Lest We Forget..............

[h0ughy]

I wish to pass on my thanks and thoughts to all those past and present who have defended this country and fought in wars for Australia and New Zealand.

Spare a thought to all those currently caught up in peacekeeping and other duties all over the world, and to those who have fallen to uphold the Australian way of life.

[xstream]

Lest We Forget.

[circumpolar]

Lest We Forget.

[astronut]

Every time we observe under the beautiful Aussie dark skies, lets all pause and remember the service men and women that gave ( and are giving now ) so much so that we may live in peace. LEST WE FORGET.

[Robby]

My Grandfather was an ANZAC. I remember him fondly.
As the sun goes down......

[matt]

.... we will remember them...

[RB]

Lest We Forget.

May we never have to go through what they went through.
May the world live in peace and enjoy what nature has for us.
May we look up into the night sky and say thank you and peace be with us.

[Rodstar]

I am sure we all have family stories of human sacrifice in war.

My great uncle Hassall perished on the shores of Gallipoli on the first landing. Poor bugger...he was only 18 years of age with his whole life ahead of him. Makes me reflect on the senselessness of "the Great War".

Sometimes, though, we have to fight for our freedom. My wife's grandad, who died just last year, was a Major in the British army (Royal Engineers) during WW2. In one attack in France, 100 of the men under his charge were killed. They were to a man under the age of 20. He took photos of all of their graves, and wrote a letter to all of their families to thank them for their sons' sacrifice in the face of Nazism. He was only 22 when this happened. That's just too young for anyone to have to bear that level of responsibility.

Grandpa always talked about the greater good, and the need for us to look beyond our own short-term gain and selfishness to what is in the best interests of our whole society. I often disagreed with him about a lot of social issues. He thought I was a bit too much of a lefty. I thought he was too conservative. In the early 1940's, though, the threat to freedom was real, and the sacrifice made acheived something tangible. I am most greatful to him and all those who fought against totalitarianism.

To all out there who continue to work for peace and human understanding, my thanks and thoughts go with you.....

Lest we forget.

[matt]

Well said, Rod.

For all those reasons and for so many more we cannot flinch for a second in defending democracy and the freedoms for which so many fought and died.

Happy Anzac Day, everyone:thumbsup:

[33South]

Hunters & Collectors 1987

The colonel said "these bodies stink
wont someone come and drag them away"
We try to clean them up but they mow us down
and the English colonel looks the other way!

Well the spirit is willing
but the flesh is weak
I ran for the trench
but I had no time to speak

Well my heart said "yes"
but my head said "no"
When the English colonel
said "its time to go"

And he said "Whats a few men?"

The colonel's job is never done
So he declares timeout on Christmas Day
We held the enemy in our arms
and we ploughed each others dead into the clay

Well the Lord said "death will be no longer
and all of these things will pass away"
There'll be no sorrow and there'll be no pain
and we'll swap cigarettes on Christmas Day.

And he said "Whats a few men?"

---------------
Lest we forget.

[jjjnettie]

Both my Grandmother and Grandfather served in WW1, my father WW2.
But my thoughts each ANZAC day are with those that are still with us, who have served their country and each day relive the traumas of their experience.
They cannot forget.
Lest We Forget.

[Rodstar]

Sometimes amidst the misery of war there are some wonderful stories that warm the cockles of the heart.....

The aforementioned Major Olver of the Royal Engineers met his Maltese sweetheart in Egypt during WW2. She was a nurse. Their chance encounter led to 60+ years of happy marriage in the UK, Trinidad, and finally Sydney. Had they not met (which only happened because of the war), my wife would not have been conceived......and had she not been born, then neither would my three children have been born.....

History presents some interesting conundrems....

[RB]

A truely beautiful story with a very happy ending, thank you for sharing Rod.

[33South]

Similar story here Rod, my mum and dad only met because of the war.

My mother lived in the East end of London and got bombed in the blitz, killing both her parents.
She was relocated to Hayes west of London and got a job in an aircraft factory where she met my dad who was working there as an apprentice.

Now 60 odd years later here I am along with two children and three grand-children.

Chris.