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 condemn. 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. Laurence Binyon It is a poem about England/Britain's soldiers but the fourth stanza will be read out thousands of times tomorrow across Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world - lest we forget.
Given it's our last ANZAC Day in Perth before the move to Melbourne, I think we'll do the dawn service in King's Park at the State War Memorial overlooking the city and Swan River and east to the rising sun - something to share with the thousands of other people who make the effort! Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority - let the pics at the top scroll through and you'll see the view.
We'll be up for the local Dawn Service before my eldest daughter 'marches' with her pre-school to the memorial later in the morning. She wants to wear Grandad's medals, but the miniatures may have to suffice due to matters of geometry. (I don't know who'll be more proud; her or her 84 year old Nanna) Cheers, Owen
That brought a tear too!! Andy that looked beautiful. It must be a very moving experience. Are the services always held at dawn?
The UK's northernmost commemoration takes place tomorrow at the Dallachy Strike Wing Memorial at 1000. Members of No 5 Sqn RNZAF involved in Exercise Joint Warrior hope to show a presence. Lest we forget. Roxy
35,000 at the dawn service in Melbourne. Live coverage today of the Anzac Cove dawn service from Gallipoli. We will also have live coverage of the Australians attending the service at Villers-Bretonneux. This is the 90th anniversary of the Australians /NZ taking the town back from the Germans. This is the first time the service will actually be on Anzac Day as in all previous years it has been celebrated on the Saturday. Villers Bretonneux Liberated on Anzac Day 1918
Just watched the Last Post and minute's silence at ANZAC Cove. Nothing but the sound of the wave's lapping on the stony shore.
It's always a moving and poignant commemoration at ANZAC Cove. I am surprised how the Turks regarded the "Infidel Invaders". I like to post this somewhere every ANZAC Day... "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 now here in this country of ours... you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway 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." Mustafa (Attaturk) Kemal, 1934. EDIT: This year, I have unfortunately not been able to attend any ANZAC Day commemorations as our vehicles are on their way to Canberra and we are busily packing and cleaning before our flight down tomorrow. I caught the ANZAC Cove commemoration and I'm watching the Villers Bret Dawn Service as I type this. My Great Grandfather was involved in that campaign. Last year I attended the Dawn Service at Iron Range - actually us three ABMM staff WERE the Dawn Service - as well as participated in a commemoration for RAAF PLT. OFF. Robinson who died there in a USAAF B26 crash in September 42. "Tire blew on landing at Iron Range, Australia, plane smashed into a truck, caught fire. RAAF co-pilot, Pilot Officer Robinson died. Lt. Walter Krell, pilot, got badly burned trying to save him. Several others were injured." Peter Dunn's website has a page on the Crash of PLT. OFF. Robinson's aircraft USAAF B26, "Kansas Comet": 13 September 1942 - Crash of a B-26 Marauder at Iron Range. Next year I intend to attend the Dawn Service at the AWM.
Members of No 5 Sqn RNZAF attended the ceremony at Dallachy yesterday. Members of the crew that had landed after flying all night were there on the ground whilst their comrades made a short detour en route to their Joint Warrior exercise area to fly their P3 maritime patrol aircraft past the War Memorial. Roxy
I can relate to this and must admit it bought a tear to my eye. YouTube - Redgum - I Was Only 19 (1983)
I posted that in Songs of War thread. Good to see two great minds think alike! It does bring a tear to the eye and I wasn't even there however I know many who were.
Hi All, We had our services here in the Southern Highlands, though the weather turned rather wet and cold. My Mum ended up on the front of the local paper, though they got her name wrong:frusty: Anzac legacy lives - Local - General - Southern Highland News I marched with my daughter as she wore her late Grandad's medals. I'll endeavour to source an image of that proud moment. Cheers Owen
Is Anzac Day always the same date? (25 April "She who must be obeyed's birthday") And is it a National holiday?
