your left side and is this the same for both men and women ?
Lest We Forget.
we allways wore the poppy behind the capbadge on our beret when in uniform, on the left, ie buttonhole, when in civvies.
Thanks RIZLA.
What is the date of Poppy Day in the UK ?
it's the 11th of November in the uk
:onya:
11/11, 11th hour 11day 11th month.
love the song , and the band played waltzing matilda, by the pogues, eric bogle, dubliners.
Armistice Day........I should have known that.
Just listened to that song by the Pogues. Great song....but sad.
John Schumann (of Redgum "I was only 19" fame) was one of many who did a cover of that melancholy song.
He also wrote "On Every Anzac Day" about the service of indigenous Australians
I'll be heading to the dawn service at Redcliffe tomorrow - on the coast and the peacefulness of that place during the service is incredible.
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And it always draws a huge attendance which is great to see.
(https://images.scribblelive.com/2015/4/24/bad8b72c-2d4e-4347-b846-dbd2ff68da09_800.jpg)
We must never forget the sacrifices made to keep us free :cry2:
We should always remember our fallen servicemen whatever the day - have a good Anzac Day guys
Dawn Service at Mount Maunganui, Tauranga 2015.
Very moving.
WOW, what a fantastic turnout and beautifull scenery, must be a very moving ceremony.
looks more personal than our armistice day service which is bloody cold and formal.
The first photo I took when we arrived and the last taken as it got light and people were leaving.
After the ceremony some people went and laid their poppies at the Cenotaph.
Great photos Vlad. What an amazing sunrise.
The old Diggers would be proud to see they are not forgotten
This is from a few years ago, I organise the other Posties now and we give out about 8000 flags free to the Public at the parade route. Best day at work ever.
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Always proud of old fallen and never forgot fellow service men and lady we are all brother and sister in arms .... to beat and never surrender our freedom to the terrorist of the world
MRg.... couldn't have said it better myself. Both grandfathers fought in both wars... kind of unique that both survived well into their 90s ... neither wanted to talk about their experience but both extolled the virtues of their fallen comrades. A generation to be remembered and celebrated at the same time.
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Monday, 24 April 2017, 10:52 PM
Great photos Vlad. What an amazing sunrise.
Sadly I can't take credit for those ones, but they do capture the occasion nicely.
Well this is going to be my last year in the army I am being retired at 55 this Aug , and I feel I've still got ten yrs in me , but the gov say it's time it's time ..... shame I have loved every minute of my 37 yrs in the army ... but I will never feel like I've left .... just side lined I will always be army inside me ......................... god speed all that service there country ................... :hat:
It takes a long time to become a civvy, when I left I worked for the civil service training servicemen and women so I still felt I was still "in" for another 10 years. Good luck on your retirement and transition to a lowly civvy.
Yes Mrg best of luck to you in your lifes new direction :cheers:
Respect to ya mrg.
Got given 14 coins, all 20c pieces. So face value is $2.80 (about £1.50p)
Except each one is part of a 14 coin set and a full set go's for about $50 (£30) they commemorate the Australian and NZ armed forces.
There value is of less interest to me as they used to belong to my father in law Lawrie who passed away a while ago. He was in the Australian Army and served in Vietnam. He was a real good bloke.
I have a few things of his, his tools, bayonet etc that were given to me and not his kids surprisingly.
They arent rare, there's plenty of sets around, but It's something else thats nice to remember him by and stuff that interests me too.
(https://s30.postimg.org/hscilsvwx/image.jpg) (https://postimage.io/app.php)
Nice story Tony.
It's just nice to have a collection like that from a hero that mean so much to you value is the love in how it was created for you that is the real value :hat:
That's cool you have that. I had two (great?) uncles (they were brothers) in WW2 - one was beaufort crew or ground crew (still not sure which, but he was in Darwin at the same time the Japs made their fly-in holiday), the other was special forces.
They both never spoke about their wars to anyone else but they did leave behind medals etc.
Sadly the family has no idea what happened to those - I wish I had got them as I'd have done some research....
Michael,
You can do a search on the National Archives to find details of your uncles - if the records aren't digital, you can pay a small fee ($20 or so) to get a copy.
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx
Anzac Day here and in Australia today.
Another good turnout at the Mt Maunganui Dawn Service. Many more young ones at the parade today. Great to see. A day to remember the fallen, the ones that gave their lives so that we may live in freedom today.
Lest we forget.
Indeed it's good to see so many turn out to remember the fallen so many years after the World Wars - although we should also not forget those that have fallen in recent conflicts either, still keeping us safe.
Lest We Forget
My great uncle was at Gallipoli with the Anzac's he was in the Sherwood foresters .
He made it through only to died at the Somme with some of the same guys a few years later.
Went to see his grave last year a very moving experience indeed.
Never forget :onya:
QuoteWe have only died in vain if you believe so;
You have to decide the wisdom of our choice,
By the world you shall build upon our headstones,
And the everlasting truth, which have your voice.
Though dead, we are no heroes yet, nor can be,
'Till the living by their lives which are the tools,
Carve us the epitaph of wise men,
And give us not the epitaph of fools.
David J. Phillips, 506th P.F.R./101 Abne Div.
A big thank you to all our servicemen (and women) past and present.
"Lest We Forget" means, 'In case we forget'. It means that we need to remember and acknowledge the sacrifice of those soldiers, sailors and airmen.
The fought (and still fight) for their country (and thanks to them, our country), for us and of course for their mates.
There was a time when, with the number of WW1 and WW2 veterans diminishing, there was fear that the ANZAC Day marches and services would dwindle. Fortunately there were some who saw a bigger picture, we then saw the VVMC participating in the way they chose, people marching with their relatives medals on their right breast, the lesson being taught to the young and their involvement as appropriate.
Now the meaning of ANZAC Day, and attendances at ceremonies, seems safe for some time to come.
I was gratified to see a ceremony occur on Monday 23rd in ANZAC Square, Brisbane, specifically for school children - seemingly of primary school age. Many had wreaths which they laid at the eternal flame. This was no minor thing, it was attended by the Governor and other dignitaries.
I don't have kids myself, but I was so proud of those kids and so happy that they were able to participate in that way.
I attended the Dawn Service at Redcliffe, as I do each year, and while a few spits of rain fell early it stopped by the time of the ceremony, with the sun rising over a peaceful beach and calm water - much the opposite of the 25th of April 1915 on the deadly beachhead at Gallipoli.
Local poet and author Rupert McCall was also there - he writes a poem each year and this years was a cracker. see video here: http://www.redcliffersl.com.au/anzacday/ skip to 49:40 to hear the poem read.
Guest of Honour was Dan Keighran (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Keighran) VC, who made a passionate speech and reminded everyone how important it is to remember and actively help to assist veterans 365 days a year - not just ANZAC and Remembrance days.
see video here (same link as above): http://www.redcliffersl.com.au/anzacday/
skip to 1:02:08 to hear the him describe the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux and then segue that into his other comments and how former soldiers, sailors, and airmen (and women) continue to serve their countries long after they have hung up their uniforms. It was an inspiring speech.
I feel that many in New Zealand now see Anzac Day as our 'New Zealand Day'.
We have Waitangi Day which l feel is just a holiday, it comes with some contention. Anzac Day has no contention and is seen as a day of respect, reflection and rememberance. Every year l see more attending the Dawn Service and the various services held throughout the day.
A lot of kids and young people attend now, they stand tall and proud wearing their families medals, sharing the bond made at such cost with our Aussie cousins this day so many years ago.
I do love this time of the year for people to show there appreciation of the fallen and those who's have Bevin there time to service and those how dedicate there time working so hard for this great time of the year to honour all service men and women around the world 🌎
Quote from: Mrg on Saturday, 28 April 2018, 07:15 PM
to honour all service men and women around the world 🌎
There is one exception: Germany
A bit harsh, if it wasn't for them we wouldn't have any of these events :stir:
We should be celebrating all heroes regardless of race, religion or country of origin. War is a terrible thing, irrespective of the origins.... with innocents suffering the most. All of our heroes are those who protect those innocents and everything they hold dear. That is something that should never be forgotten.
This is the poem that Rupert McCall wrote, and read at the ANZAC day ceremony this year.
Quote
A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW
When the playing of the bugle sent a shiver down my spine
When I felt a sense of duty and stepped up to join the line
A song was sung, my heart was young, the ship it sailed away
When I caught my mother crying and I had no words to say
When I wore my country's coat of arms to pledge a solemn vow
I didn't think they'd honour me a hundred years from now
When I landed in an ambush on that distant foreign shore
When I saw the bullets flying and I heard the canon roar
I turned my head, my friend lay dead, it happened so damn fast
When I made it through the mayhem of that terrifying blast
When I managed to survive that day...still I don't know how
I didn't think they'd tell the tale a hundred years from now
When the battle raged forever and adversity was rife
When the courage and the sacrifice were daily facts of life
As darkness fell, it seemed like hell, but mateship got us through
When nothing else made any sense... that's the flag we flew
When thoughts of home revived my strength and wiped my bloody brow
I didn't think they'd call me 'brave' a hundred years from now
When I felt a chill that morning – when my heart beat like a drum
When the captain gave his orders and I knew the time had come
No glory there, just pure despair, my best is what I gave
When they wrote 'lest we forget' upon the headstone of my grave
When, beside my cross, the children of the future stop to bow
My spirit will remain alive a hundred years from now
When the playing of the bugle sends a shiver down your spine
When you understand the blood you bleed is just the same as mine
From dreamtime land to coastal sand, the city to the sprawl
When the essence of my legacy unites Australians all
When Anzac legend shines a light on all who make that vow
With pride, the world will know their name a hundred years from now...
And their courage will be just the same...a hundred years from now
Rupert McCall