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Anzac Day

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Sdajii said:
That's sad. I'm not surprised to hear that such people exist, but I'm sure they're not proportionately common.

It's difficult to see anything about ANZAC Day in any context which is actually set up as a recruitment drive. It's always a sombre affair. There will always be a few exceptions to any rule when it comes to people and their points of view.
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I don't believe it was "setup" as a recruitment drive, but if you don't think that public displays of adulation and a culture of respect for service men past and present helps boost future recruitment, you are crazy.

I can honestly say, that having grown up seeing the extent that my family held military service in such high regard, and seeing the crowds line the pavement each year to wave at the soldiers wearing medals on Anzac Day marches was a major contributing factor to my teenage self wanting to join the Army.

Not to mention that younger soldiers look up to their older more experienced colleagues walking around with a chest full of medals want that for them selves.

I can remember being quite young, probably 7 or 8 and seeing the Vietnam Vets etc on ANZAC day wearing their medals and thinking to myself one day I would like to go to war and some medals and march in parades etc.

fast forward 30 years, and I have my medals, But I don't wear them they are in an old ammunition tin in my cupboard, nor do I march in any parade.

I am not against others wearing their medals, I just don't feel the need, for me as I said its a sombre day, and I feel wearing the medals would be drawing attention to myself.
 
Sdajii said:
I don't exactly agree, but if you want to say they fought for nothing (it's not what they'd have said at the time, but yes, more than anything they'd have been told 'do it for England' or something roughly equivalent so you could sort of make the point), then it makes it even more ridiculous to be grateful to the ANZACs for their sacrifice which has allowed us 'what we have today', because according to you, their deaths were actually just completely meaningless not just in outcome but in the very initial intentions before their deaths occurred.

Again, this begs the question of what we are supposed to not be forgetting when we say 'lest we forget'. You can not deny that different people would have different guesses as to what it was and that those guesses have changed over time, which means we obviously haven't remembered, which makes it an incredibly ironic thing to be saying. The day literally doesn't even have the same official meaning as it originally did.

I can't say lest we forget because most of us forgot long ago, but I do encourage people to actually learn the history and discover what it is 'lest we forget' originally referred to.
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If anyone is interested, here is a video breaking down the factors that lead to WW1, it shows exactly how complex the issue was, and how it really had nothing to do with Australia or Britain.

 
Value Collector said:
I don't believe it was "setup" as a recruitment drive, but if you don't think that public displays of adulation and a culture of respect for service men past and present helps boost future recruitment, you are crazy.

I can honestly say, that having grown up seeing the extent that my family held military service in such high regard, and seeing the crowds line the pavement each year to wave at the soldiers wearing medals on Anzac Day marches was a major contributing factor to my teenage self wanting to join the Army.

Not to mention that younger soldiers look up to their older more experienced colleagues walking around with a chest full of medals want that for them selves.

I can remember being quite young, probably 7 or 8 and seeing the Vietnam Vets etc on ANZAC day wearing their medals and thinking to myself one day I would like to go to war and some medals and march in parades etc.

fast forward 30 years, and I have my medals, But I don't wear them they are in an old ammunition tin in my cupboard, nor do I march in any parade.

I am not against others wearing their medals, I just don't feel the need, for me as I said its a sombre day, and I feel wearing the medals would be drawing attention to myself.
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Well said, I agree entirely.
 
For me its complicated. I've never served, but my Dad did in ww2 in the British Army, was severely injured and hated Rememberance and ANZAC day.

It wasn't because of the war, he wanted in on it, it was their treatment afterwards. His medals are at the bottom of the Atlantic somewhere between the UK and Canada.

But, I absolutley honour what he (and so many others) did, ANZAC day being a proxy for that.

I don't go to the Dawn service because I invariably lose the plot, and being an old fashioned sort of guy, it embarressing for me.

Instead, I stay home, think a lot, pray a bit (and get stuffed if you think that's stupid), and try not to cry. Mostly, I stand in awe, because I don't know how I could ever have that courage.
 
20220425_134450.jpg
 
Nearly all the 900,000-plus Australians who pulled on a uniform in WWII to defend a deeply imperilled nation have passed

Fewer than 2500 members of that generation remain, at an average age of 99.6, according to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Within two years, they will number in the mere hundreds.
 
Dona Ferentes said:
Nearly all the 900,000-plus Australians who pulled on a uniform in WWII to defend a deeply imperilled nation have passed

Fewer than 2500 members of that generation remain, at an average age of 99.6, according to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Within two years, they will number in the mere hundreds.
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SOBER REMINDER.jpg


The cost of war is immeasurable and extends far beyond the numbers
As I reflect on @Dona Ferentes post, I am deeply moved by the stark reminder of history’s profound impact. The figures in the photo, represent the Australian lives lost in WW1, WW2, and the Vietnam War. Each digit is not just a number, but a symbol of an individual who made the ultimate sacrifice. Each one tells a story, represents a family, and signifies a loss that echoes through time.

“Lest we forget”
The phrase “Lest we forget” reverberates in my thoughts, serving as a reminder of the immeasurable cost of war, the invaluable price of freedom, and the enduring pursuit of peace. As we commemorate ANZAC Day, we must honour their memory and their sacrifice. While it may seem a daunting task, we must continue to strive for a world where such sacrifices become a thing of the past. It’s a significant ask, but one that we owe to those who have given so much.

Skate.
 
And the overlooked conflict. Korea 1950 - 1953

Australian Forces remained in Korea as part of the multi-national peacekeeping force until 1957. Over 17,000 Australians served during the Korean War, of which 340 were killed and over 1,216 wounded.
 
Dona Ferentes said:
And the overlooked conflict. Korea 1950 - 1953

Australian Forces remained in Korea as part of the multi-national peacekeeping force until 1957. Over 17,000 Australians served during the Korean War, of which 340 were killed and over 1,216 wounded.
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My best mate's dad served there, copped some shrapnel in his belly which took out a fair bit of his small intestine. Passed his early 60s from complications.
 
wayneL said:
My best mate's dad served there, copped some shrapnel in his belly which took out a fair bit of his small intestine. Passed his early 60s from complications.
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So while we're talking about this, my dad served in North Africa during World war Two. He was in the royal engineers so not really a Frontline unit. Nevertheless got hot by artillery and was the only survivor in his group.... Massive head and facial injuries. Basically his forehead got caved in and lost some of his frontal lobe.

In the triage evaluation they left him till last because they didn't think he would survive anyway.

He spent 2 years and hospital in Oxford, and had a metal plate inserted in his forehead. Because of his brain injuries he was on a 60% war disability pension, which was a pittance anyway.

He still got married her children ran a business anyway, nobody knew about his injuries except us... And to be honest even we didn't really understand the extent of them.

During his recovery because of the length of the time he was on morphine he was hopelessly addicted. Cigarettes became the replacement and he was a chain smoker his entire life. Died at lung cancer at 65.

Looking back he was most certainly also a sufferer of PTSD.

So this Anzac Day, and every Anzac Day, we should look back and not only the dead but maybe some things that are worse than dying.... Injuries, the memories, the PTSD, waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, because these guys cannot forget what happened.

Maybe then we should reflect on these things they died and suffered for, and just like slicing salami, gradually what liberties they are gradually removing.

Also think about your kids and grandkids who will have to die and suffer all over again to restore the liberties that we have so taken for granted.
 
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wayneL said:
So while we're talking about this, my dad served in North Africa during World war Two. He was in the royal engineers so not really a Frontline unit. Nevertheless got hot by artillery and was the only survivor in his group.... Massive head and facial injuries. Basically his forehead got caved in and lost some of his frontal lobe.

In the triage evaluation they left him till last because they didn't think he would survive anyway.

He spent 2 years and hospital in Oxford, and had a metal plate inserted in his forehead. Because of his brain injuries he was on a 60% war disability pension, which was a pittance anyway.

He still got married her children ran a business anyway, nobody knew about his injuries except us... And to be honest even we didn't really understand the extent of them.

During his recovery because of the length of the time he was on morphine he was hopelessly addicted. Cigarettes became the replacement and he was a chain smoker his entire life. Died at lung cancer at 65.

Looking back he was most certainly also a sufferer of PTSD.

So this Anzac Day, and every Anzac Day, we should look back and not only the dead but maybe some things that are worse than dying.... Injuries, the memories, the PTSD, waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, because these guys cannot forget what happened.

Maybe then we should reflect on these things they died and suffered for, and just like slicing salami, gradually they are greater removing.

Also think about your kids and grandkids who will have to die and suffer all over again to restore the liberties that we have so taken for granted.
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I accidentally pressed send to early on the above Post, and have added to it for what it's worth
 
I agree that the aftermath of wars continues on for decades, not only with PTSD but physical health problems for them and their descendants.

My grandfather and great uncle were gassed in WW1, my great uncle died in a repat hospital 10 years later from gas damaged lungs and my grandfather coughed and spluttered for another 40 years before succumbing to gas weakened lung problems

My mother and uncles all suffered from bronchitis because of weak lungs inherited from my grandfather, thankfully it has now been bred out of our family.

I know a lady who copped a dose of agent orange when nursing in Vietnam, because she was airborne she is regarded as never being exposed to AO. The fact that the soldiers she was nursing in the chopper were covered in the stuff is ignored by the DOD

She and her daughter have had so many weird sicknesses over the years she could write a book but the DOD won't even talk to her.

She has a medal from the USA but told to go away by Oz govt................
 
Sean K said:
Marching again this year, of course.

Thank you to those saluting veterans.

(edit - this picture is a bit bigger than expected - yikes! what happened to my hair.)

View attachment 175273
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Good afternoon Sean K,
Most dapper their bloke and nothing wrong with the hairdo.... rcw1 got no hair either, third wifey did that for rcw1 ha ha ha ha ha...

Thanks for your service to our great country.

Just had a listen to Heston Russell, on Sunday Footy Roast, rugby league of course :) ; on channel nine. Never heard him speak before. Most impressive lad. Enjoyed listening to what he had to say.

Have a very nice day.

Kind regards
rcw1
 

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