Remembrance day

Lest We Forget

Australian national war memorial song. Heroes anthem.


http://youtu.be/SmHWCJ8zbUA

AMEN and thanks. Bob

I dunno if you've been to Ypres or not Ron. I have. And it was the most moving place.

I cam home and read a book called Over the Top. My son is tied up with the Military and I recommended it to him, as well as anyone who wishes to appreciate the activity of WWI.

All the best mate

Bonz

My grandfather fought with the British Honourable Artillery Company in WW1 and we followed up this year going to The Somme and the Western Front areas. They played many supporting roles for the Allies.

I have to agree with you Bonz about Ypres or Ieper, and you really understand the foundations of Europe were built on the blood of those soldiers. So many cemeteries, as Ron says in every small village.

Pleasing that the next two generations of males in our family are to make a pilgrimage next March to the Australian hallowed grounds of Gallipoli, the Somme Valley and Flanders Fields.

Lest we forget

A Debt That Can Never Be Re-paid.. Lest We Forget.

Thanks for the links Ron,Gee I hope the kids are being taught about this during there school years, it should be mandatory in my opinion if it isn't already.

The site is a credit to the Canberra War Museum.

River Swaggie, 15YO grandson is the motivator to go with his school group. Son going too as guiding parent. Grandson is doing a history project that is his driver, and he has chosen to examine ourAustralian history, but also my grandfather's service. You really understand why our ancestors didn't talk of their service.

My Dads brother V H Jones left from Albany 10th light horse.As a kid the only thing uncle Vic told me was he brought his young brother, my dad, a present. It was a German compass. All the weekends I spent at his and Aunty's while at boarding school in Perth, he never spoke of war.
I know he and dad did sometimes as I saw tears on the odd occasion.
My Dad was 2nd 16th and he didn't speak much of his involvement either. We will remember them.

Went to Albany for the weekend. The town did a great job to honour the memory of those who gave their all during WWI. Can recommend going to the new ANZAC centre also.
Cheers
David

My Grandfather #4091 joined up 5/1915 and also served with the 1st Field Ambulance

Hey Pushy, I have been to Belgium, Ypres and surrounds. Appalled at the loss of life for seemingly useless advances across mere metres of mud and wasteland, I shed a tear at Tyne Cot Cemetary at the sheer magnitude of the loss. But what I reckon is that EVERY LIFE LOST contributes to our current way of life. It may seem a total waste but I asked myself, what if they hadn't fought? What of they hadn't pushed back? What if we'd laid back and been steamrolled by every dictator, zealot, barbarian over the years. Our life would be very different now.

We owe them all a huge gratitude, for what we all have now.

Cheers mate

Bonz

My great uncle Charles died in the 3rd battle of Ypres (Battle of Paschendale) in 1917. He was 22 years of age and with the 4th Division Ammunition Corp, killed when a shell hit his donkey laden with ammo on his way to the front line. His brother Dick was ahead of him and didn't realise what had happened till he stumbled on Charlies remains on the way out. Dick loaded what he could recover of Charley on his donkey and carried it out. He is buried in the small cemetery at Westhof Farm.

Dick went ashore at Gallipoli in reinforcements a short time before the withdrawal. He saw action in some of the worst of the battles in the Somme and survived to come home. He lived to be 98 passing away in 1982, hearty and hale to the end. As an 18 year old I listened with rapt attention as he recountered his war years as if they were only last month. Very matter of fact, very free of emotion, very shocking and incredibly humbling. The youth of our young nation slaughtered. Lest we forget.

Been to that exact place Mick, I am in awe of the goings on there

John, Kojonup is the town with the statue of Brigadier Arnold Potts, MC, DSO, MID, OBE - who was an outstanding Gallipoli veteran and the hero of Kokoda.
Potts farmed at Kojonup for many decades and regarded it as his home.

Potts distinguished himself at Gallipoli, and all through WW1 - but was shot in the chest at the Battle of Hamel (the famous battle run by Major General Sir John Monash which established standard battle tactics for all wars since, and which was won precisely in 93 minutes. Monash had allowed 94 minutes for the action).

Potts injuries at Hamel were so severe he was invalided out of the military. However, he had recovered enough by 1939 to be declared medically fit and was again inducted into the military with the rank of Major.

Potts was responsible for establishing the jungle fighting tactics of the AIF troops placed under his command, and was then placed in charge of "Maroubra Force", the 2 militia battalions (39th & 53rd) and the 3 regular battalions of the 21st Brigade.
The militia battalions of this era were 18 and 19 yr old kids with only a few weeks of basic military training.

Maroubra Force was sent up the Kokoda track to meet head-on with the 10,000 battle-hardened Jap Marines coming down the spine of PNG.
Potts realised he was outnumbered and outgunned - and he was also short on every basic requirement from food to ammo.
The Jap snipers hidden in treetops took a terrible toll on the Aussies. So he organised a highly strategic fighting retreat - but was immediately relieved of his command and told by MacArthur and Blamey that he and his men were cowards.

Nothing was further from the truth and the incompetent Blamey and arrogant MacArthur had no idea of the battlefield situation, due to a total lack of intelligence. Blameys angry speech to the remnants of Maroubra Force where he claimed they were "running rabbits", was greeted with anger and disbelief.

Potts stands head and shoulders above all the PNG campaign military leaders - but he and his men of Maroubra Force were never given the recognition they deserved for many decades.

It wasn't until MacArthur and Blamey had been dead for years, before the truth was revealed about the gravity of the situation that had confronted Potts and his men.
The man is worthy of more than just a statue, he's one of our great War heroes who suffered much maligning, due to incompetence at high levels.

Arnold Potts - Wikipedia

Thanx Bob, what a great read

G'day Wayne I was at the Katanning Ag Show a couple of weeks ago and they had a display of all the Aboriginals from the area who had gone to war. I was gob smacked by just how many of them there were.

Agree that these guys should get the recognition they so rightly deserve.

Dunc.

Hi Dunc,

Ditto at being amazed at the large number of aboriginals who fought.
Recognition is long overdue.

Cheers for your comment.

Wayne & Sally.